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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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 05: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dunks the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 5, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 05: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dunks the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 5, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers

We are inching closer and closer to the No. 1 most dominated team by Kofi Cockburn, but we can’t forget who checks in at No. 5. The Purdue Boilermakers never had an answer for the big man, and they paid the price on the basketball court.

Illinois and Purdue have a long history against each other. They have played 126 games and Purdue has the series lead at 69-57. But that gap got a little closer when Kofi joined the Illinois basketball program and started beating the Boilermakers.

Before Kofi’s freshman season, Purdue had won four straight games against the Illini and was 14-3 in the previous 17 competitions. Kofi changed everything with his presence, though. Illinois was 3-0 against the Boilermakers with Kofi on the floor. His tremendous numbers were a huge reason for Illinois’ success.

Kofi nearly averaged a double-double against Purdue, dropping an average of 16 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest. He had one of the most dominating games of his career against the Boilermakers as well. In that game, Kofi put up 22 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks in the victory.

The crazy part about Kofi dominating Purdue is the fact they always have talented big men. That didn’t matter, though. Kofi tore through the Boilermaker’s frontcourt like he was going up against high school kids. It was truly a joy to watch.

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