Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini loss to Purdue

2 of 4

CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 17: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots the ball against Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 17, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Bad games happen

Even the best players in the game of basketball have bad days. On Monday against Purdue, Kofi Cockburn had a bad day.

Kofi had to go up against a 7-foot-4 monster in Zach Edey and an athletic 6-foot-10 Trevion Williams who has tremendous touch. That is a tough enough assignment. He doesn’t need other factors working against him.

But Kofi couldn’t do anything to those two Purdue big men without a ref blowing their whistle. It was one foul after another and, thanks to the foul situation, Kofi only played 22 minutes in the game. Just imagine the result if Kofi wasn’t put in foul trouble.

Even beyond the foul trouble, Kofi just didn’t seem on his game against the Boilermakers. His 10 points and five rebounds are both season-lows, which doesn’t come as a surprise if you are only playing 22 minutes. Kofi was just 3-of-9 from the floor as well.

This isn’t the end of the world by any means. Like I said, even the best players have bad games at times. In Michael Jordan’s last college game, he had 13 points, five fouls, and four turnovers in 26 minutes of action. Bad games do happen.

If I know one thing from watching Kofi these past three years it is that he will bounce back stronger than ever. This kid is resilient, and I know he is one of the best players in college basketball.

Home/Illinois Basketball