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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Maryland

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 29, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini players celebrate their half time lead over the Notre Dame fighting Illini during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini players celebrate their half time lead over the Notre Dame fighting Illini during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) reacts after making a dunk during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Will Illinois win the rebounding battle?

Illinois will match up against quite a few good rebounding teams this season. On Thursday night, the Illini will face a tough Maryland squad that can crash the glass.

The Terrapins are currently averaging 39.2 rebounds per game this season, which ranks No. 38 in the nation. As a team, they have had five games with at least 41 rebounds. Overall, there have only been four games this season where Maryland was outrebounded by the other team.

That stout Maryland crew is traveling to Champaign on Thursday to take on an elite rebounding team in the Illini. Illinois is pulling down 43.8 rebounds per game this season, which ranks No. 3 in the country.

In the game on Tuesday against Minnesota, Illinois pulled down 47 rebounds, which was their third-highest total of the 2021-22 campaign. The Illini have had six games with at least 43 rebounds, and they even had a game with 54 rebounds. Only two games this season have the Illini been outrebounded, and they dropped both of those contests.

This is going to be a fun rebounding battle to keep an eye on. Both teams have elite rebounding ability, but Illinois clearly has the edge with Kofi Cockburn manning the paint.

Maryland has some size too, though. Donta Scott is a 6-foot-8 and Qudus Wahab is 6-foot-11. They are averaging 7.1 rebounds and 7.4 rebounds, respectively. Maryland also has five players averaging at least four rebounds per game. They can hit the boards hard.

I will be watching to see if Illinois can win the rebounding battle. If this happens, then the Illini should come out ahead.

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