Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against UT Rio Grande Valley

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Andre Curbelo #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at State Farm Center on November 12, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Andre Curbelo #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at State Farm Center on November 12, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Illinois basketball
Nov 22, 2021; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Wes Miller shakes hands with Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood after the game at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois basketball continues their 2021-22 campaign on Friday night against UT Rio Grande Valley.

This has been an up and down season for the Illini. We avoided a 2-3 start with a big win over Kansas State. Now we have a chance to build on that momentum with a big blowout victory over the Vaqueros.

Here are four big questions for the Illinois basketball team against UT Rio Grande Valley.

1. Will Plummer see an expanded role?

The Illinois basketball team hasn’t exactly been a scoring juggernaut this season. They have struggled at times putting the ball in the hoop.

While most players have had a rough time in the first five games of the 2021-22 campaign, newcomer Alfonso Plummer has given the Orange and Blue an offensive spark.

If it wasn’t for Plummer against Kansas State, the Illini might have been staring at a 2-3 record this season. But the Utah transfer ended up dropping 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Plummer is now averaging 9.2 points per game this season while hitting 44.4% of his three-point shots. Both of those are good numbers.

Plummer is helping the Illini win games right now, but he is only receiving 19 minutes per game, as he did against the Wildcats. My biggest question is, will Plummer start seeing an expanded role with the program?

Underwood likes to stick with a lineup for a while, so I am not expecting Plummer to see a start yet, but I would think he sees some type of minutes increase.

If Plummer isn’t in foul trouble or turning the ball over like a maniac, then he should see at least 25 minutes in each contest this season. Plummer is built well and can take a lot of minutes on his shoulders. He is also our best perimeter scorer, so we need to play him more.

I am going to be keeping an eye on Plummer’s role against UT Rio Grande Valley. I want to see Plummer be more of a main piece for this program.

Home/Illinois Basketball