Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win vs Northwestern

3. Change needs to happen

I posted that something needs to change after the Illinois basketball team took down Northwestern on Sunday. Some people took that as I was suggesting a coaching change, which is ridiculous.

The change I want is with the Illinois lineup. I think it would be good for the entire team if there was a shake-up on the roster.

I don’t think most people realize how bad Jacob Grandison has been in the past six games. I wouldn’t have an issue with Grandison if he had one or two bad games every once in a while, but he has made his bad performances into a trend.

In the past six games, Grandison has averaged 6.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.0 turnovers in 26.2 minutes of action per game. Those are not good numbers. To dive a little deeper, the senior guard has also shot 13-of-43 from the field, which is 30.2%, and 7-of-29 from three-point range, which is 24.1%.

Grandison is a player I want to see head to the bench. That doesn’t mean he loses all of his playing time, but he would be a good player to come in with fresh legs. Maybe the change would help him not feel so much pressure, which would loosen up his shooting a little bit.

I know this might not be popular right now, but give me Andre Curbelo as the starting point guard for the Illini. Listen, I know he is wild and has issues trying to split the double-team at times, but Curbelo is a good option in the Illinois starting lineup. He brings energy and great court vision to this program.

I think, for now, the lineup should be Curbelo, Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer, Da’Monte Williams, and Kofi Cockburn. I would then have Grandison, RJ Melendez, Luke Goode, Omar Payne, Coleman Hawkins, and Brandin Podziemski coming off the bench. Let’s make the change.