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Illinois dominated Rutgers 90-68 on Friday night in a game that was never in doubt.
Ayo Dosunmu scored a game-high 23 points and also added five rebounds and six assists.
But after the game, Dosunmu focused on Illinois’ defense. Rutgers shot just 46.3 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from the 3-point line.
#illini Ayo Dosunmu can't give secrets about why the team is so good defensively, but they lock in, he said.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) March 13, 2021
This outcome was completely different from the last time these two teams met in December. In that game, Rutgers defeated Illinois 91-88.
“We figured out our weaknesses and tried to make them our strengths,” Dosunmu told reporters via Zoom. “We’re just a totally different team than the last time we faced [Rutgers].”
Dosunmu was also asked if he preferred an opponent in tomorrow’s semifinal — Iowa or Wisconsin? He said he didn’t have a preference going into tonight’s matchup between the Hawkeyes and Badgers.
“At this time of the season, there is no time to be preferring who we play,” Dosunmu said.
This game was also the first time all season that Illinois’ home fans have been able to cheer on the team in person.
It was great to finally see fans be able to come and support us and come and watch us play,” Dosunmu said. “It always gives you extra juice and extra adrenaline.”
Dosunmu also summed up the complete win with a single sentence:
#illini Ayo Dosunmu: "I think we just showed we want a Big Ten championship really bad."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 13, 2021
Illinois will face either Iowa or Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.