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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup to start the 2021-22 season

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 6, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after call during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after call during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 23, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) brings the ball up court against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier

There are main pieces in the lineup that won’t move throughout the 2021-22 campaign. One of those pieces is Trent Frazier. He is locked into that No. 2 guard spot as long as he is suiting up for the Orange and Blue.

Frazier has looked solid in his two exhibition games this preseason. Defensively, he is in mid-season form already. On Monday, Fox College Hoops also tweeted out the preseason awards for the 2021-22 campaign. They have Frazier as the Defensive Player of the Year. I don’t think anyone would be surprised if that came true.

Backup: Alfonso Plummer

It pains me to do this, but I have Alfonso Plummer as a backup to start the 2021-22 season. Plummer has the talent of a starter, but there is so much talent on the Illinois roster where I don’t think he will start the season as one of the starting five.

By mid-season, it wouldn’t shock me to see Plummer move into a starting role. He would most likely take over for either Jacob Grandison or Da’Monte Williams. In the last exhibition game, Plummer showed off his great ability to score the basketball. He finished with 16 points in just 33 minutes of action. If he can continue scoring at a high clip, the Illini will have great success.

Backup: Brandin Podziemski

Brad Underwood was able to get Brandin Podziemski some action in the exhibition games this preseason. The more playing time the better for this young talented freshman.

Podziemski scored four points and pulled down two rebounds in just six minutes of action against Indiana (PA). I see this being his stat line for much of his freshman campaign as well. This kid will have his chance to shine next year.

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