Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Maryland

Illinois basketball is back in action for the second time in three days, as the Orange and Blue take on the Maryland Terrapins.

Maryland enters Thursday night’s game boasting an 8-5 record overall and an 0-2 record in the Big Ten. Conference games aren’t easy, though, so the Illini will need to be on their toes if they want to continue being atop the Big Ten.

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

1. Can Trent get back on track?

Coming into the game on Tuesday night, Trent Frazier was playing some solid basketball. He as filling up the stat sheet and was a major part of Illinois’ success.

Leading up to the Minnesota game, Frazier had scored 15 points in three out of the past four games. During this four-game stretch, he was averaging 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. But that great play came to a screeching halt on Tuesday.

Frazier was only 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range against the Golden Gophers. He finished the game with five points, three assists, two rebounds, three fouls, and three turnovers. The long, nearly two-week, break really set Frazier back in his progression this season.

On Thursday night, I am going to be watching to see if Frazier can get back on track. The fact Illinois won by 23 points with Frazier playing 28 minutes and only producing five points is incredible. That says a lot about how good this program can be this season.

Frazier is a great player, though. This kid will snap out of the funk he was in on Tuesday night. I am looking for Frazier to have a solid game in a victory over Maryland.