Kofi Cockburn and the Illinois Fighting Illini are headed to Bloomington this coming weekend for a showdown against the Indiana Hoosiers. Who wins this massive Big Ten matchup? Check out our preview below of this Illinois-Indiana Big Ten college basketball meeting.
With their best player returning to action after missing a game, the Fighting Illini recorded their second win in a row by defeating the Northwestern Wildcats last Saturday on the road, 59-56. Kofi Cockburn led Illinois with 22 points and nine rebounds. As a team, the Fighting Illini shot just 43.1 percent from the field. Despite that kind of salty shooting, Illinois is still one of the best offensive teams in the nation. The Fighting Illini is 22nd in the nation with 113.8 points per 100 possessions and 36th in 3-point shooting percentage (36.8%). With Cockburn in the middle, Illinois has someone it can confidently give the ball to and expect points. Apart from that, Cockburn handles most of the rebounding duties. He is even 11tth in the nation in defensive rebounding rate for the Fighting Illini, who face the Wisconsin Badgers at home this Wednesday.
The over is 2-1 in Illinois’ last three games away from home.
Indiana is also on a two-game win streak, having defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Maryland Terrapins in their past couple of outings. In their most recent game, the Hoosiers leaned on the duo of Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis to score a 68-55 road win over the Terps last Saturday. Thompson double-doubled in that game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Jackson-Davis put up 17 points and nine rebounds. Thompson and TJD could slow down Cockburn, given their size and ability inside. Jackson-Davis is one of the best big men in the Big Ten, one who is averaging 18.3 points on a 60.1 field goal shooting percentage. Thompson, meanwhile, is putting up 11.4 points per contest on 55.9 percent shooting. As a team, Indiana’s defense is arguably the best in the conference, where the Hoosiers are currnetly ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Indiana is 9-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
