Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Matthew Mayer

By Rees Woodcock

Matthew Mayer celebrates a successful 3-pointer during Baylor’s victory at Oklahoma in January.Syndication The Oklahoman
Matthew Mayer celebrates a successful 3-pointer during Baylor’s victory at Oklahoma in January.Syndication The Oklahoman /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Illinois basketball
Mar 17, 2022; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Matthew Mayer (24) shoots the ball against the Norfolk State Spartans during the second half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Forward

Starter: Matthew Mayer

The man of the hour is the next name on the list. The No. 4 spot could have a ton of players play in this role, but I am going to put Matthew Mayer here for various reasons. I think this is going to be one of the biggest transfer gets in the history of the Illinois basketball program. Illinois needed a player who can hit a three-point shot and stretch the floor, and that is what Mayer brings.

Mayer didn’t get used fully while he was at Baylor. His best year was this past season when he averaged 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, but he was only averaging 22.8 minutes in each contest. At Illinois, this kid is going to get a lot more playing time, and Brad Underwood’s offense will open his game up to its full potential. I look for Mayer to be the starter at the No. 4 spot and be an ace three-point shooter for the Orange and Blue.

Backup: Rotation

There will likely be a rotation as the backup to Mayer at the No. 4 spot. It wouldn’t shock me to see him on the court at the same time as Coleman Hawkins, who can also stretch the floor, or a big man who is more of a beast on the inside. Look for Underwood to get creative and try various things early on in the season so he knows what his rotations will be by the time Big Ten games roll around.

Backup: Scholarship

With two scholarships left, I wouldn’t mind trying to find another player who can play the No. 4 spot for the Illini. There isn’t anyone who specifically comes to mind, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look into adding more depth here.

Home/Illinois Basketball