Illinois basketball had a crushing end to what was a great 2023-24 campaign.
To lose in that fashion is always tough. The Illini were competitive in the first half, but UConn wielded their power in the final 20 minutes and put us away quickly.
With the loss in the Elite 8 comes roster changes. The transfer portal has already started, so the coaching staff will surely jump straight in and start trying to land players for next season.
Illinois also got the official word from Coleman Hawkins about his plans.
After the game, Hawkins did an interview by his locker.
“I think I am done playing for Illinois,” Hawkins said, “I want to take the next step and really develop my game and get better at basketball. I feel like that next step is at another level.”
Despite still having a year of eligibility left, #Illini Coleman Hawkins believes he’s played his last game at Illinois. pic.twitter.com/RTVLhxgFxZ
— Jakob Stutz (@JakobStutz) March 31, 2024
Hawkins finished the UConn game with five points, four rebounds, one assist, one block, and one turnover on 2-of-10 shooting from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range. Don’t let his final game distract you from the talent and dedication Hawkins brought to the court during his time in Champaign.
Illinois basketball has seen tremendous success with Coleman Hawkins on the roster
While Hawkins had a bad final game, he left a solid legacy with the Orange and Blue. Before Hawkins arrived, Illinois hadn’t made an NCAA tournament since 2012-13. We went dancing in all four years Hawkins was on the roster.
Hawkins’ great run at Illinois included winning two Big Ten Tournament titles, winning the Big Ten regular season title, making the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed, and advancing to the Elite 8 to top things off.
The skillset Hawkins brought to the court each game was unique. At 6-foot-10, he had the rare combination of good shooting mixed in with good court vision. He finished his final season at Illinois averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Those are numbers we may never see again.
At the end of the day, the Elite 8 run helped cement Hawkins as one of the best Illinois basketball players in the last decade or more. He is someone who helped shape the fandom of a generation. Hawkins let winning back in the doors of the State Farm Center, and his legacy at Illinois will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything.