Illinois' Dosunmu, Cockburn Named To Midseason Top 25 Watch List

Fighting Illini junior point guard Ayo Dosunmu and sophomore center Kofi Cockburn have been named to the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Wednesday.

Illinois is one of just three schools – and the lone Big Ten program – to have multiple student-athletes on the midseason list for the Wooden Award, which has been awarded annually since 1976 to the nation's most outstanding college basketball player. The Big Ten leads all conferences with six players on the Midseason Top 25, as chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on performances thus far during the 2020-21 season.

The Fighting Illini duo earn spots on the Wooden Award Midseason List after accomplishing the following:

Dosunmu 2020-21 Highlights

• Only player in the nation averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists

• Seventh in the NCAA in scoring at 23.0 ppg

• Second in NCAA in with 94 made field goals

• No. 3 in KenPom National Player of the Year rankings

• Fourth in Big Ten in assists (5.0 apg) and 11th in B1G in rebounding (7.0 rpg)

• Shooting 51.4% overall, 42.1% on threes, and 80.3% on free throws

• 20th in the NCAA in free throws made (49) and 28th nationally in free throw attempts (61)

• Two-time Big Ten Co-Player of the Week (12/14 & 12/28)

• 30 points on 11-17 shooting, 4-5 from three, and 5 assists in win over Indiana (12/26)

• 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in win at Penn State (12/23)

• Fourth career double-double with 22 points, 11 boards and 6 assists at No. 19 Rutgers (12/20)

• Career-high 36 points at Missouri (12/12), the No. 11 scoring performance in the NCAA this year

• 18 points and career-high 12 boards in win at No. 10 Duke (12/8)

• Hit game-winning free throws with 2.3 seconds left vs. Ohio (11/27), finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists

• 28 points with career-high 5 threes and 10 boards in opener vs. North Carolina A&T (11/25)

Cockburn 2020-21 Highlights

• Seventh in Big Ten in scoring at 16.9 ppg

• Leads B1G and ranks 25th in NCAA in rebounding at 9.9 rpg

• Second in the NCAA with 7 double-doubles

• Ninth in the nation in field goal shooting at 66.7% (74-111)

• 19 career double-doubles (7th in NCAA among active players over last two years)

• Double-double with 14 points on 7-9 FG, 10 boards and 2 blocks in win over Purdue (1/2)

• Double-double with 15 points and season-high 15 boards in win over Indiana (12/26)

• 23 points on 11-13 FG in win at Penn State (12/23)

• Double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds at No. 19 Rutgers (12/20)

• Double-double with career-high 33 points on 12-15 FG with 9 FT and 13 rebounds in win over Minnesota (12/15)

• 19 points on 8-10 FG at Missouri (12/12)

• 13 points, 8 boards and 2 blocks in win at No. 10 Duke (12/8)

• Three straight double-doubles to open season: 18 pts-10 reb vs. North Carolina A&T (11/25), 14 pts-11 reb vs. Chicago State (11/26) and 13 pts-14 reb vs. Ohio (11/27)

The 25 players listed are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not listed are still eligible for the Wooden Award National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award.

Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.