Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the win over Chicago State

2. Trent Frazier had a bounce-back game

Trent Frazier did not play his best basketball in the Wednesday victory over NC A&T.  The senior guard shot 20-percent from the field, hitting only 2-of-10 shots.  Frazier would also shoot an underwhelming 2-of-7 from beyond the arc (28.5-percent).  He also fouled out of the game, as the senior finished the game with five personal fouls as well.

Things were much different in the victory over Chicago State, though.  Frazier was an exceptional presence for the Illini on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

Defensively, Frazier was playing with a motor.  The Illini guard would hustle down the court to get back on defense and would not give his man any space when he had the ball in his hands.  He hauled in four defensive rebounds and would also record a steal and a block.

On the offensive end, Frazier racked up 14 points, shooting 4-of-7 from the field (57.1-percent). All of Frazier’s field goal attempts came from beyond the arc.  He would also go perfect from the charity stripe, hitting both of his free-throw attempts on the day.

Head coach Brad Underwood acknowledged Frazier’s struggles in the first game and suggested some extra work on his shooting after Wednesday’s game played a key part in the senior’s bounce-back performance.

"“Trent got goin’. He knew he missed some good looks yesterday. As soon as the game got over, he was shooting the ball at Ubben for hours,” Underwood told media."