Illinois came up short against Texas Tech on Tuesday night, but Quentin Coleman still gave the Illini something to hang onto.
In a matchup between two ranked teams chasing an early statement win, Illinois was also dealing with the absence of David Mirkovic and Jake Davis. Even so, the roster’s depth showed up, and Coleman was the one who stood out most.
He finished as Illinois’ leading scorer with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range. His second half was especially sharp.
Over the final 20 minutes, Coleman put up 14 points, three rebounds and three assists while going a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-4 from deep. When Illinois needed a spark late, he kept the game alive by knocking down three-pointer after three-pointer in the final two minutes.
That kind of performance is why the Keaton Wagler comparisons are hard to miss.
Like Wagler, Coleman plays with a fearless edge. He attacks the basket, absorbs contact, works hard all over the floor and doesn’t quit on possessions.
He gets to the free throw line. He defends.
He brings the kind of energy that shows up even when the scoreboard doesn’t cooperate.
Wagler had that same reputation as a freshman, delivering in big moments even when Illinois didn’t get the result it wanted. Coleman is already showing that same trait, and the numbers back it up.
Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a freshman, while shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range. Coleman, through three games at Illinois, is averaging 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 60.2% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range.
There’s one more layer to the comparison, too. Wagler arrived as a sub-100 recruit, while Coleman came in as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Missouri, just as Wagler had been in Kansas.
The sample size is still small, but Coleman already looks like a player who can carry the same kind of impact Wagler did. And if this is where he is now, the ceiling only gets higher from here.
In Other News...
Greg Sankey Just Dragged Illinois Into The Big Ten SEC Fight
Greg Sankey took direct aim at the College Football Playoff debate this week, brushing aside the familiar argument that the SEC gets special treatment because of its media rights deal with ESPN. The SEC commissioner said the selection process is the same for every conference and pushed back on the idea that his league has been lobbying or steering the rankings behind the scenes.
His comments also pulled Illinois into the middle of the larger Big Ten-SEC argument, after he responded specifically to Bret Bielemas criticism. Sankey challenged Big Ten programs to prove themselves by scheduling non-conference games against SEC opponents, a pointed reminder that the debate over strength of schedule is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got A Harsh Reminder About This Top 3 Team
Illinois got its first real jolt of the season against a Texas Tech team that looked every bit like a top-tier opponent, and the early damage was hard to ignore. The No. 3 Illini fell behind by 20 at halftime before making things more respectable after the break, but the comeback effort still ended in an 84-78 loss that exposed how thin the margin can be against elite competition.
Quentin Coleman gave Illinois a lift with 19 points and efficient shooting, but the rest of the offense never found a steady rhythm. Stefan Vaaks had a rough night on both ends, and the teams perimeter struggles were a major factor, with Illinois connecting on just 10 of 34 shots from beyond the arc. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Could Not Finish The Comeback In A Rare Rough Night
Illinois had enough spurts to make Texas Tech sweat, but the Illini could not quite finish the comeback in an 84-78 loss on a rare rough night. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn supplied 15 points to help keep Illinois within striking distance, but the Red Raiders had the steadier finish and the more reliable scoring punch when it mattered most.
Cruz Davis led Texas Tech with 20 points, and Jamichael Stillwell made his season debut after being granted a temporary restraining order to play. For Illinois, the result was a reminder that even when the offense finds some rhythm late, there is still work to do in closing out a game against a capable opponent. [Read more 🡒]