Illinois Basketball: 3 ways the Illini can beat the Iowa Hawkeyes

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 of 4

CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) calling for a pass during a college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Keep Kofi out of foul trouble

This is a two-fold answer to how the Illini can beat the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday. The main concept is to keep Kofi Cockburn out of foul trouble

The first part of this is to just have Kofi on the court. Having him on the offensive and defensive end of the court is crucial to Illinois’ success. He is averaging 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a true freshman. I think it is obvious to have a chance to win, we need him on the court.

Another reason I don’t want Kofi to get into foul trouble is because of Iowa’s big man. Everything goes through Luka Garza. He is their best player and is someone to worry about on Sunday.

Garza is averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season. If Kofi ends up getting in foul trouble, that means we would have Giorgi Bezhanishvili or Jermaine Hamlin guarding Garza. The result of that wouldn’t be good for the Orange and Blue.

I think the No. 1 goal of the game against Iowa is to keep Kofi on the court. I have a hard time seeing us win without the big man in the middle. Let’s keep him out of foul trouble.

Home/Illinois Basketball