Illinois Basketball: Illini duo of Giorgi and Ayo snag B1G weekly honors
A few Illinois basketball players earned some Big Ten honors this week.
The Big Ten announced today that not only did Giorgi Bezhanishvili win Player of the Week in the conference, but his running mate Ayo Dosunmu took home the Freshman of the Week honors as well. This duo was sensational for the Illini in the past week and is the main reason why the program is now trending in the right direction.
This is the first time this season that Illinois has brought home any weekly awards from the Big Ten. Giorgi earned the Player of the Week honors by averaging 25.5 points and 6 rebounds per game. He also shot 69-percent from the field as well.
Ayo also had a great week. He finished the stretch of games averaging 18 points, 4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Those are incredible numbers that only continued to raise his average for the season.
Both Giorgi and Ayo continue to be two of the main staples for the Illini this season. Giorgi has now raised his averages to 12.2 points per game, which ranks No. 3 on the team, and is pulling down five rebounds per game, which ranks No. 1 on the team. Ayo’s numbers are sensational as well. He is No. 2 on the team in points with 14.1 PPG. He is also No. 3 in rebounds with 4.2 RPG and leads in assists with 3.2 APG.
It is extremely hard to put on paper the feelings I have toward these two sensational freshmen. The excitement they bring to the fan base and this program is something I haven’t seen in a very long time. You can tell these two will help this program not only this season but for seasons to come.
The impact Ayo has made on Illinois by just coming here will pay dividends. It actually already has. I would venture to say Ayo coming to Champaign probably helped reel in Kofi Cockburn. And, depending on what happens with Ayo and the NBA Draft, him going in the first round would help the prestige of the Orange and Blue as well.
Giorgi’s impact on the Illinois basketball program is already being felt as well. He is showing recruits across the country what Brad Underwood can do with a big man. Giorgi’s development probably helped with the Cockburn recruitment as well. Let’s also not forget the type of atmosphere Giorgi is bringing to the table. He is helping build great chemistry inside the locker room.
These two impactful freshmen have helped this program in real time and down the road. They are two players who will continue to improve this team on the court and in the locker room. Both players have earned these honors, and I am sure this isn’t the last time they win an award.