Lemme Lemme Upgrade Ya

Hooray! Signing Day has arrived! Illinois signs four outstanding players: DJ Richardson, Brandon Paul, Joseph Bertrand, and Tyler Griffey. I think the first two will play a lot next year and the other two will be key members of the rotation as upperclassmen.

I don't watch HS basketball and I'm not any good at video scouting, etc. So in order to channel my excitement I will engage in rampant speculation as to next year's rotation. I've never seen any of the four signees or Alex Legion in any kind of Illini game action, so I hope any readers will accept that I most likely don't know what I'm doing here. That's never stopped me before, so let's go!

I've already mentioned the five players we are adding to the roster next year (not counting walk-ons), but we will be losing a lot of players. Here is where the title comes in, as you will quickly see how we are getting a massive upgrade at maybe all five spots.

Trent Meacham will be replaced by Brandon Paul
Calvin Brock will be replaced by Joseph Bertrand
Chester Frazier will be replaced by DJ Richardson
CJ Jackson will be replaced by Tyler Griffey
Alex Legion will be eligible.

With that in mind, let me guess at next year's rotation (in a similar format to the previous post):

Starters: (128 mpg combined)
Demetri McCamey - 28 mpg
DJ Richardson - 28 mpg
Alex Legion - 28 mpg
Mike Davis - 24 mpg
Mike Tisdale - 20 mpg

Bench: (72 mpg combined)
Brandon Paul - 24 mpg
Bill Cole - 12 mpg
Richard Semrau - 12 mpg
Dominique Keller - 12 mpg
Stan Simpson - 12 mpg

Not Playing:
Joseph Bertrand (redshirt)
Tyler Griffey (redshirt)
Jeff Jordan (bench)

I have both Bertrand and Griffey redshirting but either one of them could play and contribute. How does it sort by position?

PG (1): McCamey (28), Richardson (12)
SG (2): Richardson (16), Paul (24)
SF (3): Legion (28), Cole (12)
PF (4): Davis (24), Keller (12), Simpson (4)
C (5): Tisdale (20), Semrau (12), Simpson (8)

Now that is an NCAA Tournament team, with quality talent at every position and a deep bench.

(Update to previous post: @Vandy is tape-delayed on FCS-Atlantic and it looks like all the South Padre games will be on that channel as well, assuming we are in the South Padre final.)