Illinois Fighting Illini: Dosunmu carries Illinois to first in Big Ten

Since getting stomped by Michigan State at the start of the new year, the Illinois Fighting Illini have gone on a six-game winning streak. Suddenly out of nowhere, they find themselves sitting atop the Big Ten.

(Insert Paul Rudd “Look at us” gif.)

In all seriousness, there is still a ton of work to be done for the Illinois Fighting Illini. As of this writing, they’re ranked 21st in the overall rankings, but in all likelihood, I think they’ll jump up to 15th, or close to it. All thanks to stomping (too soon?) out Purdue at Lafayette for the first time since 2008(!) and a “bring your own guts” road win at Michigan for the first time since 2010.

Saturday afternoon could’ve ended much differently. Illinois carried a four-point lead over the Wolverines into halftime. But between Trent Frazier, Kofi Cockburn, and Giorgi Bezhanishvili all running into foul trouble, the door swung open for Michigan to jump ahead with a 41-39 lead. We’ve seen this story all year. Illinois gets a lead of some capacity, then they go in neutral in the second half, and at that point, it’s anyone’s guess whether they clutch it or choke it.

Frazier went to the line with the team down 60-62 with 51 ticks on the clock. It almost felt like at that moment, former Illinois big man Robert Archbald (who had passed away on Thursday) gave him a little extra help on sinking both free throw attempts. One defensive stop later, and then it was the Ayo Dosunmu show.

A show we’ve grown used to over the last year and a half.

(I would take a jab at Dan Dakich for thinking that it wouldn’t end well for Illinois, but he actually was heaping praise on the team and Dosunmu when they were salting away Purdue earlier this week. Welcome aboard, Dan.)

And just like that, thanks to Indiana upsetting Michigan State the other night, your Fighting Illini are all alone on top of the Big Ten. They are the only team in the conference with three road wins, a testament to how hard it is to win in this league.

They return home to play Minnesota and then will have one of their hardest road games of the season at Iowa. The schedule does ramp up after that, but Illinois is a legitimate Big Ten contender. After the state this program was after the John Groce era, it’s refreshing to see some quality basketball being played in Champaign.

The jump that this core made from last year to this season has been substantial. Primetime victories over Michigan State and Ohio State at the tail end of last season were signs that real, tangible change was coming for this team. You are now witnessing the fruits of their labor.

Brad Underwood’s vision has been realized. As a whole, the team is still rough around the edges, but that can be said about 99% of the teams in the NCAA. With all that said, I’ll be right back; gonna go run through a wall.

Yeah, I’d say we’re back.