Tyler Cottingham likes fun.

Whoever said history isn’t fun? Ayo Dosunmu messing around for just the third triple double (21–12–12) in school history? Fun. Kofi Cockburn with a school record 8 dunks in a single game? Fun. (I actually can’t seem to verify anywhere that 8 dunks is actually a school record, but it sure feels like it, and like I said — fun!) A second consecutive win against Wisconsin — this one a wire to wire beat down that snapped a seven game home losing streak against the Badgers? SO MUCH FUN.

After that two game hiccup against Maryland and Ohio State last month, this team has really found its groove. Since those consecutive losses, we’ve reeled off four straight wins to re-establish a solid foundation in the conference standings at 9–3, and today was the kind of dominant performance that gets one dreaming in the right direction.

Per usual, that dominance was powered by Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn.

Seriously, Ayo Dosumnu might be the greatest Illinois basketball player I’ve ever seen. He’s better than anyone on the ’89 team. Only Nick Anderson comes close. He’s better than probably anyone on the ’05 team. Only Deron Williams comes close. He’s likely going to have a better pro career than anyone foresees.