Similar to Wisconsin losing its star Johnny Davis and Iowa losing All-American Keegan Murray, Illinois lost star center Kofi Cockburn, who declared for the NBA Draft a third and final time, forfeiting his remaining collegiate eligibility.
Joining Cockburn in exiting from the Illini were Trent Frazier, Da’Monte Williams and Alfonso Plummer to graduation; Austin Hutcherson to the professional ranks; and guard Brandin Podziemski (UC Santa Clara), guard Andre Curbelo (St. John’s), center Omar Payne (Jacksonville), forward Jacob Grandison (Duke) and center Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (South Carolina) to the transfer portal.
Losing so many core pieces from two Big Ten championship teams, Brad Underwood and Co.