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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Missouri

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 09: Da'Monte Williams #20 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks to pass the ball in the game against the Jackson State Tigers at State Farm Center on November 09, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 09: Da'Monte Williams #20 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks to pass the ball in the game against the Jackson State Tigers at State Farm Center on November 09, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Dec 11, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood directs his players from the bench during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood directs his players from the bench during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Will the Illini convert at the charity stripe?

Rebounding killed the Orange and Blue last season in the Braggin’ Rights game, but something that hurt the program the entire season was converting at the free throw line.

Illinois only hit 17-of-28 from the free throw line in the game last season against Missouri. This comes out to 60.7%, which is not a good number. If the Illini would have gone 21-of-28, or 75%, they would have won the game 82-81.

This was a trend last season in general. Illinois was not a good free throw shooting team. The program only hit 69% of their free throws in 2020-21, which landed them as the No. 236 team in the nation.

The Illini have improved their shooting from the charity stripe this season, though. As a team, Illinois is converting 72.1% of their free throws, which ranks No. 134 in the nation. That is a 3.1% increase from last year and a 102-spot jump in the national rankings.

What is the biggest difference in the Illinois free throw shooting this year compared to last year? Kofi Cockburn, of course.

Kofi only hit 55.3% of his free throws last season, which is a career-low. He has improved on that number greatly this year, hitting a career-high 68.3% of his free throws.

While Kofi only hit 50% of his free throws against Missouri last season, don’t expect the big man to be that bad from the charity stripe again. I will be watching to see if not only Kofi but the entire team can hit free throws on Wednesday night. It was our bugaboo last season against the Tigers, but it better not be this time around.

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