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Illinois Basketball: 4 takeaways from the loss to Maryland

By Rees Woodcock

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Illinois Basketball
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Te’Jon Lucas /

3. Could there be some lineup experimenting

I have mentioned it before, but the Illinois starters came out of the gates slow again and they were benched after going down 10-0 early on in the game. Some of these starters didn’t play well for the entire contest either.

This brings up the question, should there be lineup experimenting to see if there are some better options? I think the answer to this question is an obvious, yes.

The lineup for the entire season so far has been Te’Jon Lucas, Mark Smith, Mark Alstork, Leron Black and Michael Finke. That worked against the cupcake competition earlier in the year but as of late, these five have been struggling together.

The first person I would now look at sending to the bench would be Mark Smith. I know, he was so highly rated coming into the program but he just hasn’t been getting things done. He seems to have lost his confidence as well. Illinois needs someone in there who can get the team off on the right foot. I would suggest inserting Aaron Jordan into that spot. This would give the Illini more size and scoring ability in the starting lineup.

I think Underwood needs to take a serious look at Lucas as well. He is the incumbent starter at the No. 1 spot but I really haven’t been impressed with what he has brought this team on the court. He isn’t that effective ball distributor I was hoping to see, averaging only 3.6 assists per game. I would suggest putting Trent Frazier in this spot.

Frazier didn’t receive a lot of minutes the previous two games before Maryland. He has been pretty good – minus three-point shooting – when he is in the game. He can drive to the hoop and finish. He does all the other things a point guard should do as well. He had seven assists against the Terrapins, and he is averaging 1.2 steals per game. I would think about inserting him into the starting lineup soon.

The Illinois starters haven’t pulled their weight. Underwood isn’t messing around. He will do whatever is going to win games and that could mean switching things up.

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