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Part of what has made this season special for Illinois coach Brad Underwood has been enjoying the program’s success with alumni.
On Saturday, that included Coleman Hawkins, who attended Illinois’ 71-59 win over Iowa in the Elite Eight. Hawkins played a key role in the Illini’s resurgence with Underwood, as he was a freshman when Illinois snapped its seven-year NCAA Tournament drought in 2021.
Having Hawkins in Houston made the Final Four celebration all the more special for Underwood.
“I hope at the end of the day it’s not about wins and losses. I hope it’s about relationships you make,” Underwood said. “And we’ve had Dain Dainja back, we’ve had [Marcus] Domask back, all our pro guys back, guys like Trent Frazier. We can do right on down the list. And the calls you’re getting, the texts you’re getting – that, to me, is what this is about.”
From an outsider’s perspective, some may question why Hawkins is welcome back, given that he transferred out of Illinois to play for Kansas State during the 2024-25 season. That speaks to an interesting dynamic created by the transfer portal.
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Illinois fans booed Michigan forward Morez Johnson and held posters depicting him as a clown when he returned to Champaign this season, yet most of the fan base seems happy to see Hawkins with the team. That’s not to say fans are wrong for reacting either way, as the situations are vastly different.
Rather, it shows how Hawkins built such a strong relationship with Underwood, his teammates and the Illini fan base, which isn’t always the case. Transferring out doesn’t have to mean burning bridges with a program, especially in the case of Hawkins, who was happy to see Illinois reach the Final Four after he lost in the 2024 Elite Eight.
“Yeah, it definitely feels like I’m a part of something, but even though I’m not, I am extremely proud of this group,” Hawkins told Ryan Baker of CBS Chicago during the Iowa game. “I’m extremely proud of coach Underwood. I’ve been able to just sit back and really…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/coleman-hawkins-celebrates-final-four-225918008.html
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Publish date : 2026-03-30 22:59:00
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