Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over ETSU

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 15: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) dribbles by ETSU Buccaneers guard Patrick Good (10) during the college basketball game between the East Tennessee State Univeristy Buccaneers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 15, 2018, at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Trent Frazier should always be the No. 1 option

I feel like I have said this in about every one of these articles I have done, but Trent Frazier needs to be the No. 1 option for this Illinois basketball each and every game.

The Illini were without Ayo Dosunmu and Alan Griffin on Saturday, and this put more responsibility on the shoulders of Frazier. That is where I want the responsibility. Illinois goes as Frazier goes.

Frazier once again had a great game on Saturday. He finished the East Tennessee State game with 25 points, five assists and three steals. He dropped those 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from the three-point arc. This was one of his best games of the season.

When the ball goes through Frazier’s hands, the Illini tend to do better. You can’t have Frazier only shooting six or seven shots either. Illinois was never in the Nebraska game, and Frazier only put up seven shots. UNLV made a comeback against the Illini because the aggression went away, and Frazier only put up six shots. This can’t happen.

The ball needs to go through Frazier whether that be by the way of shooting or distributing, this kid is a superstar. Hopefully, he and Ayo can start gelling on the court.

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