From a previous post of mine this is what I meant about CoHawk being more aggressive on offense. We don’t win this game without his offensive aggressiveness. If we can clean up lazy lackadaisical passes We can be pretty good.
Having recognized that Hawkins virtually never (actually only very seldom) took a shot from the paint early last year, it is blatantly apparent that he put scoring in the paint at the bottom of his focus....which is absurd for a guy with his size and skill.
He simply has to score when given the opportunity in order for this team to win!!!! In the past two games, he has been aggressive at taking the shots offered, especially the easy ones. Not looking for him to become a selfish scorer as that is not in his blood. But as a team first guy, he must understand he needs to shoot the 10 ft. jumper and in because
no one is guarding him when he is 10 ft. away. Last year, there were a handful of times every game where he would be unguarded while dribbling and moving to the hoop. He could stop and pop from 8-10 ft. on almost every possession. Yet, he would get to the rim and put up a weak effort that got swatted or missed badly. I love the jump hook and the tear drop runners that other teams seem to make 80%
against the Illini. Those are easy shots %wise that Hawk can make as often as anyone. Simply, he needs to score and not try to make highlight reel passes.
That we have seen that happen in the past two games is
a very positive improvement for this team. It will allow them to avoid scoring droughts and lead to more opportunity for the entire team. TSJ can do the same as he can score easily when he takes his time in the paint....and he does not need to run past everyone in order to do just that.
Bottom line is that a major weakness in this team, the lack of willingness to shoot open shots or take high % shots inside 12 ft seems to have been addressed in a positive way and is a must. It is an easy fix but has a dramatic effect on the ceiling for this team going forward. I really respect the talent and unselfishness CoHawk possesses and have from the git go, especially his defense, but it seems to me that he impacts the game in so many ways with unselfish play that he does not fully understand that this is basketball and the team who scores the most points wins. Not saying he needs to score 20 per game, but he must take every opportunity if the high % shots offered so the team does not have to force low % shots as the clock runs out.
We have an exceptional talent in Coleman Hawkins who is involved and working hard on every play at both ends.....and the Illini program is lucky to have him. But taking advantage of his scoring opportunities is a must for future success....and that future is getting pretty close.
crazy than in later years.
