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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
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 27: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dunks in the first half against Robbie Beran #31 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 27, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

No. 6 Northwestern Wildcats

I would love to have made Northwestern Kofi’s most dominated team, but they come in as the No. 6 team on this list. Despite being low on the list, Kofi still was able to just obliterate the Wildcats in every game they matched up.

Throughout history, Illinois has thrashed Northwestern head-to-head. The Illini are winning the 129-game series 102-27. This hasn’t been much of a competition. But, for the past decade, the series has been pretty even. Illinois and Northwestern went back and forth during this time, but then Kofi arrived.

Since the 2009-10 campaign and up until Kofi arrived, the Illini were only 10-8 against the Wildcats. Something needed to happen to turn things around. That something ended up being Kofi. He joined the Illinois basketball program, and the team rattled off four straight wins during his career. A 4-0 record for Kofi against the team from up north is a great sight.

Kofi put up some great numbers in the four match-ups with Northwestern as well. In the four games against the Wildcats, Kofi averaged 14.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. His 10.8 rebounds per game average is the most against any team on this list.

The best game for Kofi against Northwestern was a night where he dropped 18 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. He was sensational against some of Illinois’ biggest opponents. Having a 4-0 record against an arch-rival is something that Illini fans will hold dear to their hearts.

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