Basketball

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 1, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- When it comes to his body and specifically, health above his large shoulders, it turns out Kofi Cockburn is like a lot of us: He hates surprises.

Following the 59-56 win at Northwestern in his first game back from concussion protocols on Saturday, the Illinois junior center said the head injury issues that sidelined him for the road loss at Maryland and the home win against Michigan State “didn’t scare him but was a different experience” he’s ever felt.

“The hardest thing was just not knowing what that feels like, just not knowing how to handle it, that was really tough for me,” Cockburn said on Saturday.

University of Illinois Athletics January 31, 2022 Champaign, ILL.– […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

January 28, 2022

Winning Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois is a big deal.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 31, 2021

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

We have described it as winning ugly for a couple of games now, but the key is at the beginning of the phrase. The Illini just keep winning. 

After they outlasted Michigan State without Kofi Cockburn or Andre Curbelo, they found a way to win at Northwestern with Cockburn returning but still no Curbelo. Against the Spoartans, the Illini led most of the way and held on. Against the Wildcats, they trailed late and had to take control with some stifling defense and big shots late. 

Either way, they just win. The Illini are now 8-2 in Big Ten play and have won 22 of their last 25 games against Big Ten opponents. That’s a stretch they haven't had since the 2004 to 2005 era. 

Some thoughts…..

IllinGuys Staff January 31, 2022 We offer a challenge […]

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

January 27, 2022

No one knows what the future plans will be for Illinois with the All-American center Kofi Cockburn.

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy January 30, 2022 Winning ugly was […]

Following the performance from freshman Luke Goode vs. No. 10 Michigan State, Illinois got a lift Saturday from first-year stars-in-waiting RJ Melendez and Brandin Podziemski at Northwestern.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 29, 2022

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Whether it’s a practice, pre-game shootaround or game warmup, the first person on the court getting shots up on this Illinois roster is Brandin Podziemski.

Illini coach Brad Underwood talks about his team's 59-56 […]

IlliniGuys Staff January 29, 2022 EVANSTON, Ill. - Kofi […]

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer January 29, 2022 Essentials […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood publicly invalidates the Naismith […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood does enjoy the fans, takes pleasure in the Orange Krush student section, but doesn’t need your help coaching his team. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 28, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Look, I get the impulse. Everybody does. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- It would be hard to imagine two coaches more philosophically and stylistically similar than Tom Izzo and Brad Underwood. 

So it should come as very little surprise to name the player on the court who the Michigan State head coach and Illinois head coach both thought were the keys to Illinois picking up its signature win of the 2021-22 season. 

In a 56-55 victory over No. 10 Michigan State on Tuesday night, one of the main players both coaches pointed to as a difference maker was a fifth-year senior who didn’t score a point in 27 minutes of action. Neither leader of a program near the top of the Big Ten Conference cares. Not one little bit. 

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 26, 2022

Illini Survive Spartans

Winning ugly is always better than losing pretty. Despite a long dry spell that saw the Illini scoreless for the final 5:32, Illinois held on for a 56-55 win over the #10 Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday night behind 16 points from Trent Frazier. The Illini played without start center Kofi Cockburn and Guard Andre Curbelo and finally got their signature win and bolstered their NCAA resume. 

Here’s a look at what we learned. 

These 3 Things

Numbers Lie? - Michigan State dominated the glass and won the second chance points battle 11-0. When was the last time Illinois had 0 2nd chance points?