Do the Illini Have Staying Power? A Few Questions They Must Answer

The Illinois basketball team entered the season with rock-bottom expectations. Coming of last year's 16-19 performance that was a debacle in the worst sense of the word, even less of the Fighting Illini was expected. Leading scorer and rebounder Shaun Pruitt left alongside Brian Randle, a player who could never match his game to his athleticism, but was expected to be missed anyhow.

However, something funny happened. Bruce Weber recaptured the magical coaching touch that had made him look like a genius during the memorable 2005 national runner-up season, and he concocted a mix that worked.

All the core players got better. What more, they have formed a chemistry wholly unlike the unstable, atomic mix of yesteryear. The motion offense, without Pruitt's lane-clogging body, found its wings and got off the ground.

What has resulted is a highly efficient team that stops other teams and does enough offensively to win. They are ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll, and are ranked No. 17 in KenPom's efficiency ratings.

Thus far, Illinois has been impressive, and, after Michigan State, have played like the second- or third-best team in the Big Ten.

However, they still have much to prove. They must prove that they can continue to play as they had. In a highly competitive Big Ten, they have to be able to distinguish themselves from the middle-tier and not dwell in anonymity come Selection Sunday.

In order to place near the top of the Big Ten, it will be necessary for the Fighting Illini to answer several questions vital to their continuing and future success.

1. Chester Frazier? Glue guy or offensive liability?

Frazier was not up to standard last year. He had no place starting at PG for a Big Ten team. He was not threatening off the dribble and even careless. He could not shoot, and other teams knew it. They sagged off and played five against four, essentially. Apart from the demise of the motion, Frazier was THE reason the offense failed last year.

Something, however, changed this year, his senior year. There is a long record of mediocre players reaching new heights their senior year, and Frazier will add to that list. He is better with the ball, better and driving and kicking the ball, and his spot atop the Big Ten assists list is witness to that. His defense is stellar as always.

Most importantly, he has fully embraced his role as team leader. He is the cohesive force that keeps the team together. After the collapse in the second half at Michigan State, it was him that challenged and confronted his teammates, a move that worked now that Illinois won its last two against Big Ten competitors Wisconsin and Ohio State.

If a poll were conducted among Illinois fans as to who should be team MVP, Frazier would probably win given his leadership, defense, steady hand, and even mildly improved offense. However, in the back of the head of any Illini fan, there is the lingering fear that Senior Frazier, the vital, steady glue guy, will revert to Junior Frazier, the one that killed the offense and could nothing right.

That the Senior Frazier hang around the rest of the year is the most important question facing Illinois. If Frazier can continue to do as he is, Illinois will not collapse. Simple as. They may regress a little, but with him at point, they will stay in contention.

2. Alex Legion? X-Factor?

Beyond a doubt, the X-factor for Illinois is the highly talented, but unseasoned and mercurial, Legion, the Kentucky transfer and ex-top recruit. Widely regarded as the team's best pure offensive player, he possesses the ability to score in bunches in a way no other Illini does. He also possesses the ability to force up several terrible shots, ruin the offensive rhythm, make defensive errors, and turn the ball over.

He is Illinois's trump card, but can also be a 2-7 off-suit poker hand: worthless.

This paradox is illuminated by Illinois' several last games, in which he almost single-handedly gave Illinois a win at Mich St.'s vaunted Breslin Center, but was anonymous and provided no impact in the last two contests.

Thus, for Illinois to reach another level, especially in March, Legion must find the consistency to be an offensive threat that does more good than bad. Should he, he will be the type of player that Illinois requires to beat more elite, athletic, high-scoring teams come March.

3. The Sophomore Wall?

It is a time-honored cliché of sport to refer to a "rookie wall" or a "freshman wall." The idea is that player is playing an important role and exerting their body more than they are accustomed to, leading to a late-season collapse of sorts.

For the sophomore bigs, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis, I can't help but wonder if they will hit a sophomore wall, as this is their first year contributing significant minutes in an integrally important role. Davis has already starting to fade, contributing less than he did at first, which included a dynamic 28-point performance in the loss to Clemson. Tisdale's slight frame hints at problems with fatigue and injury.

It is essential that Tisdale and Davis not hit a wall, as their emergence has been, not coincidentally, simultaneous to the re-emergence of an effective motion offense for Bruce Weber. They are both jump-shooting big men willing to move in the context of the motion offense. Davis' athleticism is particularly effective and gnarling for opponents. Though Pruitt was a great player, the sophomore Mikes suit Weber's system infinitely better and have helped Illinois rise.

For the Illinois to continue to succeed, they need to not hit a wall, or else the offense will dramatically suffer.