So, get this. Among the three most veteran Illinois players, Chester Frazier has arguably been the most efficient in the first three Big Ten games.

What does that tell you about the Illini’s chances to salvage something out of the “catastrophe,” which is how Bruce Weber described the team’s situation after the loss to Wisconsin?

If seniors Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt don’t awaken, and soon, finishing above .500 will be difficult.

“I think they’re both frustrated and feeling a little pressure, feeling tight,” Weber said.

Both players started the season with big expectations. Randle was healthy and keeping his fingers crossed for an injury-free, breakout year. Pruitt was  preseason All-Big Ten selection after a dalliance with the NBA draft in the offseason.

These days, the pain is obvious on their faces and when they speak.

Illinois was playing competitively with the nation’s No. 21-ranked team Thursday night but didn’t get enough from the veterans to get over the hump.

In three conference games, Randle is averaging 6.7 points. He has more fouls (12) than rebounds (11). He has fouled out of the last two games while scoring six points.

“I was excited when Brian hit the first shot,” Weber said after the Wisconsin game. “We put a new play in. But again he got two fouls and never got going in the second half.”

Randle attacked the basket three times in the second half against the Badgers and came up empty each time, missing two dunks and having a layup swatted.

To some degree, Pruitt has been a victim of the team’s lack of perimeter shooting. Zone defenses — or maybe more accurately inefficient zone offenses —  have made it tough for him to get consistent touches and when he gets the ball, he sometimes tries to do too much. He is averaging 10 points and six rebounds in Big Ten games.

Then there’s Frazier, the much-maligned point guard. He seems finally to be understanding his limitations as a shooter and is making better decisions with the ball. In the last two games he has 13 assists with one turnover. But a back/rib cage injury is likely to cost him minutes in upcoming games.

Weber said he shouldn’t have played Frazier against Wisconsin, but the junior’s heart and effort make that difficult. So he ended up playing 30 minutes off the bench.

He will have his injury checked again today and decide on a course of action.

Next up: Indiana. If ever a game called for veteran leadership, this is it.