Freshmen provide spark in limited action

Illini Recap: 'They jumped on us early'BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Te’Jon Lucas seeing the floor in the first half this season has typically been predicated by one thing — foul trouble for sixth-year Illinois guard Tracy Abrams.

Lucas took three DNPs since Dec. 10 before Saturday’s game at Indiana.

His 3 minutes on the court against Missouri all came in the first half after Abrams picked up two fouls, and his 10 in the Illini’s Big Ten opener against Maryland came when the game was well out of hand. He didn’t play at all in the Illini’s win against Ohio State.

Lucas checked in with 7:51 remaining in the first half against the Hoosiers. Again, his opportunity came because Abrams picked up a second foul…