Jacob Grandison
Illinois' Coleman Hawkins (33) shoots as Eastern Illinois' Jermaine Hamlin (34) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Shannon scores 24 as Illinois beats Eastern Illinois 87-57

By Gavin Good Nov. 07, 2022 11:37 PM EST

FILE - Illinois coach Brad Underwood gestures during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. Underwood has added transfers and freshmen who could make the Illini very dangerous the second half of the season. (AP Photo/Michael Allio, File)
No. 23 Illini look to new faces for deeper postseason run

By Gavin Good Oct. 19, 2022 03:31 PM EDT

Illinois' Andre Curbelo passes the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Williams helps No. 20 Illinois to 60-55 win over Penn State

By Gavin Good Mar. 03, 2022 09:35 PM EST

Illinois coach Brad Underwood talks with Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann before an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
No. 22 Ohio State ekes out 86-83 win over No. 15 Illinois

By Gavin Good Feb. 25, 2022 12:01 AM EST

Illinois' Jacob Grandison shoots against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich. Illinois won 79-74. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Cockburn leads No. 12 Illinois past slumping No. 19 Spartans

Feb. 19, 2022 02:38 PM EST

Indiana center Michael Durr (2) knocks the ball out of the hands of Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) as he attempts to shoot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Frazier, No. 18 Illinois surge in 2nd half past Indiana

By Michael Marot Feb. 05, 2022 02:28 PM EST

Cockburn leads No. 18 Illinois past No. 11 Wisconsin, 80-67

By Gavin Good Feb. 02, 2022 11:32 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 37 points and 12 rebounds and No. 18 Illinois beat No. 11 Wisconsin 80-67 on Wednesday night. Cockburn had 20...

Minnesota forward Jamison Battle (10) tries to shoot as Illinois forward Omar Payne (4) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Cockburn, Illinois dominate Minnesota 76-53

Jan. 04, 2022 09:10 PM EST

St. Francis' Myles Thompson (5) shoots between Illinois' Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (13) and Kofi Cockburn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois makes program-record 18 3-pointers in 106-48 win

Dec. 18, 2021 03:36 PM EST

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

Illinois' Trent Frazier (1) dribbles as Rutgers' Paul Mulcahy defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Plummer, Cockburn lead Illinois past Rutgers 86-51

Dec. 03, 2021 09:33 PM EST

Notre Dame's Blake Wesley (0) Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) and Illinois' Jacob Grandison vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Cockburn, Plummer lead Illinois past Notre Dame 82-72

Nov. 29, 2021 11:35 PM EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penn State's Sam Sessoms, left, goes after a loose ball with Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu during first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec 23, 2020, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Dosunmu, Cockburn lead No. 18 Illinois past Penn State 98-81

By Travis Johnson Dec. 23, 2020 08:58 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