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Illinois Basketball: Early projected Illini lineup for the 2021-22 season

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 27, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (left) and guard Da'Monte Williams (right) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (left) and guard Da'Monte Williams (right) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Andre Curbelo #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket against Keith Clemons #5 of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

The wait to watch the Illinois basketball team is still at about five months, which is a depressing thought.

But the 2021-22 campaign should be a fun one. Illinois is going to look different compared to the team we saw last season. While the team is shaped differently, hopefully by the end of the season, we will be right back in the NCAA tournament vying for a national title.

With so many changes to the roster come changes to the starting lineup. I think some talent has to be switched around to better fit the incoming players from the class of 2021 and the transfer portal. Honestly, this is a pretty solid group of players.

Here is an early look at the Illinois basketball lineup for the 2021-22 season.

No. 1 Guard

  • Starter: Andre Curbelo – 4-star

There are some things Illini Nation can’t agree on, but one of the surest things in the world right now is the fact Andre Curbelo will enter the 2021-22 campaign as the starting No. 1 guard for the Orange and Blue. He would have started last season if it wasn’t for Ayo Dosunmu leading the way for the Illini.

Curbelo entered the Illinois basketball program as a four-star recruit and ranked inside the top 50 nationally in the class of 2020. A lot of expectations were thrust upon his shoulders, and he has been able to live up to every single one of them so far. But more of the burden of leading the Illini back to the NCAA tournament is going to be on him, especially since this is his team now. I honestly believe Curbelo is going to be one of the best players we have ever seen on the State Farm Center floor. This kid is special.

  • Backup: Rotation

Illinois is going to enter the 2021-22 campaign without a true backup point guard, and that is okay. I think Curbelo will see a large number of minutes each game, but when he needs a breather, Illinois will likely go with a rotation as his backup.

I see Trent Frazier bringing the ball up the court when Curbelo needs to take a break. Having Frazier as such a skilled Swiss Army Knife gives me comfort. Even though Illinois doesn’t have a true backup No. 1 guard, we should be okay for this season.

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