Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini loss to Purdue

4. It is time for a lineup change

I don’t want to do this because it sounds so reactionary, but I think it is time for a lineup change. This has been coming for months now, but we are fully healthy for the first time in a while.

Andre Curbelo played his first game since November, so it was understandable that he came off the bench. But Curbelo is a starter and with him putting up the numbers he did against Purdue, it is time to shift him back into the starting lineup.

Who would Curbelo replace? That is an easy question to answer. Da’Monte Williams, while I love the kid and think he has a place on this team, is not a starting-caliber player right now. He had a bad game against Purdue. You can’t play 45 minutes and give me three points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

I needed more out of Williams, but he couldn’t provide more. There were too many times he would stand around when a shot goes up and just watch the ball. He wouldn’t go for the rebound, and he wouldn’t head back down to play defense. Williams would just stand and stare.

So, this is an easy transition. Curbelo replaces Williams in the starting lineup. Williams heads back to the bench and gets 10-12 minutes per game. The starting lineup becomes Curbelo, Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer, Jacob Grandison, and Kofi Cockburn.

Illinois has so much firepower in that starting lineup. Curbelo is going to be able to penetrate and kick the ball out to an open three-point shooter. The Illini have yet to hit their full potential.