Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini win over Notre Dame

2. Kofi and Plummer are a great one-two punch

There have been some special one-two punches in the history of Illinois basketball. The current Illini squad might have of the most dominant one-two punches we have ever seen, though.

Kofi Cockburn is just a mountain of a man. He is a 7-foot beast who can’t be stopped unless you literally throw three bodies on top of him as he is trying to get to the rim. But when you have a scoring threat like Alfonso Plummer to team up with Kofi, that is when the Illini are at their best.

Against Notre Dame, Kofi finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, and two assists while going 11-of-16 from the field. He was also 6-of-9 from the charity stripe. Kofi’s game is developing. He is starting to get more comfortable outside of the restricted area. This is scary for opposing teams.

Plummer was right there with Kofi in the scoring department. He would finish the night with 21 points and one assist while hitting 5-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-11 from three-point range. While it wasn’t the best shooting night for Plummer, scorers find a way to put points on the board. That is what Plummer managed to do. He was able to get to the free throw line eight times and converted on all eight attempts.

Without Plummer on the court, defenses can crash down on Kofi in the paint. Without Kofi on the court, there isn’t a threat inside, so defenses can play tight perimeter defense. These two need each other.

The one-two punch of Kofi and Plummer has a chance to be special. Let’s keep watching this duo develop over the next 20-plus games.