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Illinois Basketball: 3 big remaining questions for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during the first half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 7, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during the first half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 7, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 07: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. Will Ayo and Kofi return?

I think the question that all Illinois basketball fans want answered is whether or not we are going to have Ayo Dosunmu and/or Kofi Cockburn back in Champaign for the 2020-21 campaign.

This is a big mystery right now, and a lot of the mystery has to do with Covid-19. The pandemic that has sent the world into a tailspin has also disrupted the college basketball offseason. If Covid-19 didn’t hit, we would already know the decision of both Ayo and Kofi because the deadline to withdraw your name from the NBA Draft has already passed. But that deadline has been extended into August.

Ayo and Kofi’s decision is going to affect the Illini program as well. They were the top players for the Orange and Blue last season, and there is no exaggeration in that statement. Ayo led the Illini in points (16.6), assists (3.3) and minutes (33.5). Kofi led the Illini in rebounds (8.8) and blocks (1.4). These two were the lifeblood of the program’s resurgence.

Illinois will look different this upcoming season but the decision of Ayo and Kofi will determine how different. It is going to be a major adjustment if they both leave. But, if they can return to Champaign for one more season, we could witness something special. Maybe, just maybe, we could win a national title.

If I had to guess, I would say, at this point, both Ayo and Kofi are coming back to Illinois. Covid-19 hasn’t allowed the two players to get evaluated properly, which would likely leave them with unfavorable evaluations. I would think they would come back for another year. Illinois still has scholarships available too.

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