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Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from Illini victory over Northwestern

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; The national anthem is played before a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; The national anthem is played before a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ayo Dosunmu is the best player in college basketball

How can someone say that a player is the best player in college basketball when he puts up 13 points and 5 assists in a game? Those are good numbers but they aren’t “best player in college basketball” type of numbers.

If you didn’t watch the game, that is what someone would be saying. But if you did watch the game, you would see that Ayo wasn’t trying to control the ball. He was doing what I have preached the entire season. He got his teammates involved.

For the first half of the game, everything was working to perfection. Illinois had a double-digit lead, and it looked like we were cruising into an easy victory. But, as mentioned in the first slide, Illinois started sleepwalking. This sleepwalking continued throughout most of the second half until Northwestern got within one point. That is when Ayo took matters into his own hands.

A smooth mid-range jumper by Ayo extended Illinois’ lead to three points. The Wildcats clawed back to just a two-point deficit. Ayo pulls up for three and nails it to widen the lead to five points. Next trip down the court, Ayo sticks the dagger deep into the heart of Northwestern with a ridiculous NBA-range three-pointer to extend the lead to eight points with under a minute to go in the game.

Ayo can do everything on the basketball court, and that is more than anyone can say about any other contender for the John R. Wooden Award. He had a clear goal of getting everyone involved against Northwestern. When he needed to take over, Ayo delivered. I haven’t even mentioned the fact he is averaging 21.3 points, 6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals this season.

This kid is the best player in college basketball, and there is no doubt in my mind. He should be the Wooden Award winner.

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