Things can only get better for Illini basketball this season, and they will. It could be marginally better, or he could be significantly better, it all depends on how far Malcolm Hill can carry them. Announced just now, Hill was one of 50 players named to the Naismith Award watch list. The Naismith (or the Wooden Award as well) is kind of like the basketball equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Last year, when they finished 12th in the B1G, the Illini set a new school record for losses. Off the court, Illinois had four players arrested and indefinitely suspended, three of which on violent criminal charges. Hard to imagine a season having more bad news all around than 2015-16.
There’s nowhere to go but up. Illinois is now healthy and more experienced, but most preseason power rankings are projecting them in the 8th-12th in the B1G. Most commonly, Illini basketball are showing up around 9th or 10th.
ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas did a media conference call this week, and he was extremely high on Malcolm Hill. The Bristol pundit lavished huge praise upon him.
“Malcolm Hill is one of the best players in the country,” said Bilas.
“So if he can take that team over and be the leader and be the most consistent player, both from a leadership and productivity standpoint, they can be really good.”
“I watched some of their exhibition and it was really nice to see Tracy Abrams back on the floor. He was another guy, losing all of last season to injury was rough stuff, so it’s good to see him back.”
There you have it, Malcolm Hill among the best overall players in the nation. High praise from Bilas, and really the best source for optimism this upcoming Illini basketball season.
Pretty much stuff that we already knew, but it’s still interesting to hear that perspective from a big time national analyst. For the most part, they have to take the “flying at 30,000 feet” overview for most teams, since they are required to have a basic acumen of so many different schools.
It’s not the same kind of excessive detailed analysis you get from the local media. Perhaps Hill could win B1G Player of the Year? First Team All-American?
He was preseason All-B1G first team. There’s probably a much better opportunity and probability for Hill to win prestigious individual awards than there is for this team to go to the NCAA Tournament. It could be a mediocre season, so you the Illini basketball fan need some reasons to stay engaged. Perhaps Malcolm Hill is that reason.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.