Illini Basketball 2021-2022
- Status
Yep, when did we play them last? seems like a decade ago 2019?
Hopefully Curbelo can do to them what that AZ guard did to us back then
I'm concerned his summer hasn't been elite.
SactownIllini
- Coleman Hawkinsland
Any time I hear of someone looking incredible in practice, but we haven't really seen it in a game yet, I have PTSD flashbacks to the Legion days. I want someone to reassociate this negative association for me with something positive. Hutch and Hawkins will break the cycle!!
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.
If Coleman can be the player we all thought he could be, this year’s team could be scary good.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
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.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Not sure if this is the year, but I see him as far more than a glue guy. I think he has the potential to go off and put up 20 and 10 with a 15 & 7 avg. Not this year tho.
sacraig
- The desert
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.
4.Word was Giorgi was doing great in practice before his freshman year and wass lookin good at 5 and he was.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
sacraig
- The desert
Wow, really? How have I never heard of this before? /s
Coleman reminds me a little of Mike Davis, tall thin, good leaper. Mike Davis didn't have a great freshman year either, although IIRC he hit a big shot to help us beat Mizzo.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
My takeaway is that Robert seems pretty confident some sort of penalty is coming Kofi's way for selling merch.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Davis had good instincts for the ball, but CH is so much more skilled handling the ball, passing, and even shooting at this stage.
As I have stated earlier, any penalty proposed by the NCAA should be met immediately with legal action. With the opinion expressed by Justice Kavanaugh in the previous action, I do not think the NCAA would feel too confident going into court attempting to stop a student athlete from selling something that belonged to him. The NCAA should, from here on out, be quiet on any matter that pertains to an athlete's right to benefit from his NIL.
NCAA specializes in "unwise" unfortunately
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.
What happened in that game? I don’t have 3 minutes and 20 seconds to watch it- but surely we must have lost- I mean, it would have taken the greatest Comeback in tournament history to win that one!
Muck Fichigan!
- Status