Basketball
Quentin Coleman Impresses in Illinois Basketball Debut vs. Cincinnati
Quentin Coleman showed why he is one of the most heralded incoming freshmen in College basketball
Quentin Coleman showed off more than scoring ability in his Illini debut, flashing the playmaking, toughness, and relentless motor that could make him a special piece of Brad Underwood’s new-look offense.
The Illini won a 105-96 shootout, and there was plenty to like about Brad Underwood’s new-look offense. But when I walked out of Fifth Third Arena, Quentin Coleman was the player I kept thinking about.
I went into the game hoping Coleman could fill Kylan Boswell’s role from last season. I was looking for him to contribute through cutting, rebounding, defense, and opportunistic scoring. What I did not expect was how comfortable he looked creating offense for everyone else, or how impressive his tough-shot making would be.
Coleman wasted little time changing my expectations.
His first two minutes were electric. He attacked the defense without hesitation, played with tremendous energy, and looked like someone who belonged on the floor. I was sold before the game had a chance to settle in. But the most impressive part of his performance was not simply his ability to get downhill. It was what happened when the defense collapsed around him.
Twice, Coleman attacked the rim, hung in the air, and delivered a cross-court pass for a made three-pointer from Tomislav Ivisic. Those plays offered a glimpse of his potential as a creator. He can pressure the rim as a scorer, but he also has the vision to punish defenses for sending help.
That combination could be especially valuable in Illinois’ faster offense. With shooters and capable finishers surrounding him, Coleman can attack, force a reaction, and create opportunities for his teammates.
The numbers backed up what the eye test suggested. Quentin Coleman finished with 14 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in 31 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range while adding a steal. He nearly recorded a triple-double in his first game in an Illinois uniform.
Contributing to winning basketball
Those numbers are impressive, but they do not fully capture what caught my attention. It was the combination of aggression and creativity. Coleman was not content to wait for the game to come to him. He attacked, made things happen, and showed the confidence to attempt difficult plays.
There will be growing pains. The college game is faster, defenders are stronger, and Coleman will have to learn when to attack and when to make the simpler play. But his motor and aggressiveness are rare commodities, and those traits give him a strong foundation.
Coming off a remarkable high school career at Principia, where he averaged 23.1 points per game as a senior, Coleman arrived in Champaign with plenty of hype. Saturday showed that his impact could extend well beyond scoring.
Illinois doesn’t need him to be a finished product overnight. If he continues developing his decision-making while maintaining that attacking mentality, Coleman has the potential to flirt with a triple-double on his best nights.
I expected a freshman who could fill a role. Instead, I saw a guard who might fill up the entire box score.
