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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini vs Michigan

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks on Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks on Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson dribbles against Illinois center Kofi Cockburn during the first half Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. /

Illinois basketball has a huge game on Sunday against a hungry Michigan Wolverines squad.

The Illini are coming off a tough loss to Ohio State this past week. But, despite dropping the game to the Buckeyes, Illinois is still fighting for a Big Ten regular season crown. We have to get through Michigan first, though.

Here are four big questions for the Illinois basketball team vs Michigan.

1. Can Illinois shut down Hunter Dickinson again?

Hunter Dickinson has been in the college game for two seasons now. In those two years, Illinois has only played Michigan two times, but only one time has the Illini gone up against the Michigan big man.

In this past installment of the matchup, the Illini took down the Wolverines 68-53. It was one of the few times this season where Illinois actually put two halves of basketball together. While we won by 15 points, Michigan didn’t have Dickinson on the court.

The only time Illini fans have had a chance to see Kofi Cockburn go up against Dickinson was last season. After Michigan postponed the game in February 2021, they would eventually match up in early March. The Wolverines probably regret rescheduling the game, though. Illinois tore Michigan apart, 76-53.

In the lone game Dickinson played against the Illini, he struggled mightily. He would finish with six points, five rebounds, and two steals in just 22 minutes of action. He was just 1-of-8 from the field as well.

Dickinson is another year wiser and is playing even better than his All-American caliber play from last season. He has bumped up his averages this season to 18 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. So, this is the main reason I pose the question can Illinois shut down Dickinson?

I will be watching to see what Kofi can do against the Michigan big man again. I think Dickinson will have a better game, but that is purely because he can’t have a worse game than last season. If we can keep Dickinson under 20 points, then I think we win the game.

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