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Illinois Basketball: Illini G Ayo Dosunmu strong candidate for Cousy Award

By Rees Woodcock

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 27: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball against TJ Gibbs #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on November 27, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 27: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball against TJ Gibbs #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on November 27, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team once again received some national media love for the upcoming season.

Illinois should be much better this year than they have been in the past decade. We actually have talent on the floor who can take us to the NCAA tournament. I like what we have for depth as well. This team is geared toward making some noise come March. That is the way NCAA.com contributor and Big Ten Network analyst Andy Katz sees it as well.

Katz recently posted his top 36 teams heading into the 2019-2020 campaign. He included Illinois on this list at No. 21. Those are some lofty goals for a team that hasn’t sniffed the postseason in quite some time. But Katz clearly thinks, and I agree with him here, that Illinois’ leader Ayo Dosunmu is going to be the main reason this team gets back to the promise land.

In an article posted on Monday by Katz, he goes over a list of players who are the favorites to win the Bob Cousy Award. The Cousy Award is handed out to the best point guard every year. The favorite heading into the season is Cassius Winston Sr. from Michigan State.

As you scroll down the list, you will see four of the top 10 candidates for the award are from the Big Ten. You will also see a familiar name on this list as well. Ayo checks in at No. 9 on the list of Cousy Award candidates. That is some big praise from Katz.

I think this list is pretty accurate. In fact, I think Ayo should probably be a little higher on the list. I think he will have a tremendous year because of the numbers he put up as a freshman and the work he is putting in during the offseason. I also think the improvement of chemistry and the addition of a few big men will help free up Ayo more often too.

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Ayo averaged 13.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a true freshman. Those are impressive numbers for a seasoned veteran let alone someone who is just coming from the high school ranks. Improving on those numbers, mixed in with Illinois dancing come March, should put Ayo in the driver’s seat for some awards this season.

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