Can't get over the work Kofi Cockburn has done to get in shape and commit to playing hard at all times. Whatever #Illini staff is doing with him as coaches, they've pushed all the right buttons. Turning into a fun team to watch.

— Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops) December 12, 2019

Learning To Fly #Illini https://t.co/etdancoIoE

— illiniboardfeed (@illiniboardfeed) December 12, 2019

Quck hits: #Illini close out first top-5 win since beating No. 1 Indiana in 2013

What happened, what it means, star of the game, stat of the game, don't overlook, what's nexthttps://t.co/kUTVPBWLn6

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 12, 2019

Beat writer @srrichey empties his notebook following @IlliniMBB's win against No. 5 @umichbball, including another big night (and and unfortunate incident) for #Illini freshman @kxng_alpha. https://t.co/4TX3tds2KR via @news_gazette

— IlliniHQ (@IlliniHQ) December 12, 2019

Another great photo from @patgorski pic.twitter.com/Ih70NLMUFm

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 12, 2019

Andy Katz going all-in on Kofi. "Potential first-team All Big Ten. Potential national Freshman of the Year".

— Robert (@ALionEye) December 12, 2019

#Illini team doctors examined and cleared referee Lewis Garrison. Garrison then went to the emergency room for precautionary x-rays. He's a really nice guy and a great referee, so let's all wish him the best.

— Illini Report (@IlliniReport) December 12, 2019

Had a must-win feel & Illini get a huge win on the resume against No. 5 Michigan. Kept the trend going of B1G teams protecting home court.

Kofi & Giorgi played like a premier frontcourt tandem in the league. Defensive effort was really good again.

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) December 12, 2019

#illini Ayo Dosunmu told Juwan Howard after the game that he went 4-0 against Chicago Vocational, Howard's alma mater, when he was at Morgan Park.

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 12, 2019

Illinois gets a signature win over Michigan and college basketball gets a weird moment. Here's Illini freshman Kofi Cockburn after a basket and a foul late in the game. Hope this official is okay: pic.twitter.com/lJsspnBzOJ

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 12, 2019

Freshman Kofi Cockburn had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks as Illinois beat No. 5 Michigan on Wednesday, 71-62. It's the Illini's first win over a top-five team since 2013.https://t.co/9aDYKY4uRF

— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) December 12, 2019

"That (was) a blast...I'm so proud of our guys."

- @CoachUnderwood joined @OliviaDekker postgame to discuss @IlliniMBB's win over No. 5 Michigan: pic.twitter.com/d6gOLGtCNm

— Illinois on BTN (@IllinoisOnBTN) December 12, 2019

BIG TIME W 😤 pic.twitter.com/u2Wv2rAFyC

— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 12, 2019

💥Kofi Cockburn💥 pic.twitter.com/Vum7XMWHPR

— IllinoisLoyalty🤨 (@IllinoisLoyalty) December 12, 2019

💥Giorgi Bezhanishvili💥 pic.twitter.com/88UTuR5SgA

— IllinoisLoyalty🤨 (@IllinoisLoyalty) December 12, 2019

Kofi ▶️ Giorgi 🧡 pic.twitter.com/MVT2tRuuyQ

— IllinoisLoyalty🤨 (@IllinoisLoyalty) December 12, 2019

🔷🔶🔷🔶#littyville #Illinois #fightingIllini pic.twitter.com/uSrt4WWXdL

— Cooper Davis (@CooperrDavis) December 11, 2019

COMMIT: #illini flip 3-star Florida DE Cooper Davis (@CooperrDavis), former #Mizzou pledgehttps://t.co/8C18YEiMSg

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 11, 2019

Illini focus on late-game situations heading into big matchup with Michigan https://t.co/2Ky5xy1xUM

— STLToday Sports News (@STL_SportsNews) December 11, 2019

Didn't miss a beat ... #Illini @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/5SqaPk4SY2

— Marlee Wierda (@WCIA3Marlee) December 10, 2019

#Illini Underwood: We've covered (late-game stuff). It was maybe once or twice a week. Now, every day.

We've got to get Trent a couple looks.

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) December 10, 2019

The Wolverines come to Champaign tomorrow night. Can the #Illini score an upset? https://t.co/2Qu6t2ADwe

— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) December 10, 2019

🏆 x 3️⃣

It's becoming a weekly thing for @kxng_alpha. #Illini

🔗 https://t.co/qqYbaNjP65 pic.twitter.com/9li9gCyOth

— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 9, 2019

Back home for ✌️ this week.

🔶 WED vs. Michigan | 8 pm
🔶 SAT vs. Old Dominion | 5 pm

We'll need @StateFarmCenter rockin'! #Illini x #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/iSLLXqrqgj

— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 9, 2019

It's about to get interesting!!

— Cory Patterson (@IlliniCPatt) December 9, 2019

Almost half the #illini staff in to see 3-star DE Wesley Bailey, a top priority https://t.co/0OuA6Jo38m https://t.co/c5rVeYIsU1

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 10, 2019

NEW POST:

* The key moments in this year's CFP race (trips to Arizona'll kill ya)
* What an 8-team CFP would have looked like (and why 8 is good even w/3 clear favs)
* What makes Mike Norvell so interesting
* Seriously: WATCH THE SMALL-SCHOOL PLAYOFFShttps://t.co/lhj3YBGWtk

— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) December 9, 2019

Bowl Thoughts #Illini https://t.co/r93wRiPe79

— illiniboardfeed (@illiniboardfeed) December 9, 2019

For @IlliniFootball coach and players, winning the Redbox Bowl is imperative. #Illini want to finish above. 500. California dreaming: Lovie, Illini looking forward to 'great experience' https://t.co/mXMOXFaJfA via @news_gazette

— Bob Asmussen (@BobAsmussen) December 9, 2019

"I don't see six wins being the bogey year after year. At some point, we'll be talking about what type of bowl we're getting, not if we'll get one." -- @IlliniAD https://t.co/TOUBTCzzyM

— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) December 8, 2019

CHAMPAIGN -- After back-to-back losses to close the regular season left a sour taste in the mouths of the Illinois football team, the players and coaches will get a chance to cleanse their palates at the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 30 against California at L... https://t.co/x4ibderiAv

— heraldandreview (@heraldandreview) December 8, 2019

Updated information here on #illini bowl, including statements from Lovie Smith and Josh Whitman, tentative team schedule and ticket packages: https://t.co/FXFL1KZFzb

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 8, 2019

JUCO defensive lineman Anthony Shipton (@AnthonyShipton) tells me his just committed to the Fighting #Illini. https://t.co/4KmXo9toYs

— Doug Bucshon (@IllinoisRivals) December 8, 2019

Smith Center was LIT 🔥🎳🔥#Illini x @RedboxBowl pic.twitter.com/lxDw6A2L7B

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) December 8, 2019

We're headed to...@RedboxBowl pic.twitter.com/AuVGmw0uMa

— Cal Football (@CalFootball) December 8, 2019

The #Illini are 1/4th of the way into their season and still don't have a win over a high major opponent, with losses to Arizona, Miami and Maryland. Just two more chances (Michigan, Missouri) before 2019 ends and B1G play starts again. At Sparty, Purdue and at Wiscy first 3

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) December 8, 2019

Quick Hits: #Illini crumble in failed upset bid at No. 3 Maryland.

What happened, what it means, stat of the game & what's next.https://t.co/IZYMDlFusD

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) December 8, 2019

Absolute disaster late for Illinois.

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) December 8, 2019

With 2.1 seconds left, Maryland hit first of two free throws to go up 59-58 on Illinois. Brad Underwood then used his final timeout between FTs.

Maryland intentionally missed and Illinois didn't get a shot off before buzzer.

That's coaching malpractice -- as dumb as it gets.

— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) December 8, 2019

"We grew up tonight and I'm extremely proud of that." pic.twitter.com/H5PFSDlxYp

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) December 8, 2019

#Illini Da'Monte Williams and Ayo Dosunmu after the game:

"It's tough" pic.twitter.com/kQQ4Wo2cYZ

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) December 8, 2019