Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against St. Francis (PA)

Illinois basketball is back in action on Saturday as they take on St. Francis (PA).

This is the first game since the Illini fell in heartbreaking fashion to No. 11 Arizona this past Saturday. I think a week of licking our wounds should be enough for the Orange and Blue to come out firing. I fully expect this to be a victory over St. Francis (PA).

Here are four big questions for the Illinois basketball team against St. Francis (PA).

1. Does Illinois put this game away early?

While Illinois has started the season okay, very few of their wins have come easily. Most of the games have been a struggle with the Illini coming out victorious in the majority of the contests.

There have only been three games this season where Illinois managed to win with ease. The first two games of the season against Jackson State and Arkansas State were blowouts. Illinois also took down Rutgers a couple of weeks back with relative ease.

But that is it as far as easy wins go. We beat Iowa by four points. Notre Dame kept it competitive until the end when we ended up winning by 10 points. Even against UT Rio Grande Valley, that game was a knee-knocker throughout.

I want an easy victory on Saturday. St. Francis (PA) is not a good team, so this should be one of those wins where the deep bench players are playing most of the second half. There is no reason Illinois shouldn’t put up a 30-point victory.

I am going to be watching to see if this Illini program can jump on St. Francis (PA) early on. Let’s put this game away so we can continue developing everyone on the bench.