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Illinois Basketball: Outlook at shooting guard for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots the ball against Miller Kopp #10 of the Northwestern Wildcats at State Farm Center on January 18, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots the ball against Miller Kopp #10 of the Northwestern Wildcats at State Farm Center on January 18, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 05: Illinois guard Trent Frazier (1) being introduced prior to a college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 5, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Current

If you step back and take a look at what the Illinois basketball team is going to put out on the court for the 2020-21 campaign, you will realize we have one of the best rosters in the history of the program.

Every team in the country doesn’t have the quality depth that Brad Underwood gets to utilize this winter. The shooting guard spot on the team is no exception. Entering the upcoming campaign, the starting No. 2 guard role on the team should be earned by Trent Frazier.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard has the tenacity of a bulldog and the shooting confidence of Steph Curry. Frazier has been a main staple of this Illinois basketball team for the last three seasons. He stuck with the Illini after a coaching change, which helped win me over as a fan as well.

Averaging about 4.5 points per game less than his sophomore campaign, some people may say that Frazier had a bad year. Yes, he only shot 32.7-percent from the field and 30.9-percent from three-point land, but I believe what Frazier did as a junior helped Illinois more than what he did his sophomore season.

The Illini didn’t need Frazier to be the high-volume shooter he was as a sophomore. He actually shot about three fewer shots per game year-to-year and about one fewer three-point shot. With Frazier pulling back the reins a bit, this enabled Ayo Dosunmu to take over more of a “Batman” role to Frazier’s “Robin”. The fact Frazier was unselfish and did what was best for the team means a lot to this Illini fan.

Entering his senior season, I expect about the same numbers out of Frazier. There is even more talent on the team than years prior, so don’t be shocked if his numbers take a bit of a dip. Either way, we have a solid starting guard who will do anything for this Illinois team to win.

The backup to Frazier in 2020-21 could see a solid timeshare with the senior guard. That player is transfer, Austin Hutcherson.

Coming from Wesleyan University of the DIII ranks, Hutcherson was able to put up eye-popping numbers. 20 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game were only overshadowed by Hutcherson’s 39.2-percent shooting from three-point range.

Illinois won’t be losing any production when Frazier goes to the bench, as Hutcherson should be able to fill in without a hiccup. While I am not expecting anywhere near the numbers he put up during his sophomore season at Wesleyan, I am expecting his shooting from distance to stay as consistent.

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