This Friday night, the Illinois Fighting Illini will get a rematch against the Maryland Terrapins in front of a sold-out Champaign crowd.
The first time these two teams faced off was in December, where it looked like Illinois was going to run away with a roadkill, up 15 in College Park. A late game surge led by the heroics of Maryland senior guard, Anthony Cowan Jr. erased that deficit and Maryland came out victorious. The Illini look to seek revenge.
Anthony Cowan will have another 20+ point night.
Ever since Anthony Cowan Jr. arrived to the Big Ten in the 2016-2017 season, he has tormented the Illini, averaging 19.2 points, 5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in their five match-ups. In the December match-up, he put up 20 points. He has averaged 22 points in his last three games.
The Illini bench will continue to shine
The biggest propeller to this Illini team, perhaps, could be the bench, anchored by Senior guard, Andres Feliz, who has been playing superb in Big Ten conference play. He is averaging 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds during his last five games. Sophomore guard/forward, Alan Griffin has also been a pleasant presence coming off the bench, averaging 8.3 points and 4.3 boards this season. Feliz and Griffin have been shooting the ball exceptionally well, both shooting 48% from the field.
The battle of the big men will be the difference maker
Perhaps, the biggest match-up of the night will come between the two dominant big men of the big ten. Illinois center, Kofi Cockburn versus Maryland big man, Jalen Smith. Cockburn, seven time Freshman Player of the Week award winner, is averaging a near double-double on the season with 14 points and 9.2 boards. Maryland’s Jalen Smith has averaged 20.8 points and 12.2 boards in his last five games. In the first match-up, Smith had the upper hand with 14 points, 13 points, and the comeback win. Cockburn finished the night with nine points and eight boards.
The Illini will be playing motivated, coming off a tough loss in Iowa City, where things got chippy on Sunday. The Illini bench, Kofi Cockburn, and the rowdy student section, which goes by the name, “Orange Krush,” will propel Illinois to a 68-62 win, giving them sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.