Junior guard Chester Frazier said Tuesday that the left knee tendonitis plaguing him these last few weeks, something coach Weber has defined as “Osgood-Schlatter,” won’t be enough to keep him from playing Thursday in the men’s first-round matchup against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.

When asked if any scenario could sideline him during the opening game of the tournament, Frazier responded quickly and with a smile.

“No,” he said. “Not unless somebody shot me in my head and I died. Then, maybe.”

But is the knee feeling any better?

“No, not really,” he said.

Illinois guard Trent Meacham, struggling with an ankle injury of his own, said that he’s wise to believe whatever Frazier says regarding his ability to play. Randle, also confident in what his teammates were predicting, added that if Frazier can walk, he’ll probably be out on the court Thursday.

“I think if he says that, he’s definitely playing,” Meacham said. “He’s a warrior, he’s a competitor, and he’s going to play through as much as he can so we’re expecting him to play. That’s great news if that’s what he’s saying.”

Meacham added that the constant strain of an injury isn’t fun to deal with, especially in the crunch time of the season.

“Injuries are just something you have to deal with,” he said. “It’s frustrating when maybe you can’t do things that you usually can. You have to get rest instead of working on things you need to work on, want to work on, so taking time off has been tough.”

Randle and Rodney Alexander have been battling injuries as well but neither are expected to be serious enough to alter the team’s active roster against Penn State.

Randle, having recovered from a separated shoulder sustained against Wisconsin on Feb. 20, has played in the last two games, logging 27 minutes against Minnesota on Saturday’s Senior Night. He said the shoulder was “a little sore” afterwards, but that he’s been icing it all the time. Frazier, Randle and Meacham are all listed as probable starters by the sports information department for Thursday’s game.

Alexander, after missing Saturday’s game against Minnesota with a grade-A concussion, has been able to practice with the team the last two days. His availability will be assessed on a day-to-day basis.

Frazier said the onslaught of injuries has reminded him of last year, and a few other times that he and Randle spent injured together.

“Deja vu, like it’s the same story as last year when I sprained my MCL against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that serious this time. I’ll be fine.”

Chip on the shoulder

Illinois enters its match up against the Nittany Lions having lost two games against them by a combined five points this season. But Randle said that doesn’t mean the opponent is anxious to play them.

“I’ve said it a couple times, I don’t think necessarily any team wants to play us — how hard we play, the intensity in which we play at,” Randle said. “It’s different if teams beat you by ten, twenty points.

“I think guys understand that, hopefully they do, and they’re ready to play.”

Shaun Pruitt shed light on specific in-game adjustments the Illini will need against Penn State and how the Illini are viewed overall by opposing teams.

“We just have to execute against their zone, something that we’ve had trouble with,” Pruitt said. “I think that’s the reason they kept beating us. I’m sure we’ll definitely be prepared for that.

“I think a lot of people are just going to look past us,” Pruitt added. “Penn State’s going to come ready to play because they’re in a similar position as us. We’re hoping that the second team we play will look over us and think they’re just going to beat us easily so we can sneak up on them.”

Women as inspiration

The Illinois women’s basketball team achieved success in its near-record-breaking run last weekend in a second-place overall finish in the Big Ten Tournament. The women overcame a low seed, No. 9, to upset top-ranked Ohio State and make it into the final game against Purdue.

Pruitt said his team, entering the tournament in a similar seed, the tenth spot, can learn a few things from what the women accomplished.

“Definitely, they just had a sense of urgency, and got it in gear. Hopefully we can find a way to do that, too,” he said. “We know we’re a talented team and we know we can do it.”

Randle said the team’s practice yesterday was a strong one and that he hopes the team can carry its momentum into the first game.

“I think so, yesterday they had a good practice,” Randle said. “Today we’re going to try to pick it up a little bit more and tomorrow we’re going to go a little lighter, give everybody time to strengthen everything. You know, be ready to go on Thursday.”

Big Ten blow-off

Pruitt was awarded third team All-Big Ten honors late Monday by the media and was an honorable mention selection by the coaches. The senior didn’t have much to say about the award.

“I don’t really have an opinion, to tell you the truth,” Pruitt said. “I didn’t pay any attention to it.”

Pruitt was a preseason All-Big Ten first team selection in the fall.