Illini Basketball 2021-2022

[ElGran]

Yes Davis was a better leaper and a way better rebounder. But Coleman looks to be more skilled.

Davis was way more athletic.

There's a lot to like about Coleman --nice skill set and smart with the ball. Looked up his A/T, and although the sample is really small, and he was in limited competitive situations, he had 11 assists and only 6 T/O. No idea where he'll fit in the rotation, but the team will be more dangerous with a skilled big.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Thing about Hawkins is that we did see flashes of it last year, but that was interspersed with mistakes (granted, many were typical of freshmen) and diluted by limited court time. The play that got me out of my seat and made me really excited about his long-term potential was against Nebraska on their home court (when we almost lost, save Ayo): he grabbed the board, took it the entire length of the court and put in a floater/lay-up. Didn't do it with his head down either -- he looked to make a pass but the defense gave him the lane and he was able to capitalize. I believe he had a 3 that first half too and it seemed to be his best spurt of the season, at least that I can recall.

Granted, any player can have flashes of great play and then still be an overall negative. But I'll have faith in Hawkins until he gives me reason to doubt his ability as a non-freshman (hard to glean much from a rookie's play). I'd be surprised if he's ever a star but he seems like a fantastic glue piece if he can live up to his potential.

I agree totally, FP, and I shake my head at posters who have low expectations from CoHawk for next year. I have seen every Illini player since the days of Govoner Vaughn and there has not been a single freshman of his size any better. For Pete's sake, he played valuable and many quality minutes for the B1G champs, one of the top 4 teams in the country!! The frosh to soph leap is generally the biggest. He will be a huge piece of the pie next season and is needed to be. You can't throw it to Kofi every time for a dunk or soon you will have 5 guys beating on him while 4 Illini stand at the arc watching slaughter.. Hawk, Hutch, Grandy, Trent, AC, and others can ALL score.....and they will have their moments and will shine. There are no guarantees as to who will make the biggest improvement, but there are few teams anywhere that can let a 6'10" kid who can pass, shoot, defend, and rebound like a B1G star sit on the bench most of the time.....and the Illini are not one of those few either (I truly have no idea who they would be anyway). Get ready to support a really good Illini student-athlete who will make all Illini fans proud.

 

[IlliniCaboose]

I guess this is the point in my life that I accept I'll always read "CH" as Crandall Head and be very confused for a few seconds.

 

[alexander58]

Davis was way more athletic.

There's a lot to like about Coleman --nice skill set and smart with the ball. Looked up his A/T, and although the sample is really small, and he was in limited competitive situations, he had 11 assists and only 6 T/O. No idea where he'll fit in the rotation, but the team will be more dangerous with a skilled big.

In Davis, I remember a guy who could hit a mid range jumper and rebound well. I also remember a player who was somewhat limited because he didn’t care to mix it up inside. Both he and Tisdale got pushed around a lot. I think Coleman has a much higher ceiling.

 

[mhuml32]

I agree totally, FP, and I shake my head at posters who have low expectations from CoHawk for next year. I have seen every Illini player since the days of Govoner Vaughn and there has not been a single freshman of his size any better. For Pete's sake, he played valuable and many quality minutes for the B1G champs, one of the top 4 teams in the country!! The frosh to soph leap is generally the biggest. He will be a huge piece of the pie next season and is needed to be. You can't throw it to Kofi every time for a dunk or soon you will have 5 guys beating on him while 4 Illini stand at the arc watching slaughter.. Hawk, Hutch, Grandy, Trent, AC, and others can ALL score.....and they will have their moments and will shine. There are no guarantees as to who will make the biggest improvement, but there are few teams anywhere that can let a 6'10" kid who can pass, shoot, defend, and rebound like a B1G star sit on the bench most of the time.....and the Illini are not one of those few either (I truly have no idea who they would be anyway). Get ready to support a really good Illini student-athlete who will make all Illini fans proud.

I'm hopeful that Hawkins can provide 10-12 minutes/game this upcoming season. Not sure if your statement about "size" is implying his height or a combination of his height/weight but there have been a number of Illinois big men that were much better than Hawkins' in their first year. It's not a knock on him as he has his own path. We would all be excited if he becomes something like Mike Davis with more outside shooting and less rebounding. Again, let's just see the next step where he can provide some offense in shorter spurts off of the bench (e.g., Damir Krupalija)

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

I guess this is the point in my life that I accept I'll always read "CH" as Crandall Head and be very confused for a few seconds.

It’s even worse because Luther is paying for CH too

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I agree totally, FP, and I shake my head at posters who have low expectations from CoHawk for next year. I have seen every Illini player since the days of Govoner Vaughn and there has not been a single freshman of his size any better. For Pete's sake, he played valuable and many quality minutes for the B1G champs, one of the top 4 teams in the country!! The frosh to soph leap is generally the biggest. He will be a huge piece of the pie next season and is needed to be. You can't throw it to Kofi every time for a dunk or soon you will have 5 guys beating on him while 4 Illini stand at the arc watching slaughter.. Hawk, Hutch, Grandy, Trent, AC, and others can ALL score.....and they will have their moments and will shine. There are no guarantees as to who will make the biggest improvement, but there are few teams anywhere that can let a 6'10" kid who can pass, shoot, defend, and rebound like a B1G star sit on the bench most of the time.....and the Illini are not one of those few either (I truly have no idea who they would be anyway). Get ready to support a really good Illini student-athlete who will make all Illini fans proud.

I like Hawk and expect a jump forward, but it remains to be seen how much of a jump forward. I’m in the wait and see, want to see it on the court camp because I don’t equate 34.5% overall and 23% from 3 nor a 6-10 guy with 5.3 rebounds per 40 minutes as shooting and rebounding “like a B1G star.” Hawk has some great tools and good skills, and I hope they are more on display this year.

 

[skyIdub]

I am firmly seated in the first car of the CoHawk Hype Train...however I have perfected the jump and barrel roll technique so that I can get off the train as it slows down to go around a bend.

Or I can just wait for the bridge over water.

 

[logjam]

I guess this is the point in my life that I accept I'll always read "CH" as Crandall Head and be very confused for a few seconds.

Surprising...he wasn't here long and did very little.

 

[WizardBill]

I tend to lean towards I will believe it when I see it. But...

1. Last summer, we heard Ayo was the most improved player and he was.
2. We also heard notable buzz about Curbelo & Miller and I would consider those warranted
3. The year before, we heard Kofi was a lot further than expected and would have an impact... and he did

I'm hopeful Coleman can step in and solidify a role on the team this year.

I agree with all this. I think the difference is this staff and their ability to ascertain quality improvements, quality players and just quality for the program. We are in VERY GOOD shape moving forward. I am seriously hoping the anti-BU bus is empty now.

 

[Illini_Jack]

Curbelo > Steve Nash
Frazier > Steph Curry
Hutch > MJ
Hawkins > Kevin Durant
Kofi > Shaq

There's no debate.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I agree with all this. I think the difference is this staff and their ability to ascertain quality improvements, quality players and just quality for the program. We are in VERY GOOD shape moving forward. I am seriously hoping the anti-BU bus is empty now.

Who cares? Meatballs gonna meatball.

 

[Ga65]

In Davis, I remember a guy who could hit a mid range jumper and rebound well. I also remember a player who was somewhat limited because he didn’t care to mix it up inside. Both he and Tisdale got pushed around a lot. I think Coleman has a much higher ceiling.

Davis averaged 7.1 rebounds. He must have been pushed in the right direction a lot.

 

[Bucktown]

I'm hopeful that Hawkins can provide 10-12 minutes/game this upcoming season. Not sure if your statement about "size" is implying his height or a combination of his height/weight but there have been a number of Illinois big men that were much better than Hawkins' in their first year. It's not a knock on him as he has his own path. We would all be excited if he becomes something like Mike Davis with more outside shooting and less rebounding. Again, let's just see the next step where he can provide some offense in shorter spurts off of the bench (e.g., Damir Krupalija)

Agree completely, Brian Cook & James Augustine as well, both had very good freshman years on very good teams.

 

[Ga65]

Curbelo > Steve Nash
Frazier > Steph Curry
Hutch > MJ
Hawkins > Kevin Durant
Kofi > Shaq

There's no debate.

Kind of a low bar.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1424783126182629379

 

[RJK01]

My opinion is that Grandison will start the season at the 4 with Hawkins being his backup and by the BIG season, Hawkins will be seeing as much time as Grandison. Damonte won't be needed at the 4 this season except in unique situations, like guarding Liddell.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Curbelo > Steve Nash
Frazier > Steph Curry
Hutch > MJ
Hawkins > Kevin Durant
Kofi > Shaq

There's no debate.

To be fair to Nash, MJ and Shaq, they are getting up there in years.

 

[HensonHall71]

Curbelo > Steve Nash
Frazier > Steph Curry
Hutch > MJ
Hawkins > Kevin Durant
Kofi > Shaq

There's no debate.

I think those are fair comparisons - I’m expecting Curbelo and Kofi to light up NIL, stay for another year next year and win back to back national championships

I’m surprised there isn’t a thread yet on if this is the best college basketball team ever assembled because that should be the discussion right now

 

[sacraig]

Curbelo > Steve Nash
Frazier > Steph Curry
Hutch > MJ
Hawkins > Kevin Durant
Kofi > Shaq

There's no debate.

Lieb > Larry Bird (but less athletic)

 

[WhiteHorseWings]

Surprising...he wasn't here long and did very little.

It must be because he played 1x1 with my 6 year old at the father/son camp a million years ago

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

We've had our moment with Arizona. Down 14 with 3:20 to play in 05

I was living in Glendale at the time (AZ). Had friends in from Illinois that we were meeting for dinner that evening. Mild Kittens were up 3 when we left home and up 14 when we were seated at the table. Told our friends, "Me not watching is for the best. Arizona gloating is not going to be good for my psyche". A few minutes later there was an uproar coming from the bar area. Told the wife "that's it, I gotta know." Spent the next hour and 1/2 celebrating the best finish to a college basketball game ever with a bunch of ASU fans that I now consider friends!! ILL!!

 

[zentrails]

I appreciated this.

I don't really care how we win or who is the hero. I just want to win it, preferably convincingly. As a Tucson resident, I would enjoy that greatly.

Yep, me too, but I'm actually hoping that Curbelo destroys everyone we play. Few freshman guards play as well as he did.
A decent outside shot may be all he needs to do that

 

[zentrails]

Davis had good instincts for the ball, but CH is so much more skilled handling the ball, passing, and even shooting at this stage.

CH is not too shabby at blocks, too, close to intimidating, IMO

 

[HailtotheChief]

I agree totally, FP, and I shake my head at posters who have low expectations from CoHawk for next year. I have seen every Illini player since the days of Govoner Vaughn and there has not been a single freshman of his size any better. For Pete's sake, he played valuable and many quality minutes for the B1G champs, one of the top 4 teams in the country!! The frosh to soph leap is generally the biggest. He will be a huge piece of the pie next season and is needed to be. You can't throw it to Kofi every time for a dunk or soon you will have 5 guys beating on him while 4 Illini stand at the arc watching slaughter.. Hawk, Hutch, Grandy, Trent, AC, and others can ALL score.....and they will have their moments and will shine. There are no guarantees as to who will make the biggest improvement, but there are few teams anywhere that can let a 6'10" kid who can pass, shoot, defend, and rebound like a B1G star sit on the bench most of the time.....and the Illini are not one of those few either (I truly have no idea who they would be anyway). Get ready to support a really good Illini student-athlete who will make all Illini fans proud.

I think I'll take Brian Cook over Hawk for starters anyday. I hope he shows us something on the court but we have had other skilled big guys. He was behind GB too for a reason.