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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Da’Monte Williams returning

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 25, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) reacts during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) reacts during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 19: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after beating the Drexel Dragons 78-49 in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 19, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

No. 3 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier

Honestly, the No. 2 and No. 3 guard spots are pretty interchangeable. I think Alfonso Plummer is going to light the world on fire, and having Trent Frazier start at the No. 3 spot is going to give teams so many headaches. Frazier returns for his COVID year, and Illini Nation should be happy to have such a talented player back in Champaign.

Frazier ended up averaging 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as the third option on the team. He did whatever it took to win, even though that meant taking a backseat to Ayo Dosunmu for a few years. Frazier recreated himself into one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten. This kid is a huge asset to the team.

Backup: Brandin Podziemski

The backup at the No. 2 spot is going to be a rotation of players, but for the sake of this article, I have Brandin Podziemski stepping up and being the backup to Frazier. Podziemski is another class of 2021 recruit who won the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball award as a senior.

I expect Podziemksi to come into the Illinois program and contribute right away. He should see 5-10 minutes, much like Luke Goode. There could easily be a rotation of the two freshmen between the No. 2 and No. 3 guard spots. That is how I see this playing out. Both freshmen will get playing time, and I can’t wait to see what they can do on the court.

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