Illinois Center Kofi Cockburn Named Big Ten Player of the Week Ahead of Matchup With Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — When the No. 13-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini take on No. 3 Purdue at Mackey Arena on Tuesday night, the winners of the last two Big Ten Player of the Week awards will take the same floor.
Following sophomore guard Jaden Ivey's recognition on Jan. 31, Illinois junior center Kofi Cockburn earned conference player of the week honors Monday for leading the Fighting Illini to two victories last week.
Cockburn averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds, one steal, one block and 0.5 assists per game in the team's two matchups. His play earned him the fourth Big Ten Player of the Week honor of his career.
The 7-foot big man tallied 37 points, 12 rebounds and a block during an 80-67 win over No. 11 Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 2. His scoring output tied a season high among all players in Big Ten play. Cockburn's 16 field goals were the most against a ranked opponent so far this season in the NCAA.
Cockburn followed the stellar performance with 17 points, eight rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block in a 74-57 rout of Indiana on the road. The Fighting Illini boast a 17-5 overall record that includes a 10-2 mark in the Big Ten.
Illinois are a game ahead of both Purdue and Wisconsin for first place in the conference standings, but the Boilermakers await a chance to take a share of the lead when the two teams meet Tuesday.
The last time they squared off, Purdue took down Illinois on the road in a hard-fought, 96-88 victory in double overtime. Cockburn was held to just 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes while dealing with foul trouble for most of the contest.
Tipoff at Mackey Arena is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, and the game will be aired live on ESPN.
2021-22 Big Ten Players of the Week
Nov. 15
- Player of the Week: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana junior
- Freshman of the Week: Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
Nov. 22
- Players of the Week: Keegan Murray, Iowa sophomore and Trevion Williams, Purdue senior
- Freshman of the Week: Caleb Furst, Purdue
Nov. 29
- Player of the Week: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin sophomore
- Freshman of the Week: Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
Dec. 6
- Players of the Week: Payton Willis, Minnesota senior and Brad Davison, Wisconsin senior
- Freshmen of the Week: Max Christie, Michigan State and Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin
Dec. 13
- Players of the Week: E.J. Liddell, Ohio State junior and Trevion Williams, Purdue senior
- Freshman of the Week: Max Christie, Michigan State
Dec. 20
- Player of the Week: Keegan Murray, Iowa sophomore
- Freshmen of the Week: Kobe Bufkin, Michigan and Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
Dec. 27
- Player of the Week: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois junior
- Freshman of the Week: Max Christie, Michigan State
Jan. 3
- Player of the Week: Keegan Murray, Iowa sophomore
- Freshman of the Week: Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Jan. 10
- Players of the Week: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois junior and Johnny Davis, Wisconsin sophomore
- Freshmen of the Week: Max Christie, Michigan State and Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Jan. 17
- Player of the Week: Trent Frazier, Illinois senior
- Freshman of the Week: Max Christie, Michigan State
Jan. 24
- Players of the Week: Payton Willis, Minnesota senior and Hunter Dickinson, Michigan sophomore
- Freshman of the Week: Caleb Houstan, Michigan
Jan. 31
- Player of the Week: Jaden Ivey, Purdue sophomore
- Freshman of the Week: Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
Feb. 7
- Player of the Week: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois junior
- Freshman of the Week: Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
Stories Related to Purdue Basketball
- PURDUE RANKED THIRD IN AP POLL: Following victories over Minnesota and Michigan, Purdue moved up to No. 3 in the latest Associated Press College Basketball Top 25 poll. The team is slated to tip off against No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday at Mackey Arena. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE REACHES 1,000 WINS IN REGULAR-SEASON BIG TEN PLAY: After an 82-76 victory against Michigan on Saturday at Mackey Arena, Purdue basketball improved to 20-3 during the 2021-22 season and 9-3 in Big Ten play. The win was the 1,000th in program history against conference opponents during the regular season. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE ENDS LOSING SKID TO MICHIGAN: Purdue basketball earned its first victory over Michigan since Jan. 25, 2018, on Saturday afternoon at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers were led by Jaden Ivey's 23 points, but Trevion Williams added 19 in his first win over the Wolverines in four years with the program. CLICK HERE
- OFFENSE PUSHES PURDUE PAST MINNESOTA: Jaden Ivey scored 21 points and came down with 10 rebounds to lead Purdue to a win over Minnesota on the road. Eric Hunter Jr. registered a career-high 20 points while Sasha Stefanovic became the ninth player in program history to hit 200 career 3-pointers. CLICK HERE
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.