Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Boise State guard Derrick Alston Jr. shoots during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU in the first round of the NIT, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Clemson Tigers 3/20/2021

Mar. 18, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood hugs Giorgi Bezhanishvili as they celebrate after Illinois defeated Ohio State in overtime of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Indianapolis. Illinois won in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Patient, relentless Underwood has top-seeded Illini rolling

By Will Graves Mar. 17, 2021 07:47 PM EDT
Brad Underwood arrived at Illinois in the spring of 2017 tasked with trying to

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' 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

Virginia's Jay Huff dunks as Towson's Charles Thompson defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Memphis Tigers 11/26/2020

Nov. 25, 2020 02:28 PM EST

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

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, center, reacts as he dunks against Northwestern guard Pat Spencer, left, and forward Robbie Beran during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Griffin scores career-high 24 as Illini beat Northwestern

By Andrew Seligman Feb. 27, 2020 10:16 PM EST
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Alan Griffin relaxed with his headphones on and chilled

Penn State's Lamar Stevens (11) shoots over Illinois' Kipper Nichols (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Dosunmu scores 24, Illinois beats No. 9 Penn State 62-56

By Travis Johnson Feb. 18, 2020 08:48 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu felt well enough during warm-ups to

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

Purdue forward Trevion Williams (50) and Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) go for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Illinois defeated Purdue 79-62. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 21 Illinois runs away in 2nd half to sweep Purdue

By Michael Marot Jan. 21, 2020 10:27 PM EST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — After watching No. 21 Illinois play an

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

Rutgers' Ron Harper, Jr (24) puts up a shot as Illinois' Kipper Nichols (2) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu, Cockburn lift Illinois over Rutgers 54-51

Jan. 11, 2020 02:43 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 18 points and Kofi Cockburn added 11

Illinois' Alan Griffin (0) holds on to the ball as he is pressured by Purdue's Matt Harms (32) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Griffin's double-double helps Illinois beat Purdue 63-37

Terry Towery Jan. 05, 2020 10:21 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Sophomore Alan Griffin has been a crowd favorite in

Cockburn powers Illinois past North Carolina A&T 95-64

By Terry Towery Dec. 29, 2019 04:31 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 26 points and

Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin yells from the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Illinois Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Smith scores 19 points as Missouri beats Illinois 63-56

Joe Harris Dec. 21, 2019 03:29 PM EST
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Chicago native, Missouri Tigers guard Xavier Pinson heard an

Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu (11) has the ball knocked loose by Michigan's Zavier Simpson (3) and Colin Castletown (11) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Kofi Cockburn helps Illinois upset No. 5 Michigan 71-62

By Terry Towery Dec. 11, 2019 11:58 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn got Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s

Miami holds off furious comeback to beat Illinois 81-79

By Terry Towery Dec. 02, 2019 10:57 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Chris Lykes scored 28 points and Miami held off a

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’s double-double lifts Illini over The Citadel 85-57

By Terry Towery Nov. 20, 2019 11:35 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds