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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Dain Dainja

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 13: Andre Curbelo #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after a dunk in the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament semifinals at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 13, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball moved one step closer to stabilizing the center role this past week.

On November 20, Dain Dainja entered the transfer portal. Just a week later, Dainja decided to end his recruitment and commit to the Illini. This was a huge get for the Orange and Blue. Illinois needed a player who could play the No. 5 spot, and that is what they are getting with Dainja.

Illinois’ roster next season won’t look anything like what we are seeing on the court this year. But I am very optimistic about the future. We have so much talent from top to bottom. Dainja adds to that great wealth of talent.

Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup with Dain Dainja.

No. 1 Guard

Starter: Andre Curbelo

The starting point guard for the Illinois basketball team as long as he is in Champaign is going to be Andre Curbelo. While his sophomore season isn’t going nearly as well as many had hoped, Curbelo still has a ton of talent. As soon as he gets healthy, I think he is going to be a nightmare for the Big Ten.

Through just four games this season, Curbelo has averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. He has been a turnover machine, though, leading the team with four turnovers per contest. But the future at the point guard position goes through Curbelo. I hope he gets better soon because this Illinois basketball program needs him.

Backup: Jayden Epps

One of the three incoming freshmen who will help the team tremendously is Jayden Epps. Illinois currently doesn’t have a backup point guard, and this has killed the team on numerous occasions this season.

Epps is joining the Illini as a four-star recruit and is ranked as the No. 75 player in the class of 2022. HE is also the No. 13 combo guard in the nation and the best player coming out of North Carolina. Illinois landed a player who can stabilize the backup No. 1 guard role. That is huge.

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