Trent Frazier
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

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell shout instructions during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
No. 19 Rutgers beats No. 13 Illinois to remain unbeaten

By Matt Sugam Dec. 20, 2020 03:36 PM EST
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers entered the season with great expectations. Six

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) puts up a shot as Minnesota's forward Isaiah Ihnen (35) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn scores 33 as No. 13 Illinois routs Minnesota 92-65

By Terry Towery Dec. 15, 2020 09:47 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed

Illinois's Andre Curbelo, right, dribbles around Missouri's Xavier Pinson, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri holds off late charge, beats No. 6 Illinois 81-78

By Briar Napier Dec. 12, 2020 10:52 PM EST
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri had no answer for Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu.

Ohio forward Ben Vander Plas (5) shoots as Illinois guard Da'Monte Williams (20) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu scores 24 as No. 8 Illinois holds off Ohio 77-75

Nov. 27, 2020 03:49 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, Kofi Cockburn had 13

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) shoots against Chicago State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Champaign, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP)
Dosunmu, Curbelo lead No. 8 Illinois past Chicago State

Nov. 26, 2020 02:51 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 22 points, freshman Andres Curbelo

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 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

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

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

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

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

Michigan State's Cassius Winston, front, drives against Illinois' Da'Monte Williams (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
No. 14 Michigan St. tops Illinois 76-56, stays atop Big Ten

By Larry Lage Jan. 02, 2020 10:25 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State played perhaps its best game of the

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