Illinois basketball: 2019-20 season wrap-up for Trent Frazier

Trent Frazier has been a crucial piece for the rebuild of the Illinois basketball team for the past three years.

Here is the 2019-20 season wrap-up for Trent Frazier.

Expectations

During Frazier’s sophomore season, it took him some time to gel with Ayo Dosunmu but still managed to have an impressive 2018-19 campaign. He averaged 13 points, 2 assists and 1 steal. He also shot 41-percent from the field and 40-percent from three-point range. Frazier performed well last season considering he had to adjust to not being the main ball handler.

For the 2019-20 season, I expected Frazier to average 11 points and 2 assists while shooting 42-percent from the field and 39-percent from three-point range. I expected these numbers because I thought he would be used a lot for off-ball plays to get him open shots.

Reality

For the 2019-20 season, Frazier didn’t live up to my expectations, but that doesn’t mean he played bad this year. He averaged 9 points and 2 assists while shooting 32-percent from the field and 30-percent from three-point range. On offense, Frazier was either hot or cold this season.

The defensive end of the court was the best thing about Frazier’s game this year. He was one of Illinois’ best perimeter defenders. Frazier’s on-ball and off-ball defense improved from the season before. I feel that he was snubbed from the Big Ten All-Defensive Team this season. His defense was a big reason Illinois went 21-10.

The only problem I had this season with Frazier is that his shooting was inconsistent. But I like that he would still have the confidence to keep shooting on nights that he wasn’t shooting well.

Future

Next season will be Frazier’s last run with the Orange and Blue. After his time is up with Illinois, I don’t know what to expect for his pro basketball career. No matter what he does in the future, he will always be remembered as a major piece of this Illinois basketball rebuild.