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Illinois Basketball: 4 stats to watch for Illini G Ayo Dosunmu

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) is introduced to the crowd during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) is introduced to the crowd during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 05: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini takes a shot in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Value City Arena on March 05, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 05: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini takes a shot in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Value City Arena on March 05, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Free throw shooting

Earlier in this article, I talked about how Ayo Dosunmu is shooting fewer three-pointers. The awareness of the young guard to realize his distance shooting isn’t his strong suit is extremely impressive. With fewer distance shots comes more opportunities to get to the basket.

Ayo was able to get into the paint and be more aggressive from his freshman to sophomore season. This aggression ended up landing him on the charity stripe more often. Ayo’s offseason work on improving his shooting helped when it came to making more free throws.

In 32 games as a freshman, Ayo shot 95 free throws and made only 69.5-percent of the shots. Those numbers improved year-over-year, though. He was able to get to the free throw line for 102 free throws as a sophomore and played in two fewer games. He was able to make 11 more free throws than his freshman season too.

The ability to improve one area of the court is impressive, but for Ayo to go out and improve just about every area of his game from one season to the next is something special. He doesn’t just gloss over the small things. He knows every point counts.

Next. Illini lineup with Ayo Dosunmu, Kofi Cockburn returning. dark

Ayo improved his free throw shooting from 69.5-percent to 75.5-percent from his freshman to sophomore season, respectively. He is getting to the free throw line more frequently too. This kid has everything you would want in a player and more. He is a true superstar.

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