Recent stretch shows Illini have plenty in reserves

CHAMPAIGN — Leron Black scored in double figures in 16 of 18 Big Ten games and did so shooting at a 56 percent clip. The redshirt junior forward was the epitome of reliability.

Trent Frazier wasn't far off. The freshman guard had a couple more games where opposing defenses were more successful in locking him up — at Northwestern before his breakout really came and at home against Penn State's long defenders — but he was nearly as regular in leading the Illini offense.

Where else production might come from has been more of a question this season. Michael Finke and Aaron Jordan have fought with their shot. Kipper Nichols has been up and down all season. And freshman guards Mark Smith and…