CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Alfonso Plummer scored 24 points, Kofi Cockburn had a double-double and Illinois cruised to an 86-51 victory over Rutgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Cockburn, who came in leading the nation in scoring at 26.8 points per game, scored a season-low 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds. Jacob Grandison added 16 points for Illinois (6-2). Hawkins hit a 3-pointer and then Williams hit another to gave Illinois the lead for good and spark a 16-2 run that made it 18-7 with 11 minutes left in the first half. Jaden Jones led Rutgers (4-4) with 10 points. Ron Harper Jr., who went into the game leading the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game, finished with five points on 1-of-9 shooting.
UNDATED (AP) — Mark Turgeon is out as Maryland’s basketball coach after a slow start to his 11th season knocked the team out of the AP Top 25. The athletic department announced Friday that Turgeon was stepping down in what it called a mutual decision. The Terrapins won at least 23 games in five of the past seven seasons, but Maryland has reached the Sweet 16 just once under Turgeon and hasn’t gone further. The Terps began this season ranked, but a loss at home to Virginia Tech on Wednesday night dropped them to 5-3 on the season. Assistant Danny Manning was named interim coach for the rest of the season.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mickey Joseph is returning to Nebraska as receivers coach, passing game coordinator and associate head coach under Scott Frost. Joseph coached receivers the last five seasons at LSU. Frost still is looking to fill three other vacancies on his coaching staff following a 3-9 season. Joseph played quarterback for the Cornhuskers from 1988-91. He has a reputation for being a strong recruiter and in 2019 he coached Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase. Chase is among four LSU receivers under Joseph selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — No. 2 Michigan faces No. 15 Iowa in the Big Ten championiship game in Indianapolis this weekend. Neither team has won a conference title since they shared it back in 2004. The Wolverines could use a win to seal a spot in the College Football Playoff. That would give them a chance to return to Indianapolis for January’s national championship game. Michigan is 11-1 and Iowa is 10-2 going into the game.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jaelin Howell scored in the 71st minute and Florida State advanced to the Women’s College Cup championship game with a 1-0 victory over Rutgers. The Seminoles will face BYU on Monday for the NCAA title. The Cougars got past defending national champion Santa Clara in a shootout later Friday night. Top-ranked Florida State won national titles in 2014 and 2018 and is playing in its 12th College Cup. Howell broke through with a rebound goal from close range off a corner kick. Florida State goalkeeper Cristina Roque made four saves.
