Illinois Basketball: Takeaways from the Illini loss to New Mexico State

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LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a call during his team’s game against the UNLV Rebels at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

2. First half woes kill the Illini

Illinois fans blame just about everyone but their mothers on why the Illini lose games. I hear Leron Black is a black hole when he gets the ball, which he is. I hear Michael Finke is really bad on defense and he gets shredded inside, which he does. I hear Te’Jon Lucas isn’t the best option at point guard and he needs to be replaced, which he does.

All of these things contribute to Illinois losing throughout the game, but I can point to one major flaw for the Illini that isn’t a singular person’s fault. That would the slow starts to games.

Illinois managed to give up a 15-0 run early on in the game to New Mexico State and this enabled them to take the lead 17-8. They then extended that lead at one point to 30-15 with just over five minutes left in the first half. How the heck does Illinois get into that big of a hole that early on in the game?

I could tell you why. Illinois didn’t and doesn’t start the right players. If Black was healthy enough to play the game for the Illini and log 23 minutes, then he should have been starting. There is no reason why there were four guards out on the court. Or, if you are going to go four guards, then you go with Black instead of Finke at the No. 5 spot.

I don’t mind the four-guard starting rotation if the right players are in place. Originally, I said Trent Frazier needed to replace Te’Jon Lucas in the starting lineup and I still haven’t backed off that completely, but I think there is a possibility of having Lucas and Frazier in the same starting lineup.

I would then replace Mark Alstork with Frazier. This would create more ball distributors to move the ball around the court, and Frazier brings a better scoring element than Alstork.

Kipper Nichols also saw time last night coming off an injury. Once he is fully healthy, then I expect to see him in the starting rotation as well. I am envisioning a starting rotation of Lucas, Frazier, Jordan, Nichols and Black. I think, right now, this would be the most effective lineup to get the Illini off the ground.

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