Kofi Cockburn
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

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) shoots as Indiana's forward Race Thompson (25) and guard Trey Galloway (32) defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu scores 30 to lead No. 18 Illinois past Indiana 69-60

By Terry Towery Dec. 26, 2020 06:28 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

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

Dosunmu, balance help No. 6 Illinois beat No. 10 Duke 83-68

Dec. 09, 2020 12:07 AM EST
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu had 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds while sixth-ranked Illinois shot 58% to beat No. 10 Duke 83-68 on Tuesday night in...

Illinois' Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) shoots next to Baylor's Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
No. 2 Baylor uses stout defense to get past No. 5 Illinois

By Michael Marot Dec. 03, 2020 12:28 AM 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

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

Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots as North Carolina's Tyler Maye (11) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu, Miller lead No. 8 Illinois past NC A&T 122-60

By Terry Towery Nov. 25, 2020 04:33 PM EST

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 March 3, 2020, file photo, Iowa center Luka Garza shoots a free throw during an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in Iowa City, Iowa. Seniors Garza of Iowa and Baylor's Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team, announced Wednesday, Nov. 11. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Garza, Butler headline AP preseason All-America team

By John Marshall And Aaron Beard Nov. 11, 2020 12:01 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

FILE - Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, center, drives to the basket past Northwestern forwards Miller Kopp, left, and Pete Nance during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., in this Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, file photo. Dosunmu was Illinois’ leading scorer last season and went over 20 points in eight games.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Iowa is team to beat in Big Ten boasting unprecedented depth

By Eric Olson Nov. 10, 2020 01:47 PM EST

Big Ten Freshman of Year Cockburn returning to Illinois

Aug. 01, 2020 05:24 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kofi Cockburn is returning to Illinois for his sophomore season. The 7-foot, 290-pound...