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Illinois Basketball: Early projected Illini lineup for the 2023-24 season

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Luke Goode (10) shoots the ball as Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman reacts during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Luke Goode (10) shoots the ball as Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman reacts during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) dunks against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) dunks against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Guard

Starter: Ty Rodgers (SO)

Everyone saw what the Illinois freshmen could do this season. Ty Rodgers showed us that he could play at the high DI level, and I think he has earned a starting job for the 2023-24 campaign. That is why I have him starting at the No. 3 guard spot.

Rodgers is a hybrid guard-forward. He can bring the ball up the court, but he can also post up and defend bigger players in the paint. Rodgers really is a unicorn. This past season, Rodgers put up 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while playing just 17.5 minutes per game. There are some things he needs to work on this offseason, though. Rodgers needs to get a jump shot. He also needs to work on finishing at the rim. He doesn’t have a problem getting to the hoop, he just can’t put the ball in the basket. If he gets better in this department, then he will be on the first-team All-Big Ten next season.

Backup: Sencire Harris (SO)

This one hurts me, as I wanted to put Sencire Harris in the starting lineup. But Illinois has some serious talent coming back, and we need a spark plug coming off the bench.

I have Harris being the primary backup at the No. 3 guard spot. Honestly, he is going to come in for any of the No. 1 through No. 3 on the team. Harris has incredible speed and can play defense with the best of the best. He would average 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 2022-23, and those numbers will only increase next season. Much like Rodgers, Harris needs to develop a little more offensively. I can’t tell you how many missed layups I saw this season. As soon as that is fixed, Illinois is going to be dangerous.

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