5 crucial questions for the Illinois basketball team against Iowa State

4. Does Terrence Shannon Jr. keep the hot hand?

There are always fun players to watch in the NCAA tournament. I remember seeing Steph Curry light teams up for Davidson in the mid-2000s. There are always players who get hot at the right time.

The crazy part for Illinois fans is the fact we have one of those players on our team right now. Terrence Shannon Jr. is sizzling hot right now, and it seems that he can’t be stopped.

So, I have one of the biggest questions for the game against Iowa State. Does Shannon keep the hot hand?

Illinois needs Shannon to be Shannon. He has been playing his A+ game since the postseason started, and anything short of that will be tough for the team.

In the five games he has played this postseason, Shannon is averaging an absurd 31.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He has also shot 46-of-87, 52.9%, from the field and 15-of-36, 41.7%, from three-point range.

This is honestly, and it is not hyperbole, the best stretch of games I have ever seen a member of the Illinois basketball team play. Shannon has been incredible. His scoring ability at all levels is something special, and he is unstoppable around the rim.

But Shannon has to keep this hot hand. Illinois is now in a part of the NCAA tournament where the competition is at another level. Iowa State plays great defense, and this will be the first true test to see if Shannon can keep the mojo going.