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Illinois Basketball: 5 big questions for the Illini against Houston

By Rees Woodcock

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 18: The Illinois Fighting Illini bench reacts against the Chattanooga Mocs during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 18: The Illinois Fighting Illini bench reacts against the Chattanooga Mocs during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – MARCH 03: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center on March 3, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – MARCH 03: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center on March 3, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4. Will Trent Frazier wake up?

It is crazy we are sitting here today talking about how Trent Frazier is finishing up his fifth season with the Illinois basketball team. It feels like just yesterday he entered the program from Wellington High School.

Frazier has done some special things with the Illini, and the last couple of seasons he has had a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. Frazier is a big reason why Illinois has been able to play in back-to-back postseasons and make three-straight NCAA tournaments, in my record book anyway.

But when a player is playing badly, I will mention it. Frazier has been awful for the Illini lately. He has been playing some of the worst basketball of his career, and it has been killing Illinois.

On Sunday, Frazier is going to need to show up, but can he? A big question is can Frazier wake up?

In the past three games alone, Frazier has a total of 15 points and has gone 5-of-25 from the field. His three-point shooting is even worse, as the kid has shot 2-of-16 from deep. Is his defense great? Sure, he is playing well on defense, but when Illinois has two players who can’t score the basketball in the starting lineup, it is hard to win games.

Da’Monte Williams’ role is a bad offensive player and good defensive guy. We can’t have two of those. Frazier needs to come out of his funk for the Houston game. If he can start hitting shots, then Illinois has a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.

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