Ayo Dosunmu dramatically announced his return to the Fighting Illini last summer, touting there was still “unfinished business” to attend to. And while Illinois didn’t entirely fulfill that prophecy, the men’s basketball team did enjoy its best season in a decade and a half. The Illini finished in “second place” to Michigan during the regular season, won the Big Ten Tournament title and earned the program’s first 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2005. And most of the Illini’s success can be attributed to Ayo.
His junior season was his best, earning First Team Big Ten & All-American honors, as well as the Bob Cousy Award, given to college basketball’s top point guard.