So happy for our three all-conference guys. Hawkins deserved a bit more love, though.
This year's team has been much, much more satisfying to watch than last year's. The main difference for me has been the way Domask has balanced the strengths of Hawkins and Shannon.
We had already seen that the latter two were marquee players. Hope to be watching those guys in the NBA.
I suspect that Hawkins' improved shooting numbers owe something--beyond the shots he put up at Ubben and the new, relaxed mindset--to Domask absorbing pressure, allowing Hawkins to play freer, take fewer shots at the last seconds of the shot clock, and create less for himself on the perimeter.
We have won a number of games by giving the ball to Domask in clutch moments. Mike LaTulip commented a year ago that a go-to offensive player wasn't necessarily essential beyond possibly being a decoy. His point was that anyone could take a big shot. I love the idea in theory, however I remember how many games the Bulls won because they put the ball in Michael Jordan's hands in clutch moments and the other team didn't have Michael Jordan.
In my opinion, our best clutch bucket-getter last year turned out to be Jayden Epps. I am happy to continue to root for the departed guys and see him and Skyy Clark landing premier roles and scoring a lot at Georgetown and Louisville, albeit their point totals are accompanied by low field goal percentages and losing records.
I have an inkling that RJ Melendez would have done well as a member of this year's team. I always thought he was a good cutter, put-back guy, and did well when the ball was moving and he could read the defense during our offensive sets. I see similarities between his and Guerrier's playing styles, although Guerrier is the stronger rebounder, can defend a center, and shoots much better from behind the three point line.
Hope the Illini get sent to Brooklyn for the subregional, so I can see them live for a second time!