“Ayo trusts me when I get in that ball screen I’m going to be low and ready to help him. The Badgers, who have lost three of their last five, fell to two games out of first place. That’s accounting for a lot. “That’s an incredible achievement.”. Illinois moved to within a half-game of No. 19 Wisconsin, including Ayo Dosunmu registering the 3rd triple-double in program history and Kofi Cockburn ‘becoming dominant’ “I look at a similar trajectory to like a Udoka Azubuike, a guy who’s just a physical freak, a monster with that body who can get up and down a little bit. He’s a great kid. If he’s shooting, I’m waiting for him to go to the locker room and vice versa. He’s a great college player and most likely a role/bench player in the NBA. For him, like what we saw with Udoka, it’s about improving as a perimeter defender, it’s about becoming an elite shot blocker. “He’s in diapers when it comes to his continued growth in his infancy of basketball,” Underwood said. He joins the program’s all-time triple-double list that includes Mark Smith in 1979 and Sergio McClain in 2001. [Most read in Sports] Column: Mitch Trubisky’s time as a Chicago Bears quarterback is nearing the end after only 4 seasons. [Most read in Sports] Column: Archie Miller might be nearing the end as Indiana men’s basketball coach. He was selected with the No. Michigan guard Franz Wagner (No. It was a very genuine phone call. “We’ve been talking for two days about our guards’ rebounding, and (assistant coach) Orlando Antigua has been all over him about having one of those nights,” Underwood said. He leads the nation with 13 double-doubles. He has an unbelievable competitive desire. 19 in the 2016 NBA Draft. Moore, a two-time First All-Big Ten selection at Purdue and second-round selection of the Boston Celtics in 2007, has spent nine years in the NBA, averaging 8.0 points per game and accruing almost $40 million in salary. Health experts say not to hold out for a certain vaccine. Schmitz and his partner, ESPN Draft analyst Jonathan Givony, haven’t been as high on Ayo Dosunmu as others throughout his Illini career. [Most read in Sports] Column: AD Josh Whitman says the Big Ten not naming Illinois co-champs with Michigan ‘will forever live in infamy’ — but it’s a rule he voted for twice. On Illinois’ last possession of the first half, Dosunmu crossed over and floated above Wisconsin defenders to score on a beautiful layup. After Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis dunked on the 7-footer in Illinois’ 75-71 overtime victory in Bloomington, Ind., on Tuesday, Cockburn had had enough. 27 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz and has played 49 minutes in 12 games so far this season. [Most read in Sports] After a season without fans, the Big Ten welcomes crowds for the tournament in Indianapolis: ‘I’ve been waiting all year. “‘Be ready, I’m going to get a triple-double.’ It happened.”. “But when you start thinking about scoring (21) points and having 12 assists — yikes! “Ayo’s a better player because he has Kofi. Despite improvement this season, Illinois sophomore Kofi Cockburn is not listed among ESPN’s top-100 draft prospects. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Slot to Illinois Fighting Illini Newsletter, slated to go No. Coronavirus in Illinois updates: More than 152,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered on Friday, the highest daily total yet; 1,675 new cases, 23 more deaths reported, Five Willis Towers worth of office space is empty in downtown Chicago, and it’s going to get worse. You have to help in the assist department; you have to have guys make shots and create opportunities. CHAMPAIGN — Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu has been named a unanimous-first All-American by Sporting News, while Illini sophomore Kofi Cockburn is a second-team All-America selection. Draft Notes Garza is the best player in college basketball but is more of a late first to mid second round type of NBA prospect, mainly due to his lack of ideal mobility and burst. Now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Brown has started 107 of 151 NBA games over three seasons, averaging 6.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Meanwhile, Brown was a second-round selection of the Detroit Pistons after two seasons at Miami. The duo accounted for nearly 60% of Illinois’ points, and Cockburn had only five fewer rebounds than the entire Badgers team as the Illini clobbered the Badgers 46-19 on the boards. “We talked about everything, all the scenarios, how good we could be if we came back. “I give all the credit to my teammates,” Dosunmu said. Big, 7-foot, USC (Freshman) PREVIOUS RANK: 3. Dosunmu said he called Cockburn to talk about the process. “Cockburn has really improved this season,” Schmitz said. “But I think he’s actually going to have a big-time impact on the defensive end of the floor as well in the NBA. 35 overall prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft and have him slated to go No. Cockburn’s confidence and consistency both have improved this season. Cockburn tested the NBA waters last offseason after winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, but the 7-foot, 285-pound center returned for a sophomore season. Where did the time go? Cockburn leads the nation with 12 double-doubles and, along with Dosunmu, was one of 20 players named to the Wooden Award Midseason Watch List. Luka Garza (Iowa), Isaiah Livers (Michigan), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Aaron Henry (Michigan State) also are projected to go into the second round. I trust him that he’s going to make the right pass every time.”. Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, right, drives past Wisconsin's Tyler Wahl in the second half Saturday in Champaign. And since that day, we’ve been close. “We talked for four hours,” Dosunmu recalled. Mark Giangreco is out after a 26-year run as ABC-7′s lead sportscaster, Chicago River dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, prompting selfies and wooing: ‘It’s a little bit of normalcy’, How COVID-19 vaccine gets from the factory to your arm: Here is how the tricky, meticulous operation works. Dosunmu had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for just the third triple-double in program history in the Illini's 75-60 win. 20 to Oklahoma City) is the only Big Ten Player to go higher in the mock draft. The duo become the first Fighting Illini to earn All-America accolades from Sporting News since Dee Brown in 2005. “It’s about doing what we do and trusting each other and picking up each other and making each other better,” Cockburn said. Dosunmu and Cockburn often feed off each other on the court. Basketball takes five, and when you have two guys like that that play that well together, it makes it fun and easier for everybody else.”. But ESPN’s top-notch draft expert Mike Schmitz did provide great insight into the Illini’s two top NBA prospects. There’s a lot of decisions, and I’ve got to think we’ll have a game here sooner than later.”. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday in Champaign are what many had in mind when they envisioned the two playing together. Schmitz compared Cockburn to a 2020 first-round pick who played all four years in college: Udoka Azubuike. “There’s a lot going on in the league office. 19 Illinois to an 80-75 victory over No. And now it’s time to move on to bigger March goals. 5 Illinois hung on without its star player in a 74-69 win over No. Column: Mitch Trubisky’s time as a Chicago Bears quarterback is nearing the end after only 4 seasons. Where did the time go? He didn’t take a single 3-pointer. Kofi Cockburn scored 19 points and freshman Andre Curbelo added 17 as No. Illinois and Indiana fans probably didn’t appreciate that the ESPN broadcast used two segments during Tuesday’s conference tilt like a sports radio show to focus on the NBA Draft. Underwood doesn’t expect a long break this time. He shot jumpers and made 9 of 11 free-throw attempts. Column: Archie Miller might be nearing the end as Indiana men’s basketball coach. “You never know how your best laid plans are going to work out but we knew we had two young men who were very high characters and had a great desire to work and get better,” Illini coach Brad Underwood said. He still a long way to go. He’s becoming dominant, and that’s fun to see.”. But Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson doses are available in Illinois. If you see us anywhere, we’re always together. 7 … Cockburn is the only NCAA player averaging 15-plus points and 10-plus rebounds while shooting at least 65% from the field. 35 to the New York Knicks in their latest mock draft. “Now everybody is going to feel me,” he said he proclaimed. © 2005-2021 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If I think he does those two things, he’s got a chance to get in that NBA mix but already a big-time offensive rebounder and plays with great energy.”. Cockburn added 23 points and 14 rebounds. Illinois (13-5, 9-3) has won four in a row and ended a home losing streak to the Badgers (14-6, 8-5) — last season’s Big Ten champions — dating to 2011. “We be talking and I was like, ‘Yo, I’m about to get a triple-double today,’” Dosunmu said about his pregame conversation with teammates. Dosunmu was ranked outside ESPN’s top-75 prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft before deciding to return for a junior season, but the Illini star guard and All-America candidate recently has vaulted in the ESPN Draft rankings. [Most read in Sports] Loyola is back in March Madness for the first time since that improbable 2018 Final Four journey — and Sister Jean wants to be too: ‘I have not lost hope in going’. As a senior, Azubuike — who actually is the same age (21) as Cockburn — earned Big 12 Player of the Year, consensus Second Team All-America honors and NABC Defensive Player of the Year. 11 overall to the Portland Trailblazers in the 2012 NBA Draft. I’m pumped.’, Big Ten Tournament Day 3: Michigan coach Juwan Howard gets ejected as the top-seeded Wolverines beat Maryland 79-66; Luka Garza and Iowa advance to face Illinois. Michigan officially postponed its Thursday meeting against Illinois in Ann Arbor, Mich., because of lingering COVID-19 concerns within the Wolverines’ athletic department. Ayo Dosunmu scored 25 points, Trent Frazier added 24 and Kofi Cockburn made some key plays down the stretch, leading No. The Illini’s next scheduled game comes Feb. 16 against Northwestern. Coach Brad Underwood was most impressed with Dosunmu’s rebounding, which he had challenged the team’s guards to do better. He currently is seventh in the Big Ten in scoring (16.8 ppg) and leads the Big Ten in rebounding (10.2 rpg). Can you choose? “Great size, 6-foot-5, 6-foot-9 wingspan, can really score it in the open court, great midrange game, can get downhill in space,” Schmitz said. I’m pumped.’, After a season without fans, the Big Ten welcomes crowds for the tournament in Indianapolis: ‘I’ve been waiting all year. He averaged 14 points and 8.8 rebounds in nonconference games, and he leads the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds in Big Ten play. 4 Michigan (13-1, 8-1) with its win Saturday. Cockburn still is learning, Underwood said. Cockburn had four dunks against the Hoosiers and eight against Wisconsin. Dosunmu was the first Illini to register a triple-double against a ranked opponent, according to the Illinois athletic department. “It’s an accomplishment that is not an individual accomplishment.”. “When he has 15, I’ll be impressed,” Brad Underwood said, insinuating Cockburn’s potential to do just that. He expects the Big Ten to reshuffle schedules to allow Illinois to fill the gap. “When he rebounds, it creates tempo for us. Dosunmu became the third player to record at least a 20-point triple-double against a ranked team in the last 10 years, joining North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. in 2017 and Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine in 2015. “I never doubted him, but it’s hard to get a triple-double in college basketball,” Cockburn said. During the broadcast of Tuesday's 75-71 overtime win at Indiana, Schmitz provided a breakdown and some interesting current NBA player comparisons for Dosunmu, who is looking to become the first Illini to be drafted since Meyers Leonard went No. Kofi made a good decision to return to Illinois for his sophomore season and will look to solidfy his status as a draft pick in 2021. Illinois waited 10 days between games when Michigan State was unable to play because of COVID-19 protocols. If this was the popular how-it-started vs. how-it’s-going meme, Saturday’s game would be the photo on the right. Despite improvement this season, Illinois sophomore Kofi Cockburn is not listed among ESPN’s top-100 draft prospects. Dosunmu found Kofi Cockburn on a multitude of his dunks and dominating post scores. He’s a great listener. Kofi Cockburn had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu added 13 points and No. The dominating performances from Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn in No. Four ZIP codes added to United Center vaccination site registration as city touts equity-driven numbers. But I think defensively, he could be like a Bruce Brown just because of his length, his quickness, can really guard multiple positions.”. Kofi’s a better player because Ayo’s there. Beasley, who played just one season at Florida State, went No. Ayo is a really good player, and the rebounding side of it shows how dialed in he was.”. But don’t expect Baylor’s Scott Drew to return for that job. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) drives to the basket past Iowa center Luka Garza (55) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. Dosunmu had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to become only the third player in program history to record a triple-double. 12 Illinois’ 75-60 win against No. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 7.4 points over four seasons with the Denver Nuggets, but the fifth-year NBA veteran has averaged 20.1 points in 34 games since being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Offensively, you see a little bit of Malik Beasley there, E'Twaun Moore, those three-level scorer types. But don’t expect Baylor’s Scott Drew to return for that job. Dosunmu (19.4 points) and Cockburn (18.8) rank second and fourth, respectively, in scoring in the Big Ten. “They’re both very intelligent in terms of understanding that they help each other,” Brad Underwood said. At just 19 years old, USC’s Evan Mobley has made a case for himself as Pac-12 Conference Player of … He’s got an old school type of game and isn’t a great fit in today’s NBA but he’s a unique player due to his size and strength and beginning to dominate the college level. He’s fun to challenge. Our bond has a peak, and it’s shown on the court tremendously.”. In the offseason, Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn were considering entering their names in the NBA draft. Schmitz and Givony now rank Dosunmu the No. 35 to the New York Knicks in their latest mock draft. Cockburn said they grew closer — describing their relationship as “best friends” — during COVID-19 restrictions that required athletes to limit their social circles. 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Latest on Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Dosunmu was responsible for five assists on Cockburn’s 10 field goals. 5 Illinois beat Northwestern 73-66 on Tuesday night. 4 takeaways from No. “That’s a great starting point.”. That should be frightening news for remaining Big Ten opponents. “I’m having a blast coaching him. 12 Illinois’ 75-60 win over No.
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