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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini duos since 2000

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) celebrate during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) celebrate during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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08 Mar 2002: Head coach Bill Self of Illinois talks to team members guard Cory Bradford
08 Mar 2002: Head coach Bill Self of Illinois talks to team members guard Cory Bradford /

3. Frank Williams & Brian Cook

  • 29.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 1.7 blocks
  • Round 32, Elite 8, Sweet 16

Honestly, when it gets down to the final three duos since 2000, it is tough to put one ahead of the other. All three duos brought something special to the table. Checking in as the No. 3 duo is Frank Williams and Brian Cook.

There are a lot of Illinois fans reading this who didn’t have a chance to see Williams and Cook dominate with the Orange and Blue, but man, were they special. Williams dazzled on the court as a combo guard and Cook was an athletic big man who could do various things on the court. This dynamic one-two punch won a lot with the program as well.

Williams and Cook only spent three years together, but they were a great three seasons. In year one, the duo made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The following season was the pinnacle of their success, as the Illini got to the Elite 8. Illinois would lose the rubber match against Arizona in the Elite 8 after the two teams split in the regular season. The two made it back to the Sweet 16 in their final run with the program.

So much talent was brought to the court with Williams and Cook. They were the two players who helped bring Illinois back from mediocrity in the 1990s. Their numbers were sensational as well. In the final season the two played together, they combined for 29.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. These two were true legends for this program.

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