Ayo Dosunmu
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) is defended by Loyola Chicago center Cameron Krutwig, left, and Lucas Williamson, right, during the first half of a men's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Nun-and-done: Loyola Chicago stuns top-seeded Illinois 71-58

By Eddie Pells Mar. 21, 2021 02:26 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — If the pregame prayer sounded more like a scouting report,

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn dunks the ball during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Drexel Friday, March 19, 2021, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis .(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Top-seeded Illinois cruises past Drexel 78-49 to open NCAAs

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 19, 2021 03:26 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kofi Cockburn muscled his way to 18 points and Illinois

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) goes up for a dunk against Ohio State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State to take Big Ten title

By Michael Marot Mar. 14, 2021 11:41 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — No. 3 Illinois accomplished one major goal. The next one

Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams, right rear, celebrates as Giorgi Bezhanishvili follows through on a dunk over Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference men's tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 3 Illinois gets past No. 5 Iowa, into Big Ten title game

By Michael Marot Mar. 13, 2021 11:07 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Illinois center Kofi Cockburn learned some hard lessons

Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams, right rear, celebrates as Giorgi Bezhanishvili follows through on a dunk over Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference men's tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 3 Illinois routs Rutgers 90-68 in Big Ten quarterfinals

By Phillip B. Wilson Mar. 13, 2021 02:55 AM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu is convinced tournament time requires a sense

Illinois guard Adam Miller, bottom, passes against Ohio State forward Justice Sueing during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Dosunmu's return powers No. 4 Illinois over No. 7 Ohio State

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 06, 2021 06:30 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After missing three games with a concussion and facial

Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) drives on Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Intense No. 4 Illinois makes statement, drubs No. 2 Michigan

By Noah Trister Mar. 02, 2021 09:19 PM EST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Trent Frazier, Andre Curbelo and No. 4 Illinois arrived

Illinois's Andre Curbelo drives past Wisconsin's D'Mitrik Trice during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Illini win 74-69 as Wisconsin's Trice-led rally falls short

By Steve Megargee Feb. 27, 2021 05:01 PM EST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 19 points and No. 5 Illinois held off

Illinois guard Trent Frazier receives his framed jersey before his last home NCAA college basketball game, against Nebraska on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn scores 24 as No. 5 Illinois tops Nebraska 86-70

By Terry Towery Feb. 25, 2021 09:45 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 24 points, freshman Adam Miller

Illinois guard Andre Curbelo (5) passes to forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chances

By Larry Lage Feb. 23, 2021 10:53 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State started its long string of NCAA

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) shoots over Minnesota's Liam Robbins (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
No. 5 Illinois dominates Minnesota 94-63 for 7th win in row

By Dave Campbell Feb. 20, 2021 06:01 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — From pregame warmup drills though the pickup-game vibe of

Illinois guard Andre Curbelo (5) center Kofi Cockburn (21) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) bring the ball down court against Northwestern in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn, Dosunmu lead No. 5 Illini past Northwestern 73-66

Feb. 17, 2021 12:22 AM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu

Nebraska guard Teddy Allen (0) knocks over Illinois' Trent Frazier (1) as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Lincoln, Neb. (Francis Gardler/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
Dosunmu gets hot late, No. 6 Illinois tops Nebraska in OT

Feb. 13, 2021 12:07 AM EST
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored the last 10 points in regulation for

Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams (20) battles for ball control with Wisconsin's forward Aleem Ford (2) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn, Dosunmu lead No. 12 Illinois past No. 19 Wisconsin

Terry Towery Feb. 06, 2021 05:08 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 23 points, Ayo Dosunmu added 21 and

Penn State guard Sam Sessoms (3) steals the ball and is pursued by Illinois guard Jacob Grandison (3) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn leads No. 22 Illinois to 79-65 win over Penn State

By Terry Towery Jan. 20, 2021 12:07 AM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 21 points and 12 rebounds, leading No.

Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann looks on from the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Liddell, No. 21 Ohio St power past No. 14 Illinois 87-81

By Terry Towery Jan. 16, 2021 04:05 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — E.J. Liddell scored 26 points and No. 21 Ohio State beat

Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) looks to pass as he is pressured by Maryland center Chol Marial (15) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Morsell scores 19 as Maryland upsets No. 12 Illinois 66-63

Jan. 10, 2021 10:35 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Darryl Morsell scored 19 points, Donta Scott added 16

Northwestern forward Pete Nance, right, reaches for a rebound above Illinois center Kofi Cockburn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Cockburn leads No. 12 Illinois past Northwestern 81-56

By Jay Cohen Jan. 07, 2021 11:26 PM EST
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Illinois coach Brad Underwood went to talk to his team at

Illinois guard Adam Miller (44) passes the ball as Purdue's guard Brandon Newman (5) and forward Mason Gillis (0) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn and Dosunmu lead No. 15 Illinois past Purdue 66-58

By Terry Towery Jan. 02, 2021 08:38 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) shoots as Indiana's forward Race Thompson (25) and guard Trey Galloway (32) defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu scores 30 to lead No. 18 Illinois past Indiana 69-60

By Terry Towery Dec. 26, 2020 06:28 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 30 points, Kofi Cockburn added 15