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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup if Kofi Cockburn returns

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the free throw line in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the free throw line in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 13, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes guard Alfonso Plummer (25) handles the ball during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Guard

Starter: Alfonso Plummer

A player like Alfonso Plummer doesn’t transfer into the Illinois basketball program to ride the pine. This kid is extremely talented, so I have him as the starting No. 3 guard in the lineup. Plummer is one of the best gets for Brad Underwood since he took over the program nearly a half-decade ago. Now that Ayo Dosunmu has left the program, Illinois needs to find scoring. Plummer is the answer.

In his first two seasons with Utah, Plummer put up some big numbers. He averaged 8.4 points on 42-percent shooting from three-point range as a freshman. This past season, Plummer bumped his scoring up to 13.6 points per game while taking over two more three-pointers per game. He still managed to hit 38.3-percent of his shots from deep as well. Illinois shouldn’t have a problem scoring the basketball this season.

Backup: Da’Monte Williams

Every great team has to have a glue-guy, and that is what Da’Monte Williams will be for the Illini this season. Williams’ talent starts on the defensive end as a lockdown defender, but then he surprises people on the offensive end. He went from hitting 28.3-percent of his three-point shots as a junior to hitting 54.7-percent of them as a senior. This kid works at his craft and will only continue to improve. I have him as the primary backup to Plummer at the No. 3 guard spot.

Backup: Luke Goode

Luke Goode should take a similar path to Brandin Podziemski to start their Illini career. Goode won’t see a ton of time as a freshman because of the talent depth, but this year is more about developing. By his sophomore season, Goode should be ready to contribute big minutes and maybe even have a starting job waiting for him.

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