Top 5 teams Coleman Hawkins dominated during his Illinois basketball career

1. Michigan Wolverines: 6-0 (100% winning rate)

The final team on the list is the big one. Wisconsin and Nebraska had worse records against Coleman Hawkins and the Illini, but that was due to them playing more games. If Michigan played more games, they would have had a worse record. But the Wolverines still take the top spot on the list of teams Hawkins most dominated.

Michigan used to be a bit like Wisconsin. They had our number, and I wasn’t sure when the dominance by the Wolverines was going to end. In the previous 18 games before Hawkins arrived in Champaign, Illinois was 4-14 against Michigan. It was a bloodbath.

In steps Hawkins, and again, everything changed. Illinois didn’t just start winning more, we haven’t lost a game since Hawkins joined the program. The Illini are 6-0 against the Wolverines, which extends the current Illinois winning streak to eight games overall.

Illinois has dominated Michigan in the six games Hawkins was on the roster as well. We are winning each of those games by an average of 15.7 points per game.

Hawkins did get a chance to start in three of the contests. One of the big reasons why Michigan ranks No. 1 on this list, aside from being 6-0, is the fact Hawkins put up incredible numbers against the Wolverines.

In the three starts he had against Michigan, Hawkins averaged 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He also shot 51.7% from the field and a mind-blowing 6-of-11, 54.5%, from three-point range.

Illinois saw great success with Hawkins on the roster. We won so many games, and it feels good to say, Michigan was the team Hawkins dominated the most. I think it is fair to say, they are probably so glad he is not in Champaign anymore.