CHAMPAIGN — Brad Underwood has used Illinois' first weeks of practice to mix and match lineup combinations.
Sometimes his pairings are to make sure certain players get more repetitions like freshman center Samba Kane, who's still trying to make up the difference from not being on campus this summer. Other pairings give him a look at more nontraditional lineups, like when he uses senior guard Aaron Jordan at "power forward." He's looking at chemistry and maximizing practice time as much as anything.
Underwood hasn't given much thought to actual gameday lineups. The concept of starters doesn't mean as much given the second-year Illinois coach's deep rotation.