2019-20 Illinois Basketball Roster: Who Made the Cut?

The 2019-20 Illinois basketball Roster is set! Here’s a look at who made the cut and who didn’t.

2019-20 Illinois Basketball Roster

The 2019-20 Illinois basketball roster is composed of 14 players, including 4 guards, 5 forwards, and 5 centers. The team will look to build on their successful 2018-19 campaign in which they earned a spot in the NCAA tournament

Leading the way for the Illini will be returning starters Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili. Dosunmu, a guard, was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.8 points per game Bezhanishvili, a forward, was second on the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game.

The other two returning starters are Trent Frazier and Andres Feliz. Frazier, a guard, averaged 9.5 points per game last season while Feliz, a center, averaged 8.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game

Who Made the Cut?

The 2019-20 Illinois Basketball Roster is starting to take shape. Here is a look at who has made the cut and who is still vying for a spot.

As of October 8, 2019, the roster includes:

Guards
Ayo Dosunmu
Trent Frazier
Da’Monte Williams
Andres Feliz
Alan Griffin
Te’Jon Lucas
Aaron Jordan

Forwards
Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Kofi Cockburn
Jeremiah Tilmon Jr.
Tevian Jones
Gavin Montgomery

Centers

ulysses “UJ” Simpson

The Starting Lineup

The starting lineup for the 2019-20 Illinois basketball team has been officially released. Head Coach Brad Underwood announced the starters in a tweet on October 29, 2019. The starters are:

-Ayo Dosunmu
-Kofi Cockburn
-Giorgi Bezhanishvili
-Trent Frazier
-Da’Monte Williams

The starting lineup was chosen based on their performances in practice and in exhibition games. Coach Underwood says that he is confident in this Starting Lineup and that they have the potential to have a great season.

The Bench

The official 2019-20 Men’s Basketball Roster for the Illinois Fighting Illini

The Coaching Staff

The Coaching Staff for the 2019-20 season features some familiar faces and some new ones. head coach John Groce is back for his sixth season at the helm of the Illini. He is joined by assistant coaches Jamall Walker, Ron Coleman and Stephen Gentry.

The Season Outlook

The 2019-20 season looks to be an exciting one for Illinois Basketball as the team looks to build on last year’s successes. This year’s roster is full of talented players, both veterans and newcomers. Here’s a look at who made the cut for this season.

Forwards:
Ayo Dosunmu – The junior guard is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and is one of the Top Players in the country. He’ll be looked to as the leader of this team, both on and off the court.
Kofi Cockburn – A freshman center who arrives with high expectations, Cockburn is a specialists in the paint who should make an immediate impact.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili – The junior forward is a versatile scorer who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability.
Trent Frazier – A senior guard who earned All-Big Ten honors last season, Frazier will once again be counted on to provide leadership and scoring.

Guards:
Da’Monte Williams – A sophomore guard who saw increased playing time last season, Williams is a solid all-around player who does a little bit of everything.
Andre Curbelo – A freshman guard who was one of the top recruits in the country, Curbelo has the potential to be an elite level scorer.
Alan Griffin – A sophomore guard who emerged as a key player off the bench last season, Griffin will look to build on his strong rookie campaign.

The Schedule

The 2019-20 Illinois Basketball Schedule was released on Wednesday night. Here’s a look at the full slate of games, as well as a breakdown of who made the roster.

The Fighting Illini will open the season on November 5th with a Home game against North Carolina A&T. They’ll follow that up with a road game against DePaul on November 8th, before returning home to face Central Michigan on November 12th.

From there, Illinois will play in the 2K Empire Classic, beginning with a matchup against Georgetown on November 15th. They’ll take on either Texas or Oregon in the second round, before facing off against either Duke or UCLA in the Championship game on November 21st.

Following the conclusion of the 2K Empire Classic, Illinois will have a stretch of five straight home games They’ll take on Nicholls State on November 24th, before facing UIC on November 27th. After that, it’s Big Ten play for the Illini, as they’ll host Nebraska on December 4th and Northwestern on December 7th.

The Players

The 2019-20 Illinois Basketball Roster is loaded with talent. Head Coach Brad Underwood has assembled a team that is deep, experienced, and poised to make a run at the NCAA Tournament

Leading the way for the Illini are senior guard Ayo Dosunmu and junior guard Trent Frazier. Dosunmu is a preseason All-American and one of the best players in the country. Frazier is a sharpshooter who averaged 12 Points per game last season.

Also returning are junior center Kofi Cockburn sophomore forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili, and senior forward Andres Feliz. Cockburn is a big body in the paint who can score and rebound. Bezhanishvili is a versatile forward who can stretch the floor with his shooting. Feliz is an experienced veteran who will provide leadership and toughness.

Rounding out the roster are junior forward Da’Monte Williams, sophomore guard Alan Griffin, freshman guard Andre Curbelo, and freshman center Jakayla Brown. Williams is a local product who brings energy and defense to the court. Griffin is a talented scorer who could see increased playing time this season. Curbelo is an elite point guard recruit who will add depth to the position. Brown is a physical post player who provides scoring and rebounding off the bench.

The Fans

12,183 fans attended the game against Purdue on February 19th, 2020. The official game time was 7 p.m., but the doors to State Farm Center opened at 5 p.m. That gave everyone plenty of time to get their seats, find their friends and wait for tip-off.

The Legacy

The 2019-20 Illinois Basketball season is upon us, and with it comes a roster full of newcomers. This season’s squad features just two players who were on the roster last season: Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili. The rest of the team is composed of transfers, freshmen, and walk-ons.

This year’s team will have to rely on its newcomers to make an impact, as the loss of Key Players from last year’s squad will leave a void that will need to be filled. Last season’s leading scorer, Trent Frazier, is gone, as are fellow starters Liam Robbins and Aaron Jordan Additionally, senior Andres Feliz, who was set to be a key piece of this year’s team, decided to forego his final season of eligibility and pursue a professional career.

With all of these departures, it will be up to the newcomers to step up and fill the void. Here is a look at the 2019-20 Illinois Basketball Roster

(key: *= scholarship player; ^= walk-on)

Guards:
Ayo Dosunmu* (sophomore)
Tevian Jones* (redshirt junior)
Alan Griffin* (redshirt sophomore)
Andres Feliz (senior)^
Adonis De La Rosa (freshman)*
Travis Ford-Bey (freshman)*
Jacob Grandison (freshman)*

Forwards: Giorgi Bezhanishvili* (sophomore) Kipper Nichols* (redshirt junior) Milik Yarbrough* (senior) Da’Monte Williams* (sophomore) Samba Kane^ (freshman)* Luke Goode^ (freshman)* Jerome Hunter (freshman)*

Centers: Teyon McCoy* (junior) Austin Wiley* (junior) Albany Thomas^ freshman)*