By: Grant Labedz, https://twitter.com/thegrocereport
Malcolm Hill knows how much his game has improved since the first day he stepped on campus. In Illinois’ last game, an upset win over the #9 Terrapins at home, Hill dropped a career-high 28 points and led his team to a much needed victory. What may have been the most impressive aspect of his performance was his ability to step up with an injured Rayvonte Rice and deliver as a leader through his play on both ends of the floor.
When Rice went down with a broken wrist two days prior to Illinois’ home match up verses Maryland, Illinois’ season did not look to promising. Illinois loses Rice for anywhere to 3-6 weeks, and subsequently, it loses its leading scorer. A team that had been struggling to find itself both on the offensive and defensive end turned to Hill for an answer, and he surely delivered.
Hidden under the impressive play of Rayvonte Rice has been a newly improved Malcolm Hill that has been the X-factor for this Illinois team day-in and day-out. Hill is averaging 14.0 points per game after just 4.4 his freshman season. His three point percentage is up nearly 10% from last year, and halfway through this season, he has already surpassed his rebounding mark for all of last year.
What’s the secret for Malcolm Hill who has served as the rock behind Rice all season long and now is filling the role as this team’s go-to guy? Malcolm Hill put on twenty pounds during the off season which undoubtedly has helped him muscle inside with bigger players and pull down more rebounds, but Hill cites confidence as the reason he’s improved so much.
I was a little more immature last year, and I’ve got a year under my belt this year,” said Hill at the beginning of the season. Certainly freshman nerves may have haunted Hill for most of his first season. Playing under the bright lights and pressure of the Big Ten is a daunting task for a teenager, but Hill has certainly learned from his play as a freshman and figured out what needs to be done for his team to win.
Hill has been sneaky good all year long. Despite a few poor performances (Oregon, Ohio State), Hill has pulled his weight and been tough and physical especially in the big match ups against the tough teams. Hill dropped 17 against Baylor, 28 against Maryland, 19 against Michigan, 20 against Villanova, and 13 against Miami, despite losing some of those games. What’s promising is that Hill has proved thus far that he can compete with the big dogs. Often times we Illinois fans judge a player based on how he performs in the games against the mid-major opponents when real character is defined in these big match ups. Malcolm Hill is a big time player, and he is the go-to in a big time game.
The good news is that Malcolm is only a sophomore, and he’s got promising talent in Kendrick Nunn playing right beside him. If Hill can assume this leadership both offensively and defensively that he has embraced so well, then he can lead this Illinois team to an NCAA tournament this season and for more to come. So let’s have some faith in Groce and Malcolm and let this team do what they do best.
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The Groce Report 