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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Wisconsin

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 26, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) runs up court during the second half against the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) runs up court during the second half against the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood applauds during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Will the Illini keep their streak alive?

After the game on Wednesday night, Wisconsin is going to be the most-played team Illinois has been matched up with in the history of the program. They will have played 133 games against the Badgers compared to 132 against Indiana.

Despite Illinois currently leading the series 77-55, it hasn’t always been easy sledding for the Orange and Blue. Leading up to the 2019-20 season, Wisconsin had won 15 straight games against the Illini, and most of those contests weren’t even close.

The tides have turned in this series, though. Ever since Kofi Cockburn entered the picture, Illinois hasn’t dropped a game to the Badgers. We are currently on a three-game winning streak.

Will Illinois keep that winning streak alive? That is a big question I have for the program on Wednesday night.

Wisconsin has a tough team this year led by Johnny Davis. They enter the matchup as the No. 11 team in the nation, which is the highest-ranking they have boasted in the matchup against the Illini since January 2017.

A win for either team will go a long way on the postseason resume. Can Kofi remain undefeated against Wisconsin, and in doing so, extend Illinois’ winning streak against the Badgers to four games? That is something to watch on Wednesday night.

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