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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win against Michigan

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 27, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Omar Payne (4) and Iguard Jacob Grandison (3) box out Michigan Wolverines forward Moussa Diabate (14) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Omar Payne (4) and Iguard Jacob Grandison (3) box out Michigan Wolverines forward Moussa Diabate (14) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Jan 6, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) wipes his face with his jersey during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois basketball went on the road Sunday and managed to get a huge victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

This is the type of game the Illini would have dropped in years past. Illinois needed this win to remain alive in the race for the Big Ten regular season crown, and they performed well in the big spot.

I would say, this is the best Illinois has played in a while. Nearly everyone looked good, and we were actually hitting shots. Kofi Cockburn also looked like his All-American self.

Here are five observations from the Illinois basketball win against Michigan.

1. Kofi owns Michigan

I don’t think anyone would argue that Kofi Cockburn is one of the best, if not the best, big men in the college game. He has a physical presence that has been compared to that of Shaquille O’Neal.

There have been many teams that Kofi has done well against while with the Illinois basketball program, but there is one specific team that the big man has absolutely dominated. That team is the Michigan Wolverines.

After the win over Michigan on Sunday, Kofi is now 5-0 against the Wolverines in his three-year career. That is a great number considering Illinois had struggled mightily against Michigan prior to him arriving on campus.

Sunday’s win was Kofi’s best performance against the Wolverines. He would finish the game with 27 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one assist while shooting 11-of-15 from the field. No one could stop Kofi, not even Michigan’s highly-touted big man, Hunter Dickinson.

This performance by Kofi on Sunday also marks the fourth time he has scored at least 12 points against Michigan and the second time in a row he has eclipsed the 20-point mark. Most teams can’t stop Kofi, but Michigan is on another level. Kofi completely owns the Wolverines.

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