Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Michigan (part 2)

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ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 25: Michigan Wolverines forward Austin Davis (51) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Kofi is allowed to have bad games

To piggyback off the previous slide about good players having a bad game, Kofi Cockburn was one of those good players. Everyone was on such a high from what the big man has done recently.

Coming into the Michigan game, Kofi had scored double-digit points in the last five games and only had three games this season where he failed to score more than nine points. That is crazy for a freshman. Usually, if Kofi is struggling with points, his rebounds make up for it. If he is struggling with rebounding, he is able to score more points. That wasn’t the case on Saturday.

Kofi finished the day with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 fouls. He struggled with touch the entire game. I was shocked by the inability to get the ball in the basket. Michigan did a great job bodying Kofi around the block so he couldn’t get closer to the hoop.

That inability for Kofi to put the ball in the hoop resulted in a 2-of-9 performance from the field. He was also 1-of-3 from the free throw line. It wasn’t a good game all around. You also have to add into the mix the refs making some pretty bad calls against him. Kofi was struggling with the refs the entire game.

Everyone is allowed bad games. Kofi is just a freshman in college. He is going to struggle at times. He will learn how to work around all of the obstacles. But for now, if you are worried, you probably should calm down. Kofi is going to be alright.

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