J’can basketball player advance to March Madness

Jamaican basketball player Kofi Cockburn and the University of Illinois will head to the NCAA's Men's Basketball tournament as champions of the Big 10 conference.

Illinois captured the title yesterday, defeating Ohio State University in overtime 91-88 to win their third conference title, and the first since 2005, securing an automatic bid to the tournament. Cockburn, who returned for his sophomore season after initially declaring for last year's NBA draft, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Cockburn was in foul trouble but got help from the bench, as they scored 41 points to help close out the win.

Cockburn has averaged 15 points and nine rebounds in his second season, the only player in the NCAA to do, and is second in double-doubles. Additionally, he was recently named to the first-team All-Big 10 as well as the Sporting News second-team All American.

The 68-team tournament bracket was announced yesterday, with Illinois given the number one seed in the Midwest region. Their first-round opponent will be against 16th seed Drexel University, winners of the Colonial Athletic Association Conference.

Meanwhile, Jamaica-born basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing will return to the tournament as head coach of his alma mater Georgetown University ,after they completed an unprecedented run to win the Big East Conference title Saturday night, defeating Creighton 73-48. Georgetown had a losing regular-season record entering the conference tournament and according to preseason predictions, were projected to finish last in the conference. Ewing led Georgetown to the 1984 national title and was given the number 12 seed in the East region. Their first-round opponent will be the number five ranked University of Colorado, who are in the tournament despite losing the PAC 12 title to Oregon State.

The tournament will be played in its entirety in the state of Indiana because of logistical concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. First round of games will start this Friday.