Illinois Basketball: Predicting starting lineup/depth chart for 2021-22 season

Starter: Andre Curbelo

Backup: Trent Frazier

Following an impressive freshman campaign, Andre Curbelo appears ready to take the reins of the Illini offense as the primary ballhandler. Curbelo showed off his elite basketball IQ and knack for the game en route to the 2020-2021 Big Ten 6th Man of the Year award.

Behind Ayo Dosunmu and Trent Frazier last season, he averaged north of nine points per game and added both four rebounds and four assists per game. During Dosunmu’s three-game absence, Curbelo seamlessly stepped up into the starting lineup and helped the Illini win all three games, including a 23-point win in Ann Arbor.

In a bigger role this year, I expect Curbelo to be a triple-double threat every time he steps onto the court. More importantly, he makes the other four guys on the court better which is why he’ll be the lead guard.

Playing the point guard position for much of the last four seasons, fifth-year senior Trent Frazier will once again be no stranger to the position. While Curbelo will bring the ball up the court whenever he’s in, Frazier will be the one to do so when Curbelo is on the bench. Frazier is a solid ball-handler with loads of experience in Coach Underwood’s offense.

I expect Underwood to stagger Curbelo’s and Frazier’s minutes throughout games so that one of the two is always playing point guard.