Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Iowa

2. Can Hawkins shut down another superstar?

Just this past Friday, Coleman Hawkins emerged as one of the best defensive options Illinois has on the basketball court.

I always thought Hawkins could be a dangerous defensive player. He has 6-foot-10 size and a wingspan that surely measures north of 7-foot. The kid is mobile too. He doesn’t just lumber around the court. He has quickness and agility, which is rare for his size.

Against Rutgers, Hawkins displayed his tremendous size and athletic ability. He was matched up with Rutgers’ best player in Ron Harper Jr. Harper is a player who averages over 14 points per game, but on Friday night, Hawkins held him to just five points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.

This great defensive performance by Hawkins raised some eyebrows. This was essentially his breakout game but on the defensive end of the court.

Hawkins is most likely going to be tasked with stopping another great player for Iowa. This player might be Keegan Murray if he is healthy for the game. Murray missed the Purdue contest just days ago.

Even if Murray can’t go, Iowa has some 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9 guys who Hawkins can guard. No matter who he goes up against, I have no doubt Hawkins will be a matchup nightmare.

So, I will be watching the Hawkins defensive matchup. I think this is going to be an underrated thing to watch out for in this game.