KOFI COCKBURN

Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 38 points to lead No. 14 Illinois to a hard-fought 94-85 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley on Friday night. Illinois (4-2) started slowly, trailing the Vaqueros by as many as 12 points in the first half. Timely buckets from Cockburn and Alfonso Plummer, a transfer guard from Utah, helped the Illini go on a 15-5 run to take a one-point lead at the half.

The NCAA has suspended Illinois center Kofi Cockburn for the first three games of the season because he sold apparel and memorabilia before new regulations that allow athletes to participate in money-making ventures went into effect.

A pair of Wolverines were named to the Big Ten men’s basketball preseason all-conference team on Wednesday. So too was freshman Caleb Houstan, the first Wolverine to earn the distinction, according to a Michigan basketball spokesperson. Also according to the spokesperson, it’s just the third time in program history that Michigan has had multiple players on the preseason squadIllinois center Kofi Cockburn, a junior, was named the conference’s preseason Player of the Year. The preseason team has featured 10 players in recent years, but included an extra player this season due to a tie in voting. LIDDELL, JR., F, OHIO STATEJADEN IVEY, SO., G, PURDUETrevion Williams, Sr., F, PurdueRon Harper Jr., Sr., G/F, Rutgers

Drew Timme of Gonzaga is the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America team.

None of those candidates, though, wear a Michigan State uniform. Brown admits he hasn’t always been consistent throughout his Michigan State career and knows more will be expected of him this year. His first season playing at Michigan State didn’t pan out the way anyone hoped (9.7 points per game, 34 percent from 3-point range). “I don’t think anyone’s seen the real Joey Hauser,” Izzo said. So while Michigan State may not have any player of the year candidates at the start of the season, he isn’t ruling out that it will have some at the end.

Big Ten basketball entered a whole new world when it returned to Indianapolis for the first of two media days.

The Wolverines edged out Purdue to take the top spot in a Big Ten basketball preseason poll conducted by The Athletic and The Columbus Dispatch and released on Wednesday morning. Michigan State, meanwhile, was picked to finish sixth as the Spartans bring back a new-look team after finishing tied for eighth last year in the conference standings. Michigan also received a pair of individual honors in the poll: Caleb Houstan was picked as the conference’s preseason Freshman of the Year, and Hunter Dickinson was picked preseason All-Big Ten. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was tabbed the Big Ten’s Preseason Player of the Year. It serves as the unofficial preseason poll for the conference, as the Big Ten office does not conduct an official preseason poll.

Just before the deadline for players to enter the transfer portal in the 2021 offseason, the Big ten saw one last big name throw his hat in. Illinois forward Kofi Cockburn entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal this week, according to ESPN, becoming arguably the highest profile league player to do so in an offseason filled with change. Cockburn has not ruled out a return to Illinois, according to ESPN, but can now have contact with potential transfer destinations if he chooses to play elsewhere in 2021-22. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as he helped Illinois to a runner-up finish in the Big Ten, a Big Ten tournament title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

(AP Photo/Robert Franklin)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State star E.J. Liddell says he'll continue speaking out against social-media users who direct racist, abusive and threatening messages at him and other athletes. “I just wanted to use my voice a little bit,” Liddell said Wednesday in a video call with reporters. And that’s not OK.”AdLiddell said he hadn't considered dropping off social media because with all the pandemic-related restrictions on where players could go and who they could see, social media was their link to the outside world. “If you really think about it, this year social media is our social life,” he said.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)The Latest on the first round of the NCAA Tournament (all times Eastern):___6:50 p.m.Another first-round upset as 12th-seeded Oregon State defeated No. 9 seed Georgia Tech 71-60 on Friday to mark a triumphant return to the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Bubba Parham, who is 5-10, got the start instead as Georgia Tech went with a guard-heavy look. AdIllinois will face eighth-seeded Loyola Chicago or ninth-seeded Georgia Tech in the second round of the Midwest Regional on Sunday. Ad___2:10 p.m.Players from several NCAA Tournament teams took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before their first-round games.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)Gonzaga and Baylor spent almost the entire season holding down the top two spots in the Top 25. Makes sense they'd hold down a bunch of spots on The Associated Press All-America teams. The Bulldogs' Corey Kispert and the Bears' Jared Butler led the way with first-team nods Tuesday from the national panel of 63 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. Just like the first- and second-team All-Americans, their teams also will be playing in the NCAA Tournament this week. ___AP Basketball Writer John Marshall and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

As the Fighting Illini celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 with a 91-88 overtime victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday, they quickly turned the focus to their No. Instead of withering in their fourth game in four days and being without forward Kyle Young for the second consecutive game, Ohio State (21-9) continually fought back. BIG PICTUREOhio State: They didn't win the title but the fifth-seeded Buckeyes overperformed expectations. ALL-TOURNEY TEAMAdDosunmu and Cockburn were joined on the all-tournament team by Washington and Liddell from Ohio State and Iowa’s Luka Garza, the league’s player of the year.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois center Kofi Cockburn learned some hard lessons dueling with Luka Garza as a freshman. The victory sends the Illini to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. They made themselves at home, cheering loudly each time Cockburn made a play, while booing the foul calls against Illinois. A 9-0 run midway through the first half gave Illinois a 22-14 lead that it never surrendered. BIG PICTUREIowa: The Hawkeyes won't go away quietly in the NCAA Tournament, as Illinois found out Saturday.

Michigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

Michigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

After Illinois’ Trent Frazier sank two free throws, Illinois fouled Trevor Anderson with 1.9 seconds left before Wisconsin could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Wisconsin took 17 more shots than Illinois in the first half but still trailed 37-26 at the break because the Illini were much more efficient. AdIllinois cooled off considerably in the second half, but Wisconsin also faltered up until Trice's surge in the final minutes. Illinois led by 14 in the second half before Trice got Wisconsin back into the game. The Illini nearly crumbled down the stretch but stayed in front by going 10 of 10 on foul shots in the final 44 seconds.

EAST LANSING, MI -- Michigan State isn’t done just yet. A massive win for a team just trying to get back in the bubble conversation as we speed toward March. In episode 24 of MLive’s Spartan Confidential podcast, reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel breakdown Michigan State’s hard-fought upset of No. Topics include the Spartans usage of a trimmed down rotation and big man by committee to slow Kofi Cockburn, as well as Joshua Langford turning back the clock. The guys also discuss what MSU needs to do down the stretch to make the NCAA tournament and linebacker Ben VanSumeren’s transfer from Michigan.

AdIn the opening 20 minutes against Illinois, he matched a career high with 10 rebounds and scored seven points to help Michigan State lead 36-26. The Alabama was a highly touted recruit when he signed with Michigan State five years ago in a recruiting class that included Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Michigan State: Izzo, a Hall of Fame coach, hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Illini, who haven't won at Michigan State since 2015, will likely slip in the AP Top 25 after getting upset as a seven-point favorite. Michigan State welcomes the fourth-ranked Buckeyes on Thursday night.

“It’s going to be a hellacious couple of days,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said on Monday. The stretch was created by postponements both from Michigan State and from Michigan. So even more so than usual, Michigan State is emphasizing a game-at-a-time philosophy for the next two weeks. At 11-9 overall, Michigan State is currently outside of the NCAA Tournament picture. That’s constantly had Michigan State choosing how often to double-team the low post versus potentially allow open 3-pointers, something he and his staff will do again on Tuesday.

Michigan State players and coaches will have some positive vibes to take into that stretch after beating Indiana on the road on Saturday. And Michigan State will need to have a win-or-go-home mindset akin to the tournament this week and next. Hoosiers big man Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 34 points, becoming the latest big man to have a big game against the Spartans’ frontcourt. Michigan State played him one-on-one and didn’t give up perimeter looks as a result. Michigan State will have a similar decision to make on Tuesday: single-team Cockburn, or try to double-team him but risk giving up 3-pointers.

13 Illinois past Minnesota 92-65 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Tuesday night. Freshman guard Adam Miller added 14 points, while Trent Frazier and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 10 for Illinois (5-2). Illinois went on several runs, including a 22-5 spurt fueled by back-to-back 3s from Frazier to end the half. Illinois has struggled with turnovers this season and committed 14 against Minnesota. The outcome was never in question in the second half and Illinois used its defense and quickness to put away the Gophers.

We dont really know anything right now, and thats hard.Michigan State went on a 6-0 run midway through the final half. Dosunmu hit two layups and Illinois went on a 10-0 run with nine minutes left. Illinois went on another 10-0 run and took its first lead of the game, 61-60 with 5:27 left. But I would imagine it was a tough game to officiate.Playing mix and match lineups because of fouls had an effect on the players, too. BIG PICTUREMichigan State: The Spartans needed the win on the road, which ended a three-game losing streak.

Tillman was pretty good, too, when the Michigan State resumed Big Ten play. Michigan State was in control from the outset but had just a six-point edge at halftime. Hell bounce back.Gabe Brown scored 12 points and Aaron Henry added 10 points for the Spartans. 12 Michigan. INJURY REPORTAhrens, whose career has been stunted by injuries, left the court in the second half and went toward his teams locker room.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Kofi Cockburn got Michigan coach Juwan Howards attention. Hes very strong on the inside, Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. Im really proud of my team, my guys, Illinois coach Brad Underwood. Eli Brooks and Isaiah Livers each had 12 points. With about four minutes left in the game, Cockburn hit a basket and was fouled.