Illinois’ new-look freshman group gave the Illini plenty to chew on in their 105-96 win over Cincinnati, and the biggest takeaway may be that the class looks better than advertised.
The exhibition came with plenty of caveats. Brad Underwood used 12 players, the game didn’t count, and Illinois allowed 96 points while Underwood said they didn’t even scout. If someone wanted to nitpick, there was room to do it.
But the freshmen offered a reason to look past the chaos.
Ethan Brown was the one who stood out most. He earned the start against Cincinnati, which should tell you plenty about the trust the staff already has in him, even if the lineup will look different when the real thing begins.
Brown played with a steady hand all afternoon and never looked sped up, which is not something you take for granted from a freshman. That calmness stood out.
So did the fact that he finished with zero turnovers.
He also showed why he was such a prolific scorer in high school, where he piled up more than 2,500 points. Brown knocked down a few quick catch-and-shoot threes, got into the paint, and created his own shot at times. He also tied for second on the team in rebounds, flashing a willingness to do more than just score.
Quentin Coleman made an equally strong first impression in a different way. Sam Vecenie had him at No. 7 in his latest NBA mock draft, and it was easy to see why a guard with Coleman’s tools grabs attention. He rebounded, defended and facilitated, all while bringing a motor that never really dipped.
There was a real edge to the way Coleman played. He consistently got two feet in the paint, where he either finished at the rim or kicked the ball out to open teammates.
He also knocked down two threes, which only adds to the appeal. If you like your guards active on the glass, Coleman is going to be impossible to ignore.
At 6-foot-4 with length, athleticism and a relentless approach, he looks like the kind of player who can do damage on the boards all season. He even led the FIBA U18 team in rebounding, and that’s not something you say about most guards.
I can’t remember a better rebounding guard in the Underwood era.
Landon Davis helped ease another preseason concern: frontcourt depth. The 6-foot-9 forward’s 7-foot-3 wingspan jumped out right away, and he put it to work with a block on a Cincinnati three-point attempt.
He also knocked down his only shot, a catch-and-shoot three. It was a small sample, but Davis looks like someone who can give Illinois useful minutes.
He has the athleticism to run the floor, help defensively and stretch the floor, which makes him a developmental piece worth watching closely.
The rest of the freshman group got a taste, too. Lucas Morillo logged five minutes, didn’t take a shot and was stripped while bringing the ball up the floor.
Lincoln Williams, a name that has drawn plenty of attention this offseason, scored his only points on a layup and still looks like a player who needs more time to grow into the role. Zavier Zens played 11 minutes, finished with three rebounds and two points, and went 0-for-4 from three.
Underwood said he was surprised by that.
For one first look, it was encouraging enough.
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