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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest games of Ayo Dosunmu’s freshman season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: The bench erupts in celebration after Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a three point shot to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: The bench erupts in celebration after Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a three point shot to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 26: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives during the second half of the Big Ten Super Saturday College Basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 26, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team didn’t have a great season last year, but Ayo Dosunmu was a fun player to watch and he had some pretty big games.

There weren’t a lot of victories for this program. We finished the season 12-21 overall and weren’t even close to anything that resembled a postseason berth. That is all going to change this upcoming season, though. With the addition of a few big guys, this program should get back on the right track.

Despite the losing, there were some big-time bright spots as well. This team had one of the best players we have ever seen suit up for the program playing for them. Ayo was sensational just about every night he was out there. Were there some freshmen mistakes that he needs to correct? Sure, but that is every freshman who suits up.

Ayo had more good games than bad games and more amazing games than dumpster fires. He showed everyone why he was in consideration to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Thankfully, he decided to come back to school and let us fans enjoy what we are watching one more season.

It was difficult to choose Ayo’s five most impactful games from the 2018-19 season. But, here are his five biggest games as a freshman.

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