Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball

The Illinois men's basketball team will be without its best player to start the 2021-22 season.

All-American junior center Kofi Cockburn has been suspended by the NCAA for the first three games of the year for selling "institutionally issued apparel and memorabilia" in June.

Cockburn will also be required to repay the amount he received from selling the apparel by donating to a charity of his choice.

Cockburn received the suspension because he sold the memorabilia prior to the State of Illinois and the NCAA enacting the new NIL rules on July 1. Players are now permitted to profit off of their name, image and likeness, and Cockburn would have avoided punishment had he waited a month.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood pointed out Cockburn's situation is unique because he had been going through the NBA draft process when his infraction occurred.

"We are disappointed with the three-game suspension, because there were unprecedented factors and altered timelines related to his decision to ultimately withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school. ... That being said, we understand and respect the NCAA's decision in this matter, and we will move forward accordingly," Underwood said in a statement.

Cockburn is a preseason All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year selection. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds as a sophomore while shooting 65.4 percent from the field.

Cockburn will be allowed to continue practicing with the Illini while he's suspended. He will be eligible to return for the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City on Nov. 22 against Cincinnati.

Kofi Cockburn announced Friday he's returning to Illinois after entering the transfer portal ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Cockburn told Joe Tipton of On3Sports about his decision to stay with the Illini after considering a move to Kentucky or Florida State. 

The 7'0" center averaged 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in his two years with the Fighting Illini. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2020 and a consensus second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2020-21.

His brief transfer saga comes after the NCAA allowed athletes to move once without having to sit out a season to regain their eligibility. That opened the floodgates for players around the country to change schools.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello reported July 1 that Cockburn had entered the portal.

The 21-year-old told Jonathan Givony of ESPN five days later that he would be staying in college because he "wasn't happy with the input I was getting from NBA teams" and wanted to raise his NBA draft profile.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie wasn't very high on his value at the next level right now:

With the NBA on hold, Cockburn was noncommittal about his next steps from there.

"I'm pretty much open," he said to Givony. "There's a possibility I return to Illinois and a possibility I don't. I want to make a quick decision as soon as possible. I don't want to go back and forth. I'm going to take some visits, but I'm not sure where.

Cockburn explained that Orlando Antigua's move to the Kentucky staff was one of his considerations because Antigua had originally helped recruit him to Illinois.

Having already lost Antigua and assistant coach Chin Coleman, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood would've had a truly terrible offseason if Cockburn followed them out the door.

Underwood has to replace leading scorer Ayo Dosunmu from a team that went 23-6 in the regular season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

But Cockburn leads a group of returning stars that includes Trent Frazier and Andre Curbelo. Illinois also signed 4-star recruits Luke Goode, RJ Melendez and Brandin Podziemski and added former Florida forward Omar Payne.

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn said Tuesday he's withdrawn his name from the 2021 NBA draft class and will continue to explore transfer options, including Kentucky, after entering the NCAA's transfer portal last week.

Cockburn told ESPN's Jonathan Givony he's "open" to all options and could still return to the Fighting Illini, but his connection to former Illinois assistant Orlando Antigua, who's joined the Wildcats staff, puts UK firmly in the conversation.

"Kentucky? It's a serious option. Antigua is my guy," he said. "I'm going to consider them, but there [are] a lot of schools. I wasn't really focused on that while I was in the NBA draft. Now I can take my time and evaluate it better."

Cockburn put together a strong sophomore season for the Illini in 2020-21. He averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.4 percent from the floor across 31 appearances.

The 21-year-old Jamaica native explained to Givony he felt prepared to make the NBA jump but didn't receive the type of response he wanted from the league's decision-makers.

"I think I'm ready for the next level, but I wasn't happy with the input I was getting from NBA teams," Cockburn said. "I didn't want to settle. I'm going to return for another year, raise my game and improve my draft stock."

In a different era, the 7-foot, 285-pound post player would likely be a top-10 draft pick. The NBA game has evolved toward more versatile big men, however, and the 2021 first-team All-Big Ten selection's game is still a work in progress in that regard.

Cockburn has attempted only one three-point shot and dished out just 25 assists in 62 games for Illinois, and he confirmed to Givony those were the most common concerns raised by pro teams.

"NBA teams are going to see my mid-range game next year and my playmaking," he said.

He'd be a welcome sight for any college program, but especially Kentucky as head coach John Calipari and Co. attempt to quickly bounce back from an uncharacteristically poor 9-16 campaign.

The Wildcats ranked 108th in rebound rate last season (via TeamRankings), and Cockburn could provide an immediate boost on the glass.

That said, it sounds like UK will have ample competition for the center in the transfer portal as he tries to find the best program to bolster his NBA stock heading toward the 2022 draft.

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn has reportedly entered the transfer portal, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN.

Andrew Slater of Pro Insight first reported the news, noting that Cockburn will also keep his name in the NBA draft.

Cockburn initially declared for the draft in April after two seasons at Illinois and seemingly planned to remain there after his heartfelt goodbye to the program via Instagram on June 1. He wrote: 

"Extremely happy to have been apart of and represented a program like this, I enjoyed every single day I spent in Champaign and I am proud of the growth I had while I was there, words can’t express how much I love the Illini and I wouldn’t trade that part of my journey for the world."

It now appears he can return to college but play for a new team next season. He has until July 7 to withdraw from the NBA draft.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman didn't project Cockburn to be picked in either of the two rounds in his latest mock draft.

The center can still make a major impact at the college level after an All-American sophomore season in which he averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He finished the year with 16 double-doubles in 31 contests, scoring in double figures in all but two appearances.

This production, along with the play of teammate Ayo Dosunmu, helped Illinois finish 24-7 with a Big Ten tournament title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before a second-round loss. It was the program's first appearance in March Madness since 2013.

The Illini could have a tough time staying competitive after likely losing Cockburn as well as Dosunmu. Trent Frazier will at least return for a fifth season, while Andre Curbelo could have a big role after a strong freshman year.

Cockburn, meanwhile, will be eligible immediately after changes to the transfer rules this season. The NCAA's adoption of a new name, image and likeness policy could also affect the player's decision as he continues his college career.

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn drew attention to a racist and xenophobic comment he received following the Fighting Illini's loss to Loyola-Chicago in the 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

"Go back home ya bum," an Instagram user commented (via USA Today's Chris Bumbaca). "F--king lost to Loyola. Go sit your monkey ass on the couch."

While posting a screenshot of the comment in his Instagram story, Cockburn wrote: "I blame his parents."

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg confirmed with an Illinois spokesman the university is "looking into the situation" and already identified who wrote the comment.

Cockburn led all scorers with 21 points and was one rebound short of a double-double in Illinois' second-round exit. The Kingston, Jamaica, native is only a sophomore, so he could return to Illinois to bounce back from the upset next season.

Cockburn's Instagram post came days after Ohio State star E.J. Liddell shared screenshots of threatening messages to his account after Ohio State fell to Oral Roberts in the first round (warning: contains slurs and profanity):

ESPN's Myron Medcalf reported Ohio State contacted local authorities regarding the matter.

Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu is taking the blame for his team's loss to No. 8 Loyola-Chicago. 

"I let my team down today," he said, via Jeremy Werner of 247Sports. "I can take it. I can take the criticism. I've taken it all. It's another bump in the road." 

"We couldn't throw a penny in the ocean," Dosunmu added regarding the team's play, per Werner.

Dosunmu, who averaged 20.6 points per game through 27 appearances entering Sunday, recorded just nine points as the Fighting Illini fell 71-58. 

The Chicago native, who is the first NCAA player in 11 years to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and five assists per game, was a consensus first-team All-American this season and was named the Big Ten's Most Outstanding Player. He is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award and Naismith Trophy and appears on the national ballot for the Wooden Award.

But he struggled Sunday against the top defensive team in the country. 

Dosunmu was limited to 4-of-10 shooting with two rebounds and two assists. Kofi Cockburn carried scoring for the Illini, with 21 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. But the pair were overcome by 19 points from Loyola big Cameron Krutwig and 14 each from Marquise Kennedy and Lucas Williamson.

While it will be the Ramblers rather than the Illini who will face the winner of Sunday's Oregon State/Oklahoma State matchup, Dosunmu is likely headed to the NBA, where Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley mocked him to the Golden State Warriors at No. 14. 

Take a seat on the Illinois Fighting Illini hype train if you want to see a hungry squad led by a masked man bring prestige to a long-overlooked program.

Illinois' Tourney History 

Illinois hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2013. Despite making five trips to the Final Four, most recently the 2005 national final, the school has never hoisted a championship trophy. 2005 was also the last time the Fighting Illini captured a Big Ten title.

That squad, featuring future NBA All-Star Deron Williams, marked Illinois' last legitimate shot of winning it all. Sixteen years later, a freshmen-filled roster has a new pair of stars capable of carving a path to glory.

This Year's Best Players

Meet your new favorite player. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the nation's most lethal scorers, and he leads the team in assists. Soon enough, he'll become a national sensation, not only for his on-court prowess but also because of a mask that makes it look like he spent the hours before tipoff fighting crime.

After missing time with a broken nose, the junior returned with a black mask that he said made him "feel like a superhero," per WCIA3's Bret Beherns. Perhaps the protective gear will give him additional playmaking powers.

And don't forget about Kofi Cockburn. The 7-foot sophomore center from Kingston, Jamaica, is a double-double machine. He and Dosunmu are ushering in a new day at Illinois.

Why They're Going to Win

The masked crusader always emerges victorious, right?

In all seriousness, a championship for the Fighting Illini is hardly a fantasy. They have already made a major statement in March, earning a 23-point win over Michigan without Dosunmu, after his broken nose, before defeating fellow Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State in the star's triumphant return.

The high-powered, battled-tested offense can shoot and score with the best. Having spent years in the shadow of conference foes, Illinois is ready to shine on the grand stage.

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu is sidelined indefinitely after suffering a facial injury in Tuesday's loss to Michigan State, the school announced Thursday (h/t Jeff Borzello of ESPN). 

Dosunmu was fouled by Michigan State freshman Mady Sissoko, who was ejected after he was assessed a flagrant-2 foul. Dosunmu stayed in the game. 

Brian Hamilton of The Athletic reported that the star suffered a broken nose on the play and has been fitted for a mask. 

"Ayo is eager to play," head coach Brad Underwood said, per Borzello. "We are hopeful for his return to our lineup."

The star, who was named a Bob Cousy Award finalist and is a legitimate contender for both the Naismith and Wooden awards, has averaged 21.0 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists, leading the team in scoring and assists. 

If Dosunmu is sidelined for much longer, it could have major consequences for the Fighting Illini heading into March. 

Illinois just hit its stride, winning seven games straight before the loss to Michigan State on Tuesday. In the process, the group improved to 16-6 and second in conference and also catapulted to the No. 5 spot in the country.

While the group should be able to manage against Nebraska on Thursday night, it's almost imperative that Dosunmu returns for the final stretch of the year, as Illinois faces No. 23 Wisconsin, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Ohio State to round out the regular season.  

Hall of Fame men's college basketball coach Lou Henson died Saturday at his home in Illinois. 

He was 88.

"Our Orange and Blue hearts are heavy," Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said in a statement. "We have lost an Illini icon. We have lost a role model, a friend, and a leader. We have lost our coach. Coach Henson may be gone, but the memories he provided us, and the legacy he created, will last forever.

"He was responsible for almost 800 wins in the record book and countless Fighting Illini moments frozen in time, but Coach Henson's true measure will be felt in the lives he touched—the lives of his former players, people on this campus, and friends in our broader community. We are all better for whatever time we were privileged to spend with Coach Lou, whether it was five minutes or 50 years. He made everyone feel like a friend."

Henson is the all-time leader in wins at Illinois and New Mexico State. He went 423-224 in 21 seasons with the Illini, leading them to the Final Four in 1989.

In two stints with New Mexico State, Henson led the program to six NCAA tournament berths. He famously returned to the school in 1997, accepting a salary of $1 per month for the 1997-98 season after the school fired then-coach Neil McCarthy because of NCAA violations. After the 1997-98 season, Henson returned to the job on a full-time basis for seven more seasons before resigning in 2004-05 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Henson is credited with a 779–412 overall record at Hardin-Simmons, Illinois and New Mexico State. He was inducted to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.