Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to take down Minnesota

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Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) is introduced prior to a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Get another big outing from Kofi Cockburn

The sophomore big man has played a crucial role in all the Illini’s success so far this season, as Kofi Cockburn has been unstoppable in several different conference games.

Cockburn is averaging a double-double for the Orange and Blue, recording 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest. The Illini big man is also shooting an exceptional 57.7-percent from the field on the year.

Cockburn has been especially dominant in conference play, recording a double-double in all but two of the 14 conference games the Illini have played so far this season.

In the first matchup between the two squads earlier this year, the Gophers flat out did not have an answer for Cockburn, as his most dominating performance of the current season came that night.

The Illini’s offense revolved solely around Cockburn, feeding him in the paint all night long. The big man would eventually finish the night with 33 points on 12-of-15 shooting, which is 80-percent from the field. Cockburn would also record 13 rebounds and 2 blocks in the contest.

If Cockburn can put up anything close to the same numbers he put up in their December 15 matchup, the Gophers will find themselves in some trouble.

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