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Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 21: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) clinches his fists as he gets into a defensive position 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 guard Da'Monte Williams (20) clinches his fists as he gets into a defensive position 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) /
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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 14: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the court in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 14: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the court in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. Kofi Cockburn comes through in the paint

I have been kind of hard on big man Kofi Cockburn as of late. He seemed to have fallen off a cliff midway through his freshman season with the Illini. But Tuesday night felt different.

Kofi had been struggling in many areas on the court. His ability to put the ball in the hoop was being questioned. His defense at times has been an issue too. Him learning the game is frustrating sometimes. But the development of Kofi was shown against Penn State.

Kofi ended the night with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block. He shot 6-of-10 from the field and made 2-of-3 at the free throw line. This was his highest shooting percentage since the Wisconsin game on the road where he was 66.7-percent from the field.

In addition to Kofi’s great production, he also played a smart game. There were some fouls in there, but he could have fouled out of the game so quickly on Tuesday night. Thanks to his basketball IQ getting higher, he was able to stay on the court.

There was a specific play that stood out to me with Kofi. Penn State was pushing the ball and Kofi was back on defense. The Penn State player was coming at him. Kofi bodied the Penn State player but then pulled the rug out from underneath him when he tried to draw contact. This made the Penn State player miss a shot and Illinois got the ball back.

It is the little things like that which will help this Illinois team win games in the regular season and the NCAA tournament. Kofi is developing as a player and it is exciting to see. The big man can play.

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