CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The 23rd-ranked Fighting Illini continue their three-game home stand to open the season on Friday night, hosting Kansas City at 8 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and be in their seats well ahead of tip-off – between 7:15-7:30 – as Illinois will hold a pregame ceremony fans won't want to miss.
Championship rings will be presented to all returning members of the program who helped lead Illinois to the 2022 Big Ten regular season title with a 15-5 record.
In addition, four former stars who stand among the most beloved players in school history are expected to attend the pregame ceremony, receiving their rings and helping raise a Big Ten banner to the State Farm Center rafters for the second year in a row:
Alfonso Plummer: Beginning his rookie season with the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League … Third-team All-Big Ten selection last year after ranking second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg … Made 98 three-pointers on the season, third-most in Illini history … Tied school record with eight three-pointers vs. Ohio State … Broke the UI single-season free throw record by making 87.4% from the line.
Da'Monte Williams: Played in 159 career games during his five-year career, the most in Illini history … Carried on the proud tradition of Peoria natives helping lead Illinois to a Big Ten title … Gained national acclaim as an All-Glue Guy who played and defended every position on the court … Scored more than 600 points and collected more than 600 rebounds during his career.
Kofi Cockburn: Set to embark on pro career in Japan with Niigata Albirex BB … The greatest center in Fighting Illini history … Two-time consensus All-American; one of three players in program history to achieve that distinction … The only player in the country to average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds last season, garnering first-team All-America honors by 11 organizations … Illinois' leading scorer (1,546) and rebounder (861) among three-year players … School-record holder with 45 career double-doubles.
Trent Frazier: Returning to campus from Serbia, where he is off to a brilliant start to his pro career with FMP Meridian … Second-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection last season … School-record holder for most games started (138) and most minutes played (4,855) … Finished his career No. 5 on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,794 points … Second in school history with 310 career 3-pointers … Sixth at UI in career steals (207), ninth in career assists (452) and 10th in career field goals (593).
