ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI NEWS

Monday dish: First week of college hoops in review, a prediction College Basketball is back and if you are like me then you spent as much time watching over the Thanksgiving weekend as possible. Who stood...

NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • 247SPORTS.COM

Expected to play Wednesday Curbelo (ankle) practiced Monday and is expected to be able to play in Wednesday's game against Baylor, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Curbelo went down with an ankle injury in last Friday's win over Ohio. His return to practice a few days later should be an indicator that it is not that serious and it's not expected that the freshman will be limited at all in Wednesday's game.

NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Monday dish: First week of college hoops in review, a prediction College Basketball is back and if you are like me then you spent as much time watching over the Thanksgiving weekend as possible. Who stood...

NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • 247SPORTS.COM

Garcia scores 16 to lead Marquette past E. Illinois 75-50 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Dawson Garcia registered 16 points and eight rebounds as Marquette routed Eastern Illinois 75-50 on Friday night.

NOVEMBER 28, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

MARQUETTE 75, E. ILLINOIS 50 . ... . .. FG FT Reb E. ILLINOIS Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Skipper-Brown 0 2-7 0-3 2-5 .

NOVEMBER 28, 2020 • SFCHRONICLE.COM

3 takeaways from Illinois’ 3-0 start, including the Illini receiving a scare against Ohio and Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn leading the way Many in sports believe a win is a win. Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu put it a little differently: “Winners find a way to win.” The Illini did...

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Posts double-double Friday Williams recorded 11 points (3-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds and one assist over 24 minutes in Friday's 77-75 win over Ohio.

Impact The Fighting Illini had some trouble holding Ohio's offense in check Friday, but Williams was effective as he picked up his first double-double of the season. Over the first three games this year, Williams is averaging 7.3 points and 8.0 rebounds over 24.0 minutes per contest.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dosunmu scores 24 as No. 8 Illinois holds off Ohio 77-75 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, Kofi Cockburn had 13 points and 11 rebounds and No. 8 Illinois rallied to beat Ohio 77-...

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Doesn't play Friday Bosmans-Verdonk (foot) didn't appear in Friday's 77-75 win over Ohio.

Impact Bosmans-Verdonk was participating in sprints ahead of Thursday's game, but he hasn't yet made his season debut. Once he returns to the court, he's unlikely to play a major for the Illini during the 2020-21 season.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dosunmu scores 24 as No. 8 Illinois holds off Ohio 77-75

Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, Kofi Cockburn had 13 points and 11 rebounds and No. 8 Illinois rallied to beat Ohio 77-75

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Suffers ankle injury Curbelo suffered an ankle injury in Friday's win over Ohio, Adam Zagoria of The New York Times reports.

Impact Curbelo was incredibly productive for the Illini on Thursday, but he left Friday's game early after suffering an ankle injury while diving for the ball. The severity of the issue isn't yet known, but he'll have a few days to recover before Illinois takes on Baylor on Wednesday.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

The Latest: No. 3 Ohio State cancels game at Illinois

Ohio State’s football game at Illinois has been canceled because the No. 3 Buckeyes have had a spike of COVID-19 cases this week

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

From post-game sprints to in-game head nods, Illinois center Kofi Cockburn relishes relationship with strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher CHAMPAIGN — No more than a minute or two had passed on Wednesday as players began to funnel off the floor and two their respective locker ro...

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Balanced attack fuels Illini to blowout win CHAMPAIGN — One day after Adam Miller introduced himself in grand fashion, Andre Curbelo did the same.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Dosunmu, Curbelo lead No. 8 Illinois past Chicago State

Ayo Dosunmu scored 22 points, freshman Andres Curbelo added 18 and No. 8 Illinois beat Chicago State 97-38

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NO. 8 ILLINOIS 97, CHICAGO ST. 38 . . .. ... . . .. FG FT Reb CHICAGO ST. Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Bonds 31 0-1 0-0 0-1 .

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • SFCHRONICLE.COM

Efficient off bench Curbelo posted 18 points (9-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven rebounds, one assist and one steal over 20 minutes in Thursday's 97-38 win over Chicago State.

Impact Curbelo has made an impact for Illinois over his first two games as a freshman. He dished out six dimes in Wednesday's season opener, and he approached a double-double as he played 20 minutes against Chicago State. The 6-foot-1 guard has committed four turnovers in each of his first two collegiate games, but he could be in the mix for a role with the Illini during his freshman season.

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sharp from three-point range Frazier totaled 14 points (4-7 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block over 27 minutes in Thursday's 97-38 win over Chicago State.

Impact Frazier was held in check during Wednesday's season opener, but he was more effective from beyond the arc in Thursday's win to help propel the Illini to their second straight win. The senior will look to improve on his 2019-20 season in which he averaged 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 30.5 minutes per game.

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois goes up against Ohio

Ohio and Illinois both look to put winning streaks together

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets in early sprints Bosmans-Verdonk (foot) did some sprinting and put up some free throws well ahead of Thursday's game versus Chicago State, Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reports.

Impact Bosmans-Verdonk missed Wednesday's opener but appears to at least be drawing closer to his 2020-21 debut for the Illini. He averaged 6.4 minutes per contest in his nine appearances last season before a foot issue cropped up in mid-October and he wasn't seen on the floor again.

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Andy Katz's Preseason Tiers: Top 16

With the college basketball season beginning on Wednesday, Andy Katz breaks down his preseason tiers and title favorites.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Dosunmu, Miller lead No. 8 Illinois past NC A&T 122-60

Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 28 points, freshman Adam Miller also scored 28 and No. 8 Illinois beat North Carolina A&T 122-60 in the season opener for both teams

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posts double-double Wednesday Cockburn had 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds and one block over 17 minutes in Wednesday's 122-60 win over North Carolina A&T.

Impact Cockburn had the fewest minutes of any starter for the Illini on Wednesday, but he made the most of his time on the floor. He was one of two players on the team who posted a double-double, and he got off to a strong start after his 2019-20 season in which he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Goes off in collegiate debut Miller recorded 28 points (10-12 FG, 6-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal over 27 minutes in Wednesday's 122-60 win over North Carolina A&T.

Impact Miller was incredibly efficient during his first game with the Illini, and he tied with Ayo Dosunmu for a team-leading 28 points. The 6-3 freshman also led Illinois in minutes Wednesday, and he appears poised for a significant role during his first collegiate season.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Starts season with double-double Dosunmu racked up 28 points (11-18 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 1-3 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists over 26 minutes in Wednesday's 122-60 win over North Carolina A&T.

Impact Dosunmu made the preseason Associated Press All-American team, and he showed why in the Illini's first game of the season. He was one of two players to record a double-double Wednesday, and he tied for the team lead with 28 points. Even in a conference filled with defensive prowess, Dosunmu should be among the most productive players during the 2020-21 season.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE