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Illinois 88, Missouri 63 Postgame
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<blockquote data-quote="pruman91" data-source="post: 1690216" data-attributes="member: 3916"><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/benjamin-hochman/hochman-illinois-kofi-cockburn-shows-mizzou-what-dominance-looks-like/article_99a2e46a-ecd4-5d05-955c-9873d3a506dc.html[/URL]</p><p></p><p></p><p>Forty minutes before tipoff, on the Enterprise Center court, the giant began to juggle a basketball with his gargantuan orange Nikes.</p><p>And this wasn’t a couple lucky kicks. This was Messi-esque — the 7-footer Kofi Cockburn juggling it like a soccer ball, laces to thigh to laces again. The Illinois hoops star even broke off a “rainbow” move, using both feet to flick up a kick with a backheel.</p><p>And then, for his next trick, he kicked Missouri’s aspirations of possibly beating a good team.</p><p></p><p>Can one lone human represent the difference between two basketball programs?</p><p></p><p>Missouri had no answer for him. Not standout Kobe Brown. Not 7-foot-3 reserve Jordan Wilmore. Not even sure how the great Steve Stipanovich — watching from the stands Wednesday — could’ve done in his prime.</p><p></p><p>He made many baskets Wednesday, but only one was registered by the Richter Scale.</p><p></p><p>With Cockburn running behind the play, a pass from the wing accidentally was tipped his direction. With the momentum of the moment, Cockburn caught it behind the 3-point line at the top of the key … hopped toward the free throw line with one foot … into the lane with the other foot … and then … just … took … off.</p><p></p><p>He flew.</p><p>It seemed, at first, as if he was jumping from too far away. Was he going to make it all the way to the rim? He is, after all, large. Checks in at 285 pounds. But the dude flew. <strong><em>One-handed dunk, a Giannis-like jam. When he landed, St. Louis shook.</em></strong></p><p></p><p>For someone such as Illinois coach Brad Underwood, these games are pressure-cookers. He’s on the clock, in the moment, insert the cliché. So after Wednesday’s win, I asked Underwood if he’s able at all to enjoy the dominance that is Kofi?</p><p></p><p></p><p><em><strong>“Oh hell yes,” he said.</strong></em></p><p></p><p>This was a pretty special night, a chance for those to say they saw him play. And really — Illinois as a team is a special club. The Illini’s ability to space the floor, work the ball, unflappably fling 3s — and work their big man in the low post? When they’re clicking, they’re one of the better teams in the Big Ten Conference. And they’re definitely the better of the two teams in the Braggin’ Rights Game. The question is — can Cockburn, Trent Frazier and friends rise when it matters most? Last year, they dominated January and February, but lost too soon in March.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This year, Cockburn is playing like a man who wants to dunk a basketball in April.</p><p></p><p>-------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p><strong>I said "" Oh hell yes ""</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pruman91, post: 1690216, member: 3916"] [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/benjamin-hochman/hochman-illinois-kofi-cockburn-shows-mizzou-what-dominance-looks-like/article_99a2e46a-ecd4-5d05-955c-9873d3a506dc.html[/URL] Forty minutes before tipoff, on the Enterprise Center court, the giant began to juggle a basketball with his gargantuan orange Nikes. And this wasn’t a couple lucky kicks. This was Messi-esque — the 7-footer Kofi Cockburn juggling it like a soccer ball, laces to thigh to laces again. The Illinois hoops star even broke off a “rainbow” move, using both feet to flick up a kick with a backheel. And then, for his next trick, he kicked Missouri’s aspirations of possibly beating a good team. Can one lone human represent the difference between two basketball programs? Missouri had no answer for him. Not standout Kobe Brown. Not 7-foot-3 reserve Jordan Wilmore. Not even sure how the great Steve Stipanovich — watching from the stands Wednesday — could’ve done in his prime. He made many baskets Wednesday, but only one was registered by the Richter Scale. With Cockburn running behind the play, a pass from the wing accidentally was tipped his direction. With the momentum of the moment, Cockburn caught it behind the 3-point line at the top of the key … hopped toward the free throw line with one foot … into the lane with the other foot … and then … just … took … off. He flew. It seemed, at first, as if he was jumping from too far away. Was he going to make it all the way to the rim? He is, after all, large. Checks in at 285 pounds. But the dude flew. [B][I]One-handed dunk, a Giannis-like jam. When he landed, St. Louis shook.[/I][/B] For someone such as Illinois coach Brad Underwood, these games are pressure-cookers. He’s on the clock, in the moment, insert the cliché. So after Wednesday’s win, I asked Underwood if he’s able at all to enjoy the dominance that is Kofi? [I][B]“Oh hell yes,” he said.[/B][/I] This was a pretty special night, a chance for those to say they saw him play. And really — Illinois as a team is a special club. The Illini’s ability to space the floor, work the ball, unflappably fling 3s — and work their big man in the low post? When they’re clicking, they’re one of the better teams in the Big Ten Conference. And they’re definitely the better of the two teams in the Braggin’ Rights Game. The question is — can Cockburn, Trent Frazier and friends rise when it matters most? Last year, they dominated January and February, but lost too soon in March. This year, Cockburn is playing like a man who wants to dunk a basketball in April. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [B]I said "" Oh hell yes ""[/B] [/QUOTE]
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Illinois 88, Missouri 63 Postgame
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