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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup for the 2023 NCAA tournament

By Rees Woodcock

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 21: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles by Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on January 21, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 21: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles by Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on January 21, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 13, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard RJ Melendez (15) shares shares a hand with teammate Jacob Grandison (3)at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Guard/Forward

Starter: RJ Melendez (4-star)

One of the best players, if not the best player, on the Illinois basketball team entering the 2023 NCAA tournament will be RJ Melendez. The flashes he has shown this season have been spectacular, and I believe his abilities will only continue to improve.

When given a shot this season, Melendez has proved why he was ranked as a top 75 recruit coming into the program. I think he will be moved to the starting No. 4 slot for the Illini this upcoming season. Look for Melendez to lead Illinois into the postseason in 2023, and potentially make an All-Big Ten team while doing so.

Backup: Ty Rodgers (4-star)

It is really had to not have Ty Rodgers be a starter on the Illinois basketball roster in 2022-23. I still think there is a chance Rodgers starts, but it is going to be hard to bench any of the projected starters. That doesn’t mean Rodgers won’t get a ton of minutes, though.

Rodgers is the last of the trio of freshmen coming into the program. He is entering as a four-star recruit who is the No. 61 player in the class of 2022. He is also the best player coming out of the state of Illinois. I think there could be a solid timeshare with the No. 3 and No. 4 spots for Rodgers. He could play both roles, so there will be plenty of minutes for him to eat up. Rodgers is going to be an important piece for the Illini entering the 2023 NCAA tournament. Look for him to be getting 20-23 minutes per game as a freshman.

Backup: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (NR)

I thought Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk was going to take a bigger role on the Illinois basketball team this season, but that didn’t come to fruition. He had a couple of good games, but he just isn’t getting the minutes for the Illini. With the talent coming in next season, I expect the same from Verdonk. Entering the 2023 NCAA tournament, he should be a reserve getting 4-8 minutes per game.

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