Uneven offense a root issue for Illini basketball

Illinois' Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) heads to the basket past Missouri's Reed Nikko (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in St. Louis.CHAMPAIGN — Missouri spent most of the second half of last Saturday's Braggin' Rights game trying to keep the ball out of Trent Frazier's hands. A reasonable goal given the Illinois guard hit 5 of 6 three-pointers and had 17 points in the first 20 minutes.

But the ball in Frazier's hands is exactly where Illini coach Brad Underwood wanted it. Not necessarily to score more, but to get his teammates involved because of the pressure Missouri was exerting.

"I wanted Trent with the ball late because of the way they…