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Jay Simpson | Self's return has me excited for college basketball – The News-Gazette
One of Editor & Publisher’s ‘10 That Do It Right 2021’
Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..
Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
Updated: November 5, 2023 @ 7:44 pm
Former Illini men’s basketball coach Bill Self is bringing his Kansas team to Champaign for a charity exhibition game against Illinois on Sunday at State Farm Center.
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Former Illini men’s basketball coach Bill Self is bringing his Kansas team to Champaign for a charity exhibition game against Illinois on Sunday at State Farm Center.
Coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks will be in town this month, and I can’t wait. It’s going to be lit!
Although it’s a fundraiser game between Illinois and Kansas at State Farm Center on Oct. 29 that doesn’t really count towards anything, I believe it will have that rivalry type of feel to it because I know for sure Self would love to come back and get a win.
I just don’t see the Illini folding and letting that happen easily, especially since the Jayhawks added Hunter Dickinson, the former Michigan big man who’s not the most liked in State Farm Center. If I had to choose a player who’s the most hated in Champaign, it’d be Dickinson for sure, so having him just adds more fuel to the fire. It’s a must-win for Illinois, and I believe they will pull it off.
I’m anxious to get a look at the newcomers on this Illini roster and see how they gel against elite competition like Kansas.
I think the Illini’s guard play will be a lot better than a lot of the teams they play against this year, but the only worry will be the height situation because Illinois doesn’t have much size at the big position.
With Dain Dainja being the Illini’s biggest guy, when he’s out, that means Coleman Hawkins will more than likely have to play the 5 at times this year, and I’m not sure if he’s accustomed to that yet. The physicality is different. I’m not saying Hawkins can’t and won’t get accustomed to it, but it’s going to take a few games to get his feet wet.
All in all, I think this season will be an interesting one for Illinois because they are still a little on the young side, but the guys are dogs and they work hard so in the same breath, it wouldn’t surprise me if they turn out to be really good this year.
Through the ups and the downs, it will be a fun ride. That’s for sure.
Except when the play my Boilermakers.
Much love!
Jay Simpson writes for The News-Gazette. His column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He can be reached at jsimpson@news-gazette.com.
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