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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup in 2023-24 with Niccolo Moretti

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 2, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ty Rodgers (20) drives the ball against Alabama A&M Bulldogs guard Omari Peek (2) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ty Rodgers (20) drives the ball against Alabama A&M Bulldogs guard Omari Peek (2) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Guard

Starter: Ty Rodgers (4-star)

Illinois fans are seeing more and more of Ty Rodgers this season. It is exciting to see glimpses of what could be with this special player. While he is in the second rotation on the Illini roster right now, I believe there is a decent chance he starts for the 2023-24 season.

Rodgers was a decorated recruit coming out of high school, but it has taken him a minute to get up to speed. With that being said, Brad Underwood has started to trust him more as of late. Rodgers has received at least 14 minutes in six out of the past seven games. He had only hit double-digit minutes in two out of the previous six games before that. Rodgers is going to continue to get minutes for the Illini. I believe he will be a starter for this program when next season rolls around.

Backup: Luke Goode (4-star)

It is really hard to see what Luke Goode will do for the rest of the season. He is supposed to return from injury sometime in the next month or so, but how effective is he going to be fresh off an injury?

I think Goode should be eased back into action. There is no reason to rush him into too much playing time. The 2023-24 season is when I expect to see a fully healthy Goode on the court. For right now, I have him as the primary backup to Rodgers. Goode is still going to see a lot of minutes, but he will be more of a sixth man than a starter. I wouldn’t be shocked if Goode does start quite a few games, but I think having him as a backup, for now, is what should happen.

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