Trent Frazier
Arizona center Christian Koloko (35) dunks between Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, left, and guard Da'Monte Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
No. 11 Arizona stays undefeated with 83-79 win at Illinois

By Gavin Good Dec. 11, 2021 07:43 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — No. 11 Arizona used tough defense to outlast Illinois 83-79 on

Iowa forward Keegan Murray (15) shoots over Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Illinois won 87-83. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Cockburn double-double leads Illinois past Iowa, 87-83

Dec. 06, 2021 10:01 PM EST
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 18

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Rio Grande Valley Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Cockburn's career night lifts No. 14 Illinois to 94-85 win

By Gavin Good Nov. 26, 2021 10:30 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 38 points to lead No.

Kansas State's Davion Bradford, right, looks to shoot under pressure from Illinois' Jacob Grandison (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
No. 14 Illini hold off K-State 72-64 in Hall of Fame Classic

By Dave Skretta Nov. 23, 2021 09:17 PM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn missed the first three games of the

Marquette's Kameron Jones loses control of the ball as he falls while being defended by Illinois' Alfonso Plummer (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Late steal gives Marquette a 67-66 win over No. 10 Illinois

By Steve Megargee Nov. 15, 2021 09:41 PM EST
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyler Kolek didn’t know if he’d be healthy enough to play

Illinois' Omar Payne dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas State Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
No. 11 Illinois easily tops Arkansas State 92-53

By Gavin Good Nov. 12, 2021 11:25 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Coleman Hawkins had 17 points on Friday night and No. 11

Illinois' Da'Monte Williams (20) holds the ball away from Jackson State's Dyllan Taylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Grandison leads short-handed No. 11 Illinois past Jackson St

By Gavin Good Nov. 09, 2021 10:33 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Jacob Grandison scored a career-high 20 points as short

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn addresses the media during the first day of the Big Ten NCAA college basketball media days, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Deep Illini build expectations around big man Kofi Cockburn

By Gavin Good Oct. 20, 2021 03:10 AM EDT
For all the excitment at Illinois this year, from earning a No. 1 seed in the

Illinois players watch from the bench in the final moments during the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Loyola Chicago in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 21, 2021. Loyola Chicago won 71-58. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Illinois' return to NCAA Tournament has disappointing finish

By Steve Megargee Mar. 21, 2021 04:30 PM EDT
Finally back in the NCAA Tournament, Illinois wanted to make a run at the

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,

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 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

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 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

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.