WEATHER ALERT
Magic beat Bulls 113-98, still hoping to finish as high as No. 2 in the East
Read full article: Magic beat Bulls 113-98, still hoping to finish as high as No. 2 in the EastPaolo Banchero scored 24 points, Jalen Suggs added 19 and the Orlando Magic kept up a playoff push that could land them as high as second in the Eastern Conference with a 113-98 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night.
Bucks rout Bulls 116-100 in Game 5, advance to face Celtics
Read full article: Bucks rout Bulls 116-100 in Game 5, advance to face CelticsGiannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and nine rebounds and the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks routed the Chicago Bulls 116-100 on Wednesday night to finish off the first-round series in five games.
Joel Embiid scores 40 points, 76ers hold off DeRozan, Bulls
Read full article: Joel Embiid scores 40 points, 76ers hold off DeRozan, BullsJoel Embiid dominated with 40 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame DeMar DeRozan’s season-high, 45-point game for Chicago to beat the Bulls 119-108 on Sunday.
Gonzaga, Baylor dominate AP All-America teams
Read full article: Gonzaga, Baylor dominate AP All-America teams(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)Gonzaga and Baylor spent almost the entire season holding down the top two spots in the Top 25. Makes sense they'd hold down a bunch of spots on The Associated Press All-America teams. The Bulldogs' Corey Kispert and the Bears' Jared Butler led the way with first-team nods Tuesday from the national panel of 63 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. Just like the first- and second-team All-Americans, their teams also will be playing in the NCAA Tournament this week. ___AP Basketball Writer John Marshall and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State to take Big Ten title
Read full article: No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State to take Big Ten titleAs the Fighting Illini celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 with a 91-88 overtime victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday, they quickly turned the focus to their No. Instead of withering in their fourth game in four days and being without forward Kyle Young for the second consecutive game, Ohio State (21-9) continually fought back. BIG PICTUREOhio State: They didn't win the title but the fifth-seeded Buckeyes overperformed expectations. ALL-TOURNEY TEAMAdDosunmu and Cockburn were joined on the all-tournament team by Washington and Liddell from Ohio State and Iowa’s Luka Garza, the league’s player of the year.
No. 3 Illinois gets past No. 5 Iowa, into Big Ten title game
Read full article: No. 3 Illinois gets past No. 5 Iowa, into Big Ten title game(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois center Kofi Cockburn learned some hard lessons dueling with Luka Garza as a freshman. The victory sends the Illini to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. They made themselves at home, cheering loudly each time Cockburn made a play, while booing the foul calls against Illinois. A 9-0 run midway through the first half gave Illinois a 22-14 lead that it never surrendered. BIG PICTUREIowa: The Hawkeyes won't go away quietly in the NCAA Tournament, as Illinois found out Saturday.
Dosunmu's return powers No. 4 Illinois over No. 7 Ohio State
Read full article: Dosunmu's return powers No. 4 Illinois over No. 7 Ohio StateIllinois guard Adam Miller, bottom, passes against Ohio State forward Justice Sueing during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 6, 2021. 7 Ohio State 73-68. Andre Curbelo also had 19 points as Illinois got its second straight road win over a top 10 team after routing No. The teams traded punches in the second half, but again Ohio State had trouble making shots down the stretch, missing on its last 10 attempts. BIG PICTUREIllinois is peaking at the right time and brimming with confidence after beating top 10 teams in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Intense No. 4 Illinois makes statement, drubs No. 2 Michigan
Read full article: Intense No. 4 Illinois makes statement, drubs No. 2 MichiganMichigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.
Illini win 74-69 as Wisconsin's Trice-led rally falls short
Read full article: Illini win 74-69 as Wisconsin's Trice-led rally falls shortAfter Illinois’ Trent Frazier sank two free throws, Illinois fouled Trevor Anderson with 1.9 seconds left before Wisconsin could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Wisconsin took 17 more shots than Illinois in the first half but still trailed 37-26 at the break because the Illini were much more efficient. AdIllinois cooled off considerably in the second half, but Wisconsin also faltered up until Trice's surge in the final minutes. Illinois led by 14 in the second half before Trice got Wisconsin back into the game. The Illini nearly crumbled down the stretch but stayed in front by going 10 of 10 on foul shots in the final 44 seconds.
Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chances
Read full article: Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chancesTrent Frazier scored 22 points for Illinois, whose star players weren't as productive as usual against a suddenly stingy defense. Michigan State: Hall of Fame Coach Tom Izzo hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997. They shot 24% and were held to 26 points in the first half at Michigan State before shooting better and scoring more in the second half. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Illini, who haven't won at Michigan State since 2015, will likely slip in the AP Top 25 after getting upset as a seven-point favorite. Michigan State: Hosts Ohio State on Thursday night.
Cockburn scores 33 as No. 13 Illinois routs Minnesota 92-65
Read full article: Cockburn scores 33 as No. 13 Illinois routs Minnesota 92-6513 Illinois past Minnesota 92-65 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Tuesday night. Freshman guard Adam Miller added 14 points, while Trent Frazier and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 10 for Illinois (5-2). The previous high for Cockburn was 26 points against North Carolina A&T last December. “Big Ten teams don't give up, so we know we need to keep our foot on the gas.”Marcus Carr had 16 points for Minnesota (6-1). The Gophers were 19 of 69 (28%) from the field, while the Illini shot 34 for 64 (53%).
No. 2 Baylor uses stout defense to get past No. 5 Illinois
Read full article: No. 2 Baylor uses stout defense to get past No. 5 IllinoisAnd after an uncharacteristic first half, Drew understood why his players might have been a little unnerved. “It was a frustrating night," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua started the decisive stretch by making two free throws with 12:51 left. After Illinois made a 3-pointer, Baylor scored five more points and then took control with another run, this time 9-0. ... MaCio Teague added 11 points and Tchamwa Tchatchoua had nine points and nine rebounds.
Garza, Butler headline AP preseason All-America team
Read full article: Garza, Butler headline AP preseason All-America teamSeniors Luke Garza of Iowa and Baylor's Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team. 5 in the AP preseason Top 25, in large part due to Garza’s decision to return. 2 in the AP preseason poll, highest in school history. Gonzaga was the AP preseason No. He is Arizona State’s second preseason AP All-American, with Ike Diogu in 2003-04.