| Illinois Probable Starters (from the last game) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
5 |
Andre Curbelo |
6-1 |
175 |
So. |
10.3 |
4.7 |
5.0 |
Bob Cousy Award Watch List |
| G |
1 |
Trent Frazier |
6-2 |
175 |
Sr. |
11.7 |
3.3 |
1.3 |
23 points (6 treys) at Marquette |
| G/F |
3 |
Jacob Grandison |
6-6 |
210 |
Gr. |
11.5 |
4.5 |
1.5 |
UI career-high 20 points vs JSU |
| F |
33 |
Coleman Hawkins |
6-10 |
215 |
So. |
11.3 |
7.3 |
2.3 |
17 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast, 4 blk vs ASU |
| C |
21 |
Kofi Cockburn |
7-0 |
285 |
Jr. |
8.0 |
7.0 |
0.0 |
2021 Consensus 2nd-Team All-American |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
0 |
Brandin Podziemski |
6-5 |
200 |
Fr. |
0.3 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
2021 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball |
| F |
2 |
Connor Serven |
6-9 |
235 |
So. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Team's lone walkon in second year |
| F |
4 |
Omar Payne |
6-10 |
240 |
Jr. |
4.3 |
2.5 |
0.3 |
7 points & 5 boards at Marquette |
| G |
10 |
Luke Goode |
6-7 |
200 |
Fr. |
3.3 |
3.0 |
0.3 |
2021 Indiana first-team All-State |
| G |
11 |
Alfonso Plummer |
6-1 |
180 |
Gr. |
6.3 |
2.5 |
1.0 |
Second on team with 5 made threes |
| C |
12 |
Brandon Lieb |
7-0 |
220 |
So. |
1.3 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
Career-high 4 points vs ASU |
| F |
13 |
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk |
6-8 |
235 |
r-So. |
3.8 |
6.5 |
0.8 |
Career-high 10 boards vs JSU & ASU |
| G |
15 |
RJ Melendez |
6-7 |
205 |
Fr. |
4.3 |
2.3 |
0.3 |
2021 Florida SIAA Player of the Year |
| G |
20 |
Da'Monte Williams |
6-3 |
215 |
Sr. |
3.8 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
10.5 rpg over last two games |
| G |
22 |
Austin Hutcherson |
6-6 |
190 |
Gr. |
5.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
Missed last season with back injury |
Career Record: 182-85 (.682), 9th year
At Illinois: 73-58 (.557), 5th year
Series Notes vs. Kansas State
Record: Illinois leads 8-2
Streak: Illinois W-6
Last Meeting: #9 Illinois 76, Kansas State 56 (12/2/2000 @Manhattan)
Underwood vs. Kansas State At Illinois / All-Time: First meeting / 1-1
Opening Tips
• No. 14 Illinois looks to end a two-game slide on Tuesday, facing Kansas State in the Consolation Game of the Hall of Fame Classic at Kansas City's T-Mobile Center (6 p.m. CT, ESPNEWS).
• Illinois continues its difficult schedule stretch, playing the third game in a run with seven out of eight versus high-major opponents.
• Illinois lost back-to-back games just once last season (Jan. 10 vs. Maryland, Jan. 16 vs. No. 21 Ohio State). This is the Illini's first two-game skid in non-conference play since the 2018-19 season (Dec. 22 vs. Missouri, Dec. 29 vs. Florida Atlantic).
• Illinois is aiming to get on track offensively after scoring just 51 points vs. Cincinnati, its fewest in a game Jan. 19, 2018 (50 at Wisconsin).
• 6-3 guard Da'Monte Williams is averaging 10.5 rebounds over the last two games. He set a career high with 11 boards at Marquette, then grabbed a game-high 10 vs. Cincinnati.
• After serving a three-game suspension to open the season, Illinois Preseason All-American and Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Kofi Cockburn returned to the lineup against Cincinnati. He made five of his first six shot attempts on his way to 18 points and seven rebounds.
Plenty of Connections in Illinois-Kansas State Matchup
Tuesday marks the first time in 21 years that Illinois and Kansas State meet on the hardwood. Illinois leads the all-time series, 8-2, and carries a six-game winning streak. There are a number of connections between the programs currently:
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, a native of McPherson, Kansas, played two seasons at Kansas State in 1985 and '86 for coach Jack Hartman. He later spent six years on the K-State staff from 2007 through 2012, the first as director of operations under Bob Huggins followed by five seasons as an assistant for coach Frank Martin, with the last in the role of associate head coach.
Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber served as Illinois head coach for nine seasons from 2004 through 2012. He led the Fighting Illini to a pair of Big Ten titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a 37-2 record, NCAA Runner-Up finish and final AP No. 1 ranking in 2005.
Former Illini point guard Chester Frazier now in his first season as Illinois assistant coach. He was a K-State assistant for seven years under Weber. During his time in Manhattan the Wildcats captured a pair of Big 12 championships and made five NCAA Tournaments, highlighted by a 2018 Elite Eight appearance. Frazier played for Weber at Illinois from 2006-09, serving as captain and earning team MVP honors as a senior.
Kansas State guard Mark Smith played his freshman season at Illinois in 2018.
Kansas State coaches Shane Southwell (assistant) and Curtis Kelly (G.A.) played for the Wildcats during Underwood's time on staff at K-State.
Underwood is 1-1 against his alma mater, splitting the series in 2017 during his lone season as Oklahoma State head coach with each team winning on the road.
Weber is facing the Illini for the first time while at K-State. Illinois defeated SIU in the 2001 Las Vegas Invitational title game while Weber was head coach of the Salukis.
Notes from the Last Time Out | Box Score
• Illinois started strong out of the gate but struggled the rest of the way in a 71-51 loss to Cincinnati on Monday in the semifinal of the Hall of Fame Classic.
• The Illini jumped out to an early 9-2 advantage, then ran off 10 unanswered to make it 19-4.
• Illinois still led by 15 when the game completely changed. Cincinnati outscored the Illini 48-13 over the next 23 minutes to open up a 56-36 lead with nine to go.
• Kofi Cockburn led Illinois with 18 points in his return to action. He scored the game's first six points and had 12 of his 18 in the first eight minutes as Illinois built a 23-8 lead.
• Cockburn made five of his first six shot attempts, finishing 7-of-13 from the field with seven rebounds.
• Da'Monte Williams grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, reaching double figures for the second straight game (11 at Marquette). It was his fourth career game with 10+ boards.
• Andre Curbelo finished with a season-high 12 points.
• Austin Hutcherson scored five points in 10 minutes in his Illini debut.
• Illinois entered the game leading the NCAA in rebound margin (+21.3 rpg) but was outrebounded by Cincinnati, 40-36.
• One game after racking up 23 points at Marquette, Trent Frazier was held scoreless for just the second time in his career and first since freshman season vs. Northwestern (Dec. 1, 2017).
» Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)
