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Illinois Basketball: 5 burning questions for the Illini against Kansas

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 14, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood looks on from the bench during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Illinois 93-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood looks on from the bench during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Illinois 93-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 09: Head Basketball Coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches a play during the second half of a Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. The Penn State Nittany Lions won the game 79-76 over the Illinois Fighting Illini. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball takes on the Kansas Jayhawks this Sunday in an exhibition game.

The game is slated for October 29 at 5:00 p.m. CT, and it will feature two teams that have national championship aspirations. When the Illini take on the Jayhawks, it will be for more than basketball, though. This game is to raise money for the Maui Strong relief fund to help after devastating wildfires ripped through Maui.

On the basketball side of things, I think this is a big game for Illinois to get ready for the 2023-24 season. Kansas is a good team, and we can learn a lot about our program with this contest. I will be keeping an eye out for a few things as well.

Here are five burning questions for the Illinois basketball team against Kansas

1. Does the Illinois starting lineup stay the same?

It was so nice to see the Illinois basketball team playing a game, even though it was against an overmatched Ottawa squad. Basketball is basketball, though. Coming into the Kansas game, I want to see how much transfers from one exhibition game to the next.

On Sunday, I will keep an eye out to see if the Illinois starting lineup stays the same against Kansas or if Brad Underwood will switch things up.

I was a bit surprised when I saw Marcus Domask out there in the starting lineup against Ottawa. I had him as one of the first off the bench, but the combination of Domask and Luke Goode helps space the floor and puts points on the board.

If there is a change to the starting lineup, I would imagine that someone like Quincy Guerrier might be the player replacing Domask. That would give Illinois a starting lineup of No. 1 Ty Rodgers, No. 2 Terrence Shannon Jr., No. 3 Luke Goode, No. 4 Guerrier, and No. 5 Coleman Hawkins.

I am perfectly fine if Underwood rolls with the same starting lineup as he did in the Ottawa game. I like having Goode and Domask on the court at the same time.

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