Bill Cole brought stretch-forward value to Illinois with veteran poise and timely shooting
Bill Cole was a 6-9 forward for Illinois whose 2010-11 season featured steady spot-up value: he started 24 of 34 games and averaged 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds, while the Illini’s 2009-10 stats show he was a very efficient perimeter big who shot 37.7% from three and 46.0% overall. His real differentiator was fit — a smart, experienced floor-spacer who could punish defenses that overhelped on Illinois’ guards, with enough toughness to earn trust in the lineup. For a team needing older, low-maintenance, inside-out support, he looked like a useful glue guy rather than a volume scorer.
