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Illinois Basketball: Top 7 teams Kofi Cockburn dominated during Illini career

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 23, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) drives the ball to the basket as Penn State Nittany Lions forward John Harrar (21) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) drives the ball to the basket as Penn State Nittany Lions forward John Harrar (21) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 27: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini attempts a shot while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Kohl Center on February 27, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball fans received some sad, but expected, news over the weekend about their beloved big man.

In an interview with Marlee Wierda of WCIA3, Kofi confirmed he was 100-percent in on the NBA Draft. This should put to rest all of the speculation that he might return. Instead of being sad or negative about Kofi leaving, let’s remember what he brought to the Illini.

Kofi was a special player for the program. He brought energy and joy to the game. Most importantly, Kofi was someone who could dominate the opposing team. He could control the paint and was one of the best centers who has ever come through the Illinois program. There were a number of teams that felt the wrath of the big man as well.

Here are the top seven teams Kofi Cockburn dominated during his Illinois basketball career.

No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers

Checking in first on the list of the top seven teams Kofi Cockburn has dominated during his Illini career is the Wisconsin Badgers. The recent history against Wisconsin was pretty ugly before Kofi arrived in Champaign.

Coming into Kofi’s run with the Illini, the Badgers had rattled off 15 straight victories. This is a streak that I am not sure has been matched by any other team in the history of Illinois basketball. To say Wisconsin had Illinois’ number would have been an understatement.

Everything changed with Kofi, though. On January 8, 2020, Illinois defeated Wisconsin by one point in Madison. This was the first Illini victory against the Badgers since January 2, 2011. The winning didn’t stop there, though. Kofi and the Illini would win two more times during the 2020-21 campaign, giving the big man a perfect 3-0 record against Wisconsin.

Going undefeated against the Badgers is an impressive feat. Kofi also put up great numbers in the three victories. He averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game in the series. His best game against Wisconsin was a 23-point, 14-rebound and 1-block performance.

Just think about this for a minute. Kofi nearly averaged a double-double against Wisconsin, and this was only the No. 7 team he dominated during his Illini career. That is how special of a player he was for the program.

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