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Report: Illinois hoops to participate in early-season tournament in Las Vegas during 2022
Published:
Illinois basketball will play in an early-season tournament before conference play kicks off next season.
The program will headline the Roman Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas along with UCLA, Virginia, and Baylor, per a report from Jon Rothstein.
NEWS: Baylor, UCLA, Virginia, and Illinois will headline the 2022 Roman Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, according to multiple sources. https://t.co/eXWNrRXdEY
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 14, 2021
Illinois is coming off a fantastic 2020-21 season where they went 24-7 overall and 16-4 in the B1G. Despite that great season, the Fighting Illini didn’t make it very far in this year’s NCAA Tournament. They were upset by Loyola Chicago in the 2nd round, 71-58.
Even though that happened, Illinois still comes into this season as one of the best teams in the country. Da’Monte Williams is back for his senior season after he averaged a little over 5 points and 5 rebounds a game last season.
They’ll also have Austin Hutcherson and Alfonso Plummer back but it all starts and likely ends with Kofi Cockburn.
He’s the engine that makes this team go as he averaged nearly 18 points a game last season along with nearly 10 rebounds a game. He briefly flirted with the NBA and Kentucky but opted to stay put.
The Roman Main Event for this season will take place from Nov. 19 to 21. Arizona will play Wichita State and Michigan will play UNLV.