Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win vs Michigan State

4. Kofi is an insane basketball player

Kofi Cockburn has a little bit of Shaquille O’Neal in him and a little bit of Patrick Ewing in him. Those two are who Kofi reminds me most of on the basketball court.

Even when I throw out those two comparisons, I still think to myself that he isn’t those two players. He is a bigger version of Shaq and Ewing. Those two NBA greats didn’t have the girth in college that Kofi plays with at Illinois. They were both thinner when playing in college.

The physical size that Kofi plays with is one of the reasons he is an insane basketball player. I think I have said this in nearly every observation article, but it is extremely impressive what Kofi can do on the court with everything he has to go through.

Despite, at minimum, a double team heading his way nearly every time down the court, Kofi is still able to put up the numbers he does every game. I would argue nearly 50% of the time, Kofi is triple-teamed as well.

Michigan State threw everything but the kitchen sink at Kofi, but he still managed to put up 27 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal while shooting 10-of-15 from the field. The most impressive stat for the big man might just be the 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.

For the season, Kofi now averages 21.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest. He continues to be Illinois’ force inside. Even when Kofi is having a bad game, he is good for Illinois. He draws so much attention and that frees up his teammates. There is no doubt in my mind he is the best player in college basketball.