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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Notre Dame

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 26, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts on the bench during the second half against the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts on the bench during the second half against the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Andre Curbelo #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket against Keith Clemons #5 of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball is back in action on Monday night when they take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Illini haven’t looked great this season, but they currently sit with a 4-2 record. After a close win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Friday, the Orange and Blue look to extend their winning streak to three games against the Irish.

Here are four big questions for the Illinois basketball team against Notre Dame.

1. Can Illinois get healthy?

The big reason Illinois struggled against UT Rio Grande Valley was due to the fact we were missing three starters.

Missing that much talent is hard to replace, so the fact Illinois could come away with a victory is a big deal. But the big question moving forward is will the Illini get healthy soon?

Trent Frazier, Jacob Grandison, and Andre Curbelo all missed the UT Rio Grande Valley game. That is the starting point guard in Curbelo, the starting No. 2 guard in Frazier, and a great utility player who can do everything on the court in Grandison.

While we were able to survive without these three players against a mid-major program, we are going to need all three against the upcoming four-game stretch.

Illinois’ next four games are against Notre Dame, Rutgers, Iowa, and No. 17 Arizona. All are power five programs looking to knock off a team in the Illini that might still be ranked in the top 25 on Monday.

So, health is going to be an important piece of the puzzle for the Illini. I will be keeping an eye out against the Fighting Irish to see if we are any healthier than we were just days ago. It is important we get everyone on the court. We need each player to have success this season.

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