Andres Feliz
FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu's (11) scores against Penn State in the final minute of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa Watching the shot are Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) and Penn State's Seth Lundy (1). The return of stars Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn has brought a sense of optimism and high expectations to an Illinois program that saw a magical season abruptly halted by the pandemic in March. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec, File)
No. 8 Illini return with high expectations behind star duo

By Terry Towery Nov. 10, 2020 05:49 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — They’re back. The return of stars

Iowa's Luca Garza (55) blocks the shot of Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu, No. 23 Illinois hold off No. 18 Iowa 78-76

By Terry Towery Mar. 08, 2020 09:40 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The rivalry between Illinois and Iowa is heating up.

Illinois' Da'Monte Williams, center, loses control of the ball as Ohio State's E.J. Liddell, left, and Luther Muhammad defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 19 Ohio State rallies to beat No. 23 Illinois 71-63

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 05, 2020 09:25 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With one of Ohio State's key big men out with an ankle

Illinois' Andres Feliz (10) powers past Nebraska's Charlie Easley (30) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois downs Nebraska 71-59 behind Dosunmu

Feb. 24, 2020 10:34 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — After a signature road win against then-No. 9 Penn State

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) is fouled by Rutgers center Myles Johnson (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Harper scores 27, Rutgers beats No. 22 Illinois 72-57

By Tom Canavan Feb. 15, 2020 06:52 PM EST
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Ron Harper Jr. broke out of his shooting slump with one

Michigan State's Xavier Tillman (23) moves the ball against Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu hurt after Spartans' late dunk; No. 22 Illini fall

By Terry Towery Feb. 11, 2020 11:54 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois suffered two brutal losses by the final horn

Illinois' Alan Griffin (0) looks to pass the ball as Maryland's Aaron Wiggins (2) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Maryland rallies to beat Illinois 75-66

Feb. 07, 2020 10:28 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — With Illinois shredding Maryland's man-to-man defense,

Iowa forward Cordell Pemsl, center, drives between Illinois' Da'Monte Williams, left, and Andres Feliz, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Garza has 25 points, No. 18 Iowa beats No. 19 Illinois 72-65

Feb. 02, 2020 03:28 PM EST
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza is 6-foot-11 and can hit 3-pointers.

No. 19 Illinois holds on to beat Minnesota 59-51

Terry Towery Jan. 30, 2020 10:10 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — No. 19 Illinois did what it took to move back into a

Illinois' Trent Frazier (1) works the ball vs Northwestern in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
No. 24 Illinois hangs on to beat Northwestern 75-71

By Terry Towery Jan. 18, 2020 07:39 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill, (AP) — As Illinois coach Brad Underwood watched Northwestern

Maryland guard Eric Ayala, right, and forward Ricky Lindo Jr. (4) react during a timeout against Illinois during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
No. 3 Maryland rallies from 15 down, beats Illinois 59-58

Dec. 07, 2019 07:40 PM EST
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — No. 3 Maryland couldn’t help but like the way its Big

Dosunmu scores 24 to led Illinois past Lindenwood 117-65

By Terry Towery Nov. 26, 2019 10:32 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, five others scored in

Cockburn's double-double powers Illinois past Hampton 120-71

By Terry Towery Nov. 23, 2019 10:38 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu scored 20 points apiece

Cockburn leads way as Illinois holds off Grand Canyon 83-71

By John Marshall Nov. 08, 2019 11:43 PM EST
PHOENIX (AP) — Illinois started its two-game desert road trip in one of the

Feliz helps Illinois hold off Nicholls State 78-70 in OT

By Terry Towery Nov. 05, 2019 11:20 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Andres Feliz scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds

File-This March 14, 2019, file photo shows Illinois head coach Brad Underwood talking to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament, in Chicago. A young, maturing Illinois team is hoping for a breakthrough this season, the kind coach Underwood saw coming when he arrived in Champaign two years ago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Illinois welcomes higher expectations entering season

By Terry Towery Oct. 23, 2019 10:30 AM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A young, maturing Illinois team is hoping for a breakthrough

Northwestern guard Ryan Greer, left, drives to the basket past Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Chicago, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois rallies late to beat Northwestern 74-69 in OT

By John Jackson Mar. 14, 2019 12:15 AM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — Despite having his big night cut short, Giorgi Bezhanishvili had a

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell, left, and guard Geo Baker react during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Big Ten Conference tournament against Nebraska in Chicago, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Nebraska won 68-61. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Big Ten - First Round - Game 1 (win) at Maryland Terrapins 3/14/2019

Mar. 13, 2019 09:11 PM EDT

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives to the basket against Northwestern guard Anthony Gaines (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Champaign, Ill., Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Stephen Haas)
Feliz scores 26 as Illinois beats Northwestern 81-76

By Terry Towery Mar. 03, 2019 09:20 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Andres Feliz scored 26 points — 16 of them at the foul line —

Purdue center Matt Haarms (32) shoots in front of Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Purdue won 73-56. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Edwards scores 23, No. 14 Purdue shakes off Illinois 73-56

By Atreya Verma Feb. 27, 2019 11:07 PM EST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — As long as Purdue kept winning, Carsen Edwards was