Illinois basketball returns to the court on Friday when it hosts Arkansas State at 9 p.m. ET at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The season-opener went according to plan, a 71-47 win over Jackson State that saw the Illini play rather shorthanded in the backcourt.

The Illini were without 3 guards for the season-opener—Andre Curbelo (concussion protocol), Trent Frazier (shoulder), and Austin Hutcherson (tailbone). Hutcherson has yet to make his Illinois debut after transferring in a few seasons ago, but between Curbelo and Frazier, Illinois was missing nearly 20 points and 7 assists on the floor.

In addition to the injury situation, All-American center Kofi Cockburn also missed the opener because of a suspension. Cockburn will remain sidelined for 2 more games, and coach Brad Underwood gave an update on the other three when he met with the media on Thursday, per 247Sports’ Joey Wagner.

“To be determined,” he said. “We know Kofi’s out, the rest we don’t (know).”

In the victory Tuesday night, super-senior guard Alfonso Plummer handled more attention. In a team-high 36 minutes, Plummer had 9 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Plummer was at the top of the scouting report with their guards out. Underwood said that was evident in the way Jackson State guarded him. “We’ve got to do a better job of screening for him and getting him some better looks … but I think he’s in a great, great place,” Underwood said. The 6-foot-1 guard spent the last 2 seasons at Utah.

Look for more of Plummer if the trio of Illini guards miss any more time.