Triple-double trouble
Dosunmu nets 3rd one in program history; Cockburn ‘dominant’ in impressive win
The dominating performances from Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn in No. 12 Illinois’ 75-60 win against No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday in Champaign are what many had in mind when they envisioned the two playing together.
“You never know how your best-laid plans are going to work out, but we knew we had two young men who were very high characters and had a great desire to work and get better,” Illini coach Brad Underwood said. “That’s a great starting point.”
If this was the popular how-it-started versus how-it’s-going meme, Saturday’s game would be the photo on the right.
Dosunmu had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to become only the third player in program history to record a triple-double. Cockburn added 23 points and 14 rebounds.
“I give all the credit to my teammates,” Dosunmu said. “It’s an accomplishment that is not an individual accomplishment.”
The duo accounted for nearly 60% of Illinois’ points, and Cockburn had only five fewer rebounds than the entire Badgers team as the Illini clobbered the Badgers 46-19 on the boards.
Illinois (13-5, 9-3) has won four in a row and ended a home losing streak to the Badgers (14-6, 8-5) — last season’s Big Ten champions — dating to 2011.
Here are takeaways from the Illini win.
1. Dosunmu has a clear — and reliable
— crystal ball. “We be talking and I was like, ‘Yo, I’m about to get a triple-double today,’” Dosunmu said about his pregame conversation with teammates. “‘Be ready, I’m going to get a triple-double.’ It happened.”
On Illinois’ last possession of the first half, Dosunmu crossed over and floated above Wisconsin defenders to score on a beautiful layup. He shot jumpers and made 9 of 11 free-throw attempts. He didn’t take a single 3-pointer.
Dosunmu found Cockburn on a multitude of his dunks and dominating post scores. Underwood was most impressed with Dosunmu’s rebounding, which he had challenged the team’s guards to do better.
“We’ve been talking for two days about our guards’ rebounding, and (assistant coach) Orlando Antigua has been all over him about having one of those nights,” Underwood said. “When he rebounds, it creates tempo for us. You have to help in the assist department; you have to have guys make shots and create opportunities.
“But when you start thinking about scoring (21) points and having 12 assists — yikes! That’s accounting for a lot. Ayo is a really good player, and the rebounding side of it shows how dialed in he was.”
Dosunmu was the first Illini to register a triple-double against a ranked opponent, according to the Illinois athletic department. He joins the program’s all-time triple-double list that includes Mark Smith in 1979 and Sergio McClain in 2001.
Dosunmu became the third player to record at least a 20-point triple-double against a ranked team in the last 10 years, joining North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. in 2017 and Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine in 2015.
“I never doubted him, but it’s hard to get a triple-double in college basketball,” Cockburn said. “That’s an incredible achievement.”
2. The dynamic duo have a bond. In the offseason, Dosunmu and Cockburn were considering entering their names in the NBA draft. Dosunmu said he called Cockburn to talk about the process.
“We talked for four hours,” Dosunmu recalled. “We talked about everything, all the scenarios, how good we could be if we came back. It was a very genuine phone call. And since that day, we’ve been close.
“If you see us anywhere, we’re always together. If he’s shooting, I’m waiting for him to go to the locker room and vice versa. Our bond has a peak, and it’s shown on the court tremendously.”
Cockburn said they grew closer — describing their relationship as “best friends” — during COVID-19 restrictions that required athletes to limit their social circles.
Dosunmu and Cockburn often feed off each other on the court. Dosunmu was responsible for five assists on Cockburn’s 10 field goals.
“It’s about doing what we do and trusting each other and picking up each other and making each other better,” Cockburn said. “Ayo trusts me when I get in that ball screen I’m going to be low and ready to help him. I trust him that he’s going to make the right pass every time.”
Dosunmu (19.4 points) and Cockburn (18.8) rank second and fourth, respectively, in scoring in the Big Ten.
“They’re both very intelligent in terms of understanding that they help each other,” Underwood said. “Ayo’s a better player because he has Kofi; Kofi’s a better player because Ayo’s there. Basketball takes five, and when you have two guys like that that play that well together, it makes it fun and easier for everybody else.”
3. Cockburn continues to grow, statistically speaking. After Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis dunked on the 7-footer in Illinois’ 75-71 overtime victory in Bloomington, Ind., on Tuesday, Cockburn had had enough.
“Now everybody is going to feel me,” he said he proclaimed.
Cockburn had four dunks against the Hoosiers and eight against Wisconsin.
“When he has 15, I’ll be impressed,” Underwood said, insinuating Cockburn’s potential to do just that.
Cockburn’s confidence and consistency both have improved this season. He averaged 14 points and 8.8 rebounds in nonconference games, and he leads the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds in Big Ten play.
He leads the nation with 13 doubledoubles.
Cockburn still is learning, Underwood said. That should be frightening news for remaining Big Ten opponents.
“He’s in diapers when it comes to his continued growth in his infancy of basketball,” Underwood said. “I’m having a blast coaching him. He’s fun to challenge.
“He’s a great listener. He’s a great kid. He has an unbelievable competitive desire. He still a long way to go. He’s becoming dominant, and that’s fun to see.”