Finally, a game came along that didn’t worry us Illinois basketball fans at all.
We were able to sit back and just simply enjoy a game for the first time this season. This was a step in the right direction but against a lower-tier opponent in The Citadel. The Illini still have things they need to work on, but it was great to see a big difference on the scoreboard.
This game will be remembered as the night Kofi Cockburn broke the freshmen rebound record for the Illini. While picking up his fourth double-double in the early part of the season, Kofi went for 18 points and 17 rebounds.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili was not too far behind him going for 16 points and 9 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu started off very slow in this game but was able to pick it up, finishing with a total of 16 points. This was the first time Andres Feliz didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but he still had a solid game with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Bench depth wasn’t horrible tonight as Alan Griffin, Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, and Da’Monte Williams played well. Williams was able to log 2 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. One thing the Illini need to work on is their three-point shot. We were a miserable 3-of-18 from behind the arc against The Citadel and yet still almost won by 30.
On the positive side, we did take care of the ball a little bit better on Wednesday night. One thing we continued to do was dominate on the glass. This Illini team will live and die in the paint. Kofi and Giorgi continue to be a dominant duo inside and will cause problems for many teams.
Illinois tapped into some of the potential they have against The Citadel, but they have to continue to keep getting better. Going up against Hampton on Saturday will be more of a test then tonight but, still, Illinois should run away in that game.
Enjoy, fellow Illini fans, we’re 4-1. It feels good. Regardless of who we have beaten, we have Kofi Cockburn and others don’t. Now please, everyone, cross your fingers that Adam Miller commits to the Illini.