Illini basketball alpha dog Malcolm Hill had a night for the ages. He said goodbye to his home crowd in style, leading Illinois to a 73-70 victory over a solid Michigan State team with 22 points, four rebounds and four assists. After the game, he made his way around the court, spreading love to his fam, and Illinois supporters everywhere.
It was an emotional experience. Seriously, it got a little dusty in here tonight.
After the game, Hill said tonight may or may not have been the best moment in his Illini career, but it was certainly in the top three.
His fellow seniors, Tracy Abrams and Maverick Morgan, also agreed that tonight was a top three moment in their respective Illini basketball careers.
Malcolm Hill after an emotional Senior Night #Illini victory pic.twitter.com/Xiw5jADno5
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) March 2, 2017
“I love Malcolm Hill. He’s one of my favorite players,” said Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo after the game.
“He does it with class.”
When the postgame media session was complete, Malcolm Hill took the time to stop and give a special thanks to the media for helping him grow as a person these past four years. As a member of the media, words cannot truly describe the gratitude I feel right now for this gesture.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/837162200523493376
Current popular opinion of reporters is about as low as its ever been in recent memory.
Additionally, during his postgame television interview Hill was moved to tears:
This is why you play the game. Malcolm Hill Illini Fans will be forever in debt to you pic.twitter.com/psihKEYHRk
— Aarman Sethi (@asethi03) March 2, 2017
Related: Malcolm Hill NBA Draft Stock/NBA Draft mocksourcing.
Go here for an assessment of Illinois’ NCAA Tournament chances.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud and YouTube