Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Iowa

Illinois basketball moved to 6-2 this past Friday as they thoroughly dominated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

On Monday, I am wanting two things. The first coming at 11:00 a.m. CT in the form of the Illini being ranked in the AP Top 25. The second thing I want on Monday is a big victory against Iowa.

The Hawkeyes are tough, as they just came off a seven-point loss, without their best player, to the No. 2 ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Iowa could be fully healthy on Monday night, so this is going to be a challenge for Illinois.

Here are four big questions for the Illinois basketball team against Iowa.

1. Who is going to stop Kofi?

Kofi Cockburn is a mountain of a man, and this makes him one of the toughest players in the country to stop.

This season alone, Kofi is averaging 24 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. He is also hitting 68.2% of his shots – a career-high – and is making 69.8% of his free throws – another career-high.

I don’t think anyone can argue that this is the best version of Kofi we have seen in an Illinois jersey. Since we are witnessing the best rendition of Kofi, and Iowa couldn’t stop him before, then who is going to stop the big man now?

In years past, the Hawkeyes had Luka Garza at the No. 5 spot. He did his best job at containing Kofi but would struggle at times. In the last contest between the two teams, Kofi went for 26 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one block while hitting 64.7% of his shots from the field.

Now you take away Garza, and Iowa is left with very little size to hold Kofi down. The Hawkeyes have a few 6-foot-9 guys starting, but I don’t really see them being much of a matchup for Kofi. I think there is a huge advantage for the Illini when it comes to who is guarding Kofi.

On Monday night, I will be watching to see who Iowa puts on the Illini big man. Kofi is the best center in the nation, and he should prove that once again.