Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Purdue

By Rees Woodcock

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 21: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 21, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 21: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 21, 2020 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 21: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) reacts after dunking the ball during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on January 21, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 21: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) reacts after dunking the ball during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on January 21, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. We have a Big 3

In the almost 30 years I have watched the Illinois basketball team, I am not sure I have seen a better Big 3 suite up for the Orange and Blue. We have something special on our hands.

I would say the leader of the Big 3 is Ayo Dosunmu. Is he the best player on the team and will he be the best NBA prospect? That is a different discussion. But Ayo is the piece to this puzzle that keeps the team functioning at peak level.

Ayo finished the Purdue game with 18 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds. He was 8-of-12 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. He was more focused on ball distribution rather than being the highest scorer on the team. I believe that is when Illinois plays their best basketball.

Kofi Cockburn is the second member of our Big 3. This was easily his best game as a member of the Illinois basketball team. Kofi was dominant on both sides of the court, and Purdue didn’t have an answer for the big man. He finished the night with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 steal. He was 8-of-14 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

The final member of the Big 3 is Trent Frazier. He was the player who got this Illini team going on Tuesday night. Frazier’s three-point shooting always seemed to be a back-breaker for the Boilermakers. He finished the night with 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, which all were three-point shots. He was also 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

This Big 3 for the Illini is one of the best I have ever seen in Champaign. In the Purdue game alone, the three combined for 77-percent of the Illinois points, 54-percent of the rebounds and 61-percent of the assists. If they can keep up this type of production, the sky is the limit.

Home/Illinois Basketball