Kansas joins Baylor, Duke and Purdue atop Katz's Tiers
Baylor, Duke and Purdue remain best in class, but Andy Katz adds a few teams to his top tiers. Find out who makes the cut.DECEMBER 30, 2021
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI 5-1 · 7TH IN BIG TEN
5-1 · 7TH IN BIG TEN
Next Game vs Arkansas · Thu 9:00PM
Alfonso Plummer - Efficient against Missouri Plummer closed with 22 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 31 minutes during Wednesday's 88-63 victory over Missouri.
Impact Plummer had a slow start to the season on the scoreboard but has now topped 20 points in seven of his last eight appearances. He converted 66.7 percent of his attempts in Wednesday's victory and has now averaged 22.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per game across the last eight contests.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Da'Monte Williams - Musters three points in win Williams supplied three points (1-3 FG, 1-2 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and one steal over 26 minutes during Wednesday's 88-63 win over Missouri.
Impact Williams has returned to the starting lineup in each of the last eight games, and his impact has been limited on the scoreboard. However, he's managed to generate some fantasy results due to his production in rebounds and assists. Across his last eight appearances, Williams has averaged 3.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 29.3 minutes per contest.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Baylor, Duke, Purdue and Gonzaga sit atop Andy Katz's Tiers
Purdue and Gonzaga have rejoined the top group in Andy Katz's latest men's hoops tiers. See where all the teams land!DECEMBER 24, 2021
Hancock lifts Milwaukee past St. Xavier (Illinois) 74-52
Devon Hancock had 18 points off the bench to lead Milwaukee to a 74-52 win over St. Xavier (Illinois)DECEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cockburn, Plummer lead llinois past Missouri 88-63
Kofi Cockburn scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double and Illinois breezed to an 88-63 victory over Missouri on Wednesday night in the 41st ed...DECEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Illinois vs Missouri Prediction & Pick for NCAA Basketball Game From FanDuel (Dec. 22) Wednesday's slate of NCAA college basketball games includes an exciting clash between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Missouri Tigers. Illi...
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Mizzou hosts Illinois
Illinois and Missouri both look to put winning streaks togetherDECEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jacob Grandison - Tallies 18 points in start Grandison totaled 18 points (6-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal over 27 minutes during Saturday's 106-48 win over Saint Francis U.
Impact Grandison returned to the starting five in Saturday's matchup and converted 75 percent of his attempts from the floor. Coleman Hawkins scored just eight points in nine minutes during the win, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Grandison maintain his starting role. Across his last five appearances, he's averaged 15.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per contest.
DECEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kofi Cockburn - Posts double-double in win Cockburn accumulated 21 points (9-11 FG, 3-5 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal over 26 minutes during Saturday's 106-48 win over Saint Francis U.
Impact Cockburn didn't miss a beat following the Illini's lengthy layoff, and he mustered his fourth straight double-double in the blowout win. Across that span, the junior has averaged 16.0 points and 14.3 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per contest.
DECEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Illinois makes program-record 18 3-pointers in 106-48 win
Kofi Cockburn scored 21 points with 11 rebounds and Alfonso Plummer and Jacob Grandison combined for nine of a program-record 18 3-pointers and 37 points in Illinois’ 106-48 win ov...DECEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coleman Hawkins - Moves to bench Hawkins will serve in a bench role Saturday versus St. Francis, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports reports.
Impact Hawkins struggled in the Illini's last game versus Arizona, failing to connect on any of his three shot attempts while posting three assists, two boards and a pair of turnovers over 12 minutes. Jacob Grandison will replace Hawkins in the starting five and figures to see a large workload again as a result.
DECEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jacob Grandison - Starting Saturday Grandison is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against St. Francis, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports reports.
Impact Grandison is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 22 after coming off the bench in five consecutive games. The 6-6 senior has been one of Brad Underwood's most consistent scorers so far this season, averaging 12.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per contest. He'll enter the starting five in place of Coleman Hawkins, although it's unclear if this move is permanent or not.
DECEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Andre Curbelo - Out again Saturday Curbelo (neck) remains out Saturday versus St. Francis, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.
Impact Given that Curbelo hadn't practiced all week, it seemed the logical outcome was another absence from the budding sophomore. That is indeed the case, making his next opportunity to return Wednesday at Missouri.
DECEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Seeing 'Braggin' Rights'? Grab your vaxx card, or get a test Illini men's basketball's contest versus Mizzou on Wednesday, Dec. 22 will be the first to require proof of vaccination or a negative test u...
DECEMBER 17, 2021 • NEWS-GAZETTE.COM
Andre Curbelo - Did not practice all week Curbelo (neck) did not practice this week, Joey Wagner of 247Sports reports.
Impact The electrifying playmaker has missed Illinois' last five appearances and is looking likely to miss his sixth in a row after not participating in practice this week. Curbelo's next chance to return is seeming to be Wednesday against Missouri.
DECEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Illinois plays host to St. Francis
St. Francis (Pa.) pays visit to Illinois in a non-conference matchupDECEMBER 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trent Frazier - Leads Illinois in scoring Frazier chipped in 27 points (9-15 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, one assist, one block and five steals over 38 minutes during Saturday's 83-79 loss to Arizona.
Impact Frazier remained in the starting lineup for a third consecutive game Sunday, and he generated his highest scoring total of the season while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor. Since reclaiming his starting role, the senior has averaged 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34.7 minutes per contest.
DECEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No. 11 Arizona is back in national spotlight at 9-0, including big win at Illinois
With a 9-0 start, including an impressive win at Illinois on Saturday, No. 11 Arizona appears to have returned to prominence.DECEMBER 12, 2021
No. 11 Arizona stays undefeated with 83-79 win at Illinois
Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points to power No. 11 Arizona over Illinois 83-79 on SaturdayDECEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin Hutcherson - Done for the year Head coach Brad Underwood confirmed after Saturday's loss to Arizona that Hutcherson will miss the rest of the season and will need surgery to repair an athletic hernia, Scott Rich...
Impact Hutcherson has had a plagued season that will now officially come to an end after it was revealed he would need surgery to repair an athletic hernia. It's the second straight year Hutcherson has suffered a season-ending injury. The 6-6 senior appeared four times, averaging 2.8 points and two rebounds in 15 minutes per game.
DECEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Andre Curbelo - Remains out Curbelo (neck) is feeling better but remains out for Saturday's game against Arizona, Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reports.
Impact Curbelo has missed four straight games with a neck injury and will wind up missing at least one more. The fact that he's trending in the right direction is certainly a positive, however, and he'll get a full extra week to rest before Illinois' next game, which comes Dec. 18 against St. Francis (PA).
DECEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Austin Hutcherson - Won't play Saturday Hutcherson re-aggravated his tailbone injury and will miss Saturday's game against Arizona, Joey Wagner of 247Sports reports.
Impact Hutcherson hasn't been able to fully get going this season. He missed the first three games with a bruised tailbone and later missed time with the flu. He'll now miss at least one more game, though Illinois will have a full week off prior to its next game against St. Francis (PA) on Dec. 18, so there's a chance he'll be healthy by then.
DECEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No. 11 Arizona, Illinois put streaks on line
No. 11 Arizona looks for its ninth straight win as it faces Illinois, who has won five in a rowDECEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jacob Grandison - Drops 21 points off bench Grandison finished with 21 points (6-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 5-6 FT), three rebounds and two assists across 30 minutes during Monday's 87-83 win over Iowa.
Impact Although Grandison has taken on a bench role in each of the three games since he returned from an illness, he's continued to have ample playing time. The redshirt senior tied for the team lead on the scoreboard Monday and has now scored in double figures in each of his last two appearances.
DECEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
