Trent Frazier
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

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

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)
Charlotte Regional - First Round - Game 1 (win) at Charlotte Regional - First Round - Game 2 (win) 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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