I’m not going to grouse about a victory — a shaky win is better than a glamorous loss — but we should all be breathing a big sigh of relief after Friday night’s performance. You always need to be aware of a possible letdown following an important win, but that was waaaaaaaaay too close for my liking.
There were plenty of storylines worth talking about. It was another frustrating, herky-jerky game for the Fighting Illini offense. Coleman Hawkins got an extended look, and the 6-foot-10 frosh made the most of his opportunity, recording five points, two rebounds and a block in his 10 minutes of action.