Illinois just missed the cut in 247Sports’ Preseason Top 25.
That might be a big oversight.
Illinois hasn’t played a game that counts yet, but the Illini showed in Sunday’s exhibition win over No. 1-ranked Kansas that things might look so similar, yet so different.
Illinois seemed like it was preparing for life after Coleman Hawkins which is why Oregon transfer Quincy Guerrier was such a big priority in the transfer portal. Guerrier hopped on board in late April. A month later, Hawkins opted to remove his name from the 2023 NBA Draft in the final hour and return to Champaign. That forced Illinois coach Brad Underwood to double down on Hawkins as an initiate-the-offense, connect-the-dots defensively, 5-man.
Illinois had a +17.48 net rating last season in the 972 possessions with Hawkins at the 5, per Pivot Analysis, and that was in the middle of a season filled with a lot of drama and a bunch of bricked jumpers.
If Sunday is any indication, Hawkins won’t be sharing the floor with a back-to-the-basket center like Dain Dainja too often. Bill Self noted that Kansas couldn’t guard Hawkins. If Kansas is going to struggle with Hawkins, so will plenty of other teams.
That’s a game-changer for Illinois’ floor-ceiling combination. Illinois is the second-oldest team in the Big Ten, and that should pay dividends on the defensive end. Illinois’ closing lineup Sunday had four fifth-year seniors and Hawkins (a fourth-year senior).
But the ball movement and approach offensively were very encouraging. Star wing Terrence Shannon Jr. looked completely unguardable with Hawkins at the 5. There were driving lanes all over the map, and Illinois’ point guard concerns were mitigated a bit thanks to the presence of steady-eddy, Southern Illinois transfer Marcus Domask. Illinois doesn’t have a true point guard, but if Hawkins is at the 5, it might not need it to create good offense. Illinois has filled the roster with willing drivers who can take advantage of Hawkins’ floor spacing.
Illinois is predicted to finish in the top-4 of the Big Ten while being a fringe top-25 team. That might be a bit low for a team with multiple All-Big Ten players and a host of veterans who can all chip in on any given night.
Shannon is Illinois’ All-American, but Hawkins is at the epicenter of everything Illinois wants to be on both ends.