Chief Illiniwek wasn't an eligibility issue either.
Kofi Cockburn to miss first 3 games of season
Not going to get too upset, but it is disappointing, which is par for the course for the current gang that runs...or fails...the NCAA. A one game suspension would have been the most warranted. There also seems to be, if my reading and memory are serving well, that the penalty was very different for the exact same infraction by another player who was not a First Team All-American. But that was something I read on the internet so likely has no basis in fact.
Nevertheless, I look on this as a good thing. More time for Payne to play and Lieb/BBV to grow confidence which could pay dividends for the next 18 months. Kofi, in the meantime, can practice his free throws, 12-16 ft. jumpers, and passing from under the bucket to anywhere beyond the arc ...as the Illini will have a shooter out there for sure who can bury it. In my mind, BU will embrace this and deal with it....turning it all into a huge positive. It also should get everyone on the team motivated as there are 75-90 min. of floor time available to be distributed while Kofi cheers from the bench. Go Illini!!
Nevertheless, I look on this as a good thing. More time for Payne to play and Lieb/BBV to grow confidence which could pay dividends for the next 18 months. Kofi, in the meantime, can practice his free throws, 12-16 ft. jumpers, and passing from under the bucket to anywhere beyond the arc ...as the Illini will have a shooter out there for sure who can bury it. In my mind, BU will embrace this and deal with it....turning it all into a huge positive. It also should get everyone on the team motivated as there are 75-90 min. of floor time available to be distributed while Kofi cheers from the bench. Go Illini!!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
pru...pru....pru......pru is this , pru is that....I'm sick of pru...............I'm THE Jack Nicholson.............and what do I get .....NOTHING.......I gotta get this Walken pru dude.............................I really really do........
Bring it on Nicholson , you pantywaist...........................I'll tear your lungs out.......
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
I would have been very disappointed if Jay didn’t chime in on the suspension.
Well the suspension is really an injustice to Kofi, given the many situations with other schools that the ncaa could have dropped the hammer on....I am just glad they made the decision now and didn't drag this on into the conference portions of the season....sit 3 games then go out and kick the sh*t out of everyone and solidify the National Player of the Year award and get that NC ring in route to a first round pick in the draft
NCAA = JOKE
This is the way I see it. Payne will get a chance to play "starter's minutes" those three games. If Payne is not productive and the game is close, Coleman will probably play the 5. If we're blowing out the opposition, BBV and/or Lieb will get some valuable minutes.
Nah I wouldn’t think so
Last year three games without Ayo didn’t seem to be a negative. Turn it into a positive and move on.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I think what bugs me the most about this is most media outlets are probably reporting this the same way WBBM did last night. Their in-depth reporting revealed that Kofi has been suspended for 3 games for selling team gear in violation of NCAA rules. Period. End of report.
To say that this will have no effect on Kofi’s future possibilities, including NIL, is overly optimistic. It could very easily affect him negatively in the minds of anyone not given the full story. Which is highly likely to be most of the people not closely associated with the Illini.
To say that this will have no effect on Kofi’s future possibilities, including NIL, is overly optimistic. It could very easily affect him negatively in the minds of anyone not given the full story. Which is highly likely to be most of the people not closely associated with the Illini.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think Ayo was ever 100% after that. A few hard fouls seemed to take a toll on him in subsequent games and could have potentially hurt his eventual draft status. I’m getting off topic tho.
It was Bridges parents that met with an agent and "he didn't know" they met for dinner.
I'm thinking part of this is that he sold merchandise that he still wouldn't be allowed to sell from the NIL. Game worn jersey/official licensed memorabilia is stuff that he would not be able to profit from now.
If it had been Hunter Dickinson, the NCAA would have rubbed lotion on his !!! and whispered sweet nothings in his ear.
This is the best suggestion I've seen yet. #FreeKofi.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I’ve now heard it reported the same way on a station that carries Illinois basketball. Honestly I don’t care as much about the 3 games as I do the implications being made that are false. He declared for the draft on April 18th. When did he start selling gear, June something?
Hmm, wonder where they got that approach from. When it doesn’t stop you from becoming the most powerful man on Earth, it will be emulated.
Love the clip on Lucas --tremendously under-rated player in my book, and a guy who demonstrated that leadership comes in different forms. You don't have to be the best all around player to lead by example.
I thought this might be as good of a place as any for this.
https://www.espn.com/college-sports...way-ncaa-investigates-punishes-member-schools
Congress pushing to curb NCAA's investigative and punitive autonomy
"The NCAA is a monopoly with no oversight," Kustoff told ESPN. "The NCAA acts as investigator, prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner. [Our bill] sets up a framework. The NCAA can still do their jobs, but with more constraints."https://www.espn.com/college-sports...way-ncaa-investigates-punishes-member-schools
The NCAA has been depriving institutions and players of due process for decades. While I'm never for the FedGov involving itself in issues that are not federal in nature (although it's fair to say that the monopoly granted to the NCAA upon its founding by Congress is a federal antitrust issue), I wholeheartedly support the passing of a bill that would provide some oversight. Creating a framework might at least force the NCAA to be more consistent in what rules are enforced and against whom. I know that's a pipe dream, because money always trumps ethics in the NCAA's world, and the bluebloods have plenty of that to buy their way out of sanctions.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
So petty. If there was a HoF for ridiculous organizations, the NCAA would be a mortal lock to be in there.