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Illinois Basketball: 3 ways the Illini can take down Iowa

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood claps after a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood claps after a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY. IA- FEBRUARY 02: Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) tries to handle the ball as Iowa forward Luka Garza (55) looks on during a Big Ten Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City Ia, on February 02, 2020. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Kofi needs to go for a double-double

In the last game against Iowa, Kofi struggled at times with Luka Garza and this resulted in foul trouble and a bad game. That can’t happen again. In fact, I need to see Kofi go for a double-double in this game.

Kofi put up 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in the last game against the Hawkeyes. He only played 27 minutes and shot 2-of-6 from the field during the time he was on the court. Illinois needs more production than that from their superstar big man.

Illinois’ success this season usually means that Kofi had a double-double with points and rebounds. When he manages this feat, the Illini are 11-1. That means when he fails to hit the double-double mark, we are only 9-9. That is a massive difference in team success.

What this means is Kofi needs to stay on the floor. He can’t be only playing 27 minutes in a game. We need him down low pulling in rebounds to give our team more chances to score at the other end. Illinois’ guards need to feed him in the post more often. He needs to get his points.

Kofi shouldn’t necessarily be the focus of our team against Iowa, but we need him to have a much better chance at winning. If he can get to a double-double on Sunday, then I think we have a great chance of winning the game.

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