OT: Kofi Cockburn (announcing Friday) now likely to return to Illinois
https://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/kentucky-wont-be-the-pick-for-kofi-cockburn/
Other notable college basketball folks like Jeff Goodman put in pick on Twitter today for kofi to stay at Illinois. Pretty surprising after his flirtation with transfer portal and a huge coup for brad Underwood who had a tough offseason otherwise. UK was felt to be landing spot based on asst coaching moves but it was always an odd roster fit after they took the real solid WVU center transfer, oscar tshiebwe.
In my opinion, this puts Illinois right at the top tier 1a with Purdue and Michigan. There will definitely be some who pick them to be preseason favorites with high expectations for curbelo (much like Ivey on Purdue). In tier 1b, Osu is probably the only member.
I don't feel that way. They have a decent starting 4 with Cockburn, but no bench and no real backup at center.
Belo-Frazier-Williams-Grandison-Cockburn
Bench: Plummer, Payne
bartorvik moves that lineup to #3 overall only behind gonzaga and UCLA.
bartorvik moves that lineup to #3 overall only behind gonzaga and UCLA.
Which is objectively insane
I think it's more subjectively insane but ....
UCLA #2? Ugh does that mean crazy eyed Juzang is back?
He is back, yes.
It kinda feels like at this point that Cockburn has kinda been solved? Dude can't pass, period.
Yes, but even then he is still physically imposing and very solid defensively. Still a tough matchup that requires attention. Combine that with good guard play and you have a very solid team.
For sure. He does things that are hard to neutralize, but it seems like gameplan for guarding him in the post is now out there
True, but last year Illinois needed stellar, all-american type guard play for solid team. That isn't happening this year.
Well, he could learn.
Nope.
I'll take the under.
Kofi
Wow. How the turntables!
/MichaelScott'ed
I'd have preferred that he spread his wings, find his bliss, reach for his dreams, seek his future, aim for his ambition—and all those other clichés about moving on.
Kofi just released an official top 3 of UK, Illinois, and FSU
The rivalry won't be the same without him. Saddle up!!
Another year of cockburn. It could be worse.
Announcing a top 3 that includes the program in which you're already enrolled seems like a real insult to that program.
Not as much as not including them.
Hunter Dickinson is like penicillin so we’re good.
Of course he's coming back he has no chance of being drafted and probably not next year either. The NBA has moved on from this particular style @5. Not worried at all with our roster, he is so predictable.