ILLINI IN THE PROS
NBA
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
Steady as ever, Dosunmu dropped 15 points with 6 assists in the Bulls’ nail-biting 128-126 victory over Utah on Wednesday. The fifth-year guard’s scoring matched his season average of 14.3 points per game - exactly the kind of reliable production Chicago needs from their sixth man.
With the Bulls clinging to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference at 19-21, Dosunmu has become the heartbeat of a team desperately fighting to stay in the play-in race. His consistency night after night gives Chicago a fighting chance, even when the margin for error is razor-thin.
Kasparas Jakucionis, Miami Heat
The Lithuanian rookie put together a well-rounded outing with 12 points and 8 assists in Miami’s 119-114 loss to Boston on Thursday. Those 8 dimes suggest his court vision is translating faster than expected—he’s finding teammates and making the right reads when Erik Spoelstra gives him minutes.
For a rookie still finding his footing in the rotation, Jakucionis is showing exactly why Miami snagged him with the 20th pick. His playmaking flashes give the Heat a glimpse of what they’ve been missing: a pure facilitator who can orchestrate the offense and keep everyone involved.
Will Riley, Washington Wizards
Riley poured in 12 points (8 above his 3.7 PPG average) with 2 rebounds and an assist in Washington’s 119-105 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday. The rookie flashed upside in a season where opportunities like this are what development years are all about.
For a lottery-bound Wizards team at 10-29, these Riley scoring bursts give Washington a glimpse of what he could become once the development year pays off. Every game is a chance to learn and grow for a team playing for the future.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves
The second-year wing remains on the shelf with a left foot abductor hallucis strain, sidelined since early January with no firm timetable for return. Minnesota is taking the cautious week-to-week approach with Shannon, who was averaging just 12.8 minutes per game before the injury hit.
The timing is frustrating because Shannon was beginning to carve out a role in Chris Finch’s rotation. Now he’s watching from the sidelines while trying to prove he belongs in the Timberwolves’ playoff plans.
B.LEAGUE
Kofi Cockburn, Hiroshima Dragonflies
The big man has been putting up monster numbers in Japan’s B.League, averaging 16.9 PPG and 10.1 RPG through 27 games with Hiroshima. But there’s a catch - the Dragonflies haven’t played since early 2026, and won’t return to action until January 24th when they face Nagoya Fighting Eagles.
When the league resumes, look for Kofi to continue anchoring Hiroshima’s playoff push with his interior dominance. His double-double production has been the foundation of everything the Dragonflies do in the paint.
THIS DAY IN ILLINI HISTORY
Highest Scoring Perfomances on January 16th
When Illinois has played on January 16th, they’ve brought the offense. Here are the five highest-scoring games on this date in program history:
1960: 96 points vs. #14 Michigan State (W, 96-88) - The highest single-game total on January 16th in Illini history, lighting up Huff Gym with nearly 100 points against a ranked Spartans squad.
2019: 95 points vs. Minnesota (W, 95-68) - Brad Underwood’s squad came within one point of the all-time January 16th mark, demolishing the Gophers by 27.* Illinois dropped 51 in the first half alone, with freshmen Ayo Dosunmu (23) and Giorgi Bezhanishvili (20) combining for 43.
1956: 92 points at #8 Purdue (W, 92-76) - Harry Combes’ team went into Mackey Arena and put up 92 on a top-10 opponent—a staggering point total for that era, especially on the road.
2000: 91 points at #22 Michigan (L, 91-95 OT) - A heartbreaker in Ann Arbor. Illinois fought to an 82-82 tie in regulation, and though Jamal Crawford scored 6 of his 14 in overtime after being benched for the first 14 minutes, Michigan pulled away with 13 in the extra frame.
1954: 82 points at #19 Ohio State (W, 82-78) - A road victory in Columbus, proving the Illini could travel and score against ranked opponents.
* Some familiar faces in that 2019 video. To refresh your memory on some:
0 Alan Griffin
1 Trent Frazier
2 Kipper Nichols (Kicker Nipples sighting!)
10 Andres Feliz
11 Ayo Dosunmu
15 Giorgi Bezhanishvili
20 Da’Monte Williams
23 Aaron Jordan