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Ayo Dosunmu’s new nickname is a nod to the late Kobe Bryant
Published:
Ayo Dosunmu has a new nickname as the Illini make a charge in the postseason.
The Masked Mamba.
Dosunmu is currently wearing a mask as a protective measure after suffering a facial injury vs. Michigan State earlier this month. The late Kobe Bryant was nicknamed, “The Black Mamba” during his playing career.
Thus, the new monicker.
He revealed that nickname with Andy Katz on the Big Ten Network after Illinois’ 90-68 win over Rutgers on Friday night.
Just interviewed @IlliniMBB @AyoDos_11 for @BigTenNetwork and asked him who he feels like when he’s wearing his black super hero mask? “I call myself the masked Mamba.” Love it. Hope it sticks.
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 13, 2021
Dosunmu has been tremendous for Illinois all season. He came into tonight’s game averaging 20.9 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He’s likely to be a finalist for National Player of the Year.
Illinois is in hot pursuit of a No. 1 seed after finishing second in the Big Ten standings for the regular season. It will face either Iowa or Wisconsin in the semifinals on Saturday.
Momentum for the “Masked Mamba” nickname has been building on Twitter since he first revealed the new nickname.
"I just call my myself Masked Mamba" – Ayo Dosunmu
RIP to everyone's hopes and dreams the rest of March.
— George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) March 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/FLedezmajr/status/1370566992034414596
Masked Mamba vs the field, I know who I’m taking!
— Josh Helmuth KRDO13 (@Jhelmuth) March 13, 2021
Masked Mamba. 😤😤😤 https://t.co/UyG9IXRAnG
— Joel Hemingway 🇺🇸🍊 (@JoelTHemingway) March 13, 2021
Masked Mamba! https://t.co/dgcqwellDV
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 13, 2021
Selection Sunday is on March 14.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.