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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 15: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is yelling at Illinois guard Trent Frazier (1) for a foul during the first half of a college basketball game Monday, January 15th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 64 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 15: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is yelling at Illinois guard Trent Frazier (1) for a foul during the first half of a college basketball game Monday, January 15th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 64 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 04: Ohio State Buckeyes center Micah Potter (0) is called for a foul against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) in a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 04, 2018 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. The Buckeyes won 75-67. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 04: Ohio State Buckeyes center Micah Potter (0) is called for a foul against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) in a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 04, 2018 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. The Buckeyes won 75-67. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Trent Frazier can’t have a bad game

The Illinois basketball fan base is extremely excited about true freshman Trent Frazier. This kid has lit the world on fire in the short time he has been in Champaign. He has single-handedly kept this Illini team in multiple games this season.

But, as a true freshman, Frazier is bound to have some stinker games. That is normal. The sad part is the Illini can’t afford for him to have a bad game. While that is completely unfair to Frazier as a player, it is the sad truth.

Frazier finished the game against Penn State with six points, four rebounds, three steals and three turnovers. He was 2-of-11 from the field and 2-of-6 from the three-point arc. Frazier also only got to the free throw line one time and missed his lone shot.

Right now, Frazier is on the curve of a normal superstar. He has been tremendous this season and finally had a game where he was just awful. That is what normally happens. Illinois just doesn’t have the talent around him for this to happen, though.

Frazier is now averaging 12.3 points per game, which is one of the best all-time in Illini freshman history. He is a true great and I feel bad that he has to carry this team at the guard position. As Frazier goes, so do the Illini.

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