The 97th annual Fighting Illini Basketball Banquet, sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club, was held on Monday night in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 400 at the I Hotel. Head Coach Brad Underwood recapped the season and honored the 2018-19 Illini squad.
A total of eight awards were handed out on the evening, with freshmen Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili sharing Most Outstanding Player honors. Dosunmu became the first-ever true freshman to lead the Illini in scoring for the season, averaging 13.8 points. He also led the team in assists (3.3 apg) while ranking second in steals (1.3 spg) and third in rebounds (4.0 rpg). Bezhanishvili was the team's third-leading scorer overall (12.5 ppg), and second in conference play (13.5 ppg). He was the Illini's top rebounder (5.2 rpg) and also led the Orange and Blue in field goal percentage (.542) and blocked shots (26).
Also earning special recognition were the Illini student managers, who won the Manager Games national championship in Minneapolis prior to the Final Four, and Rod Cardinal, who is retiring after a legendary 46-year career working with the UI men's basketball program as athletic trainer (1974-2003), director of operations (2004-08), and coordinator of special projects (2009-19).
2018-19 Fighting Illini Basketball Awards
Co-Most Outstanding Player: Ayo Dosunmu & Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Illini Rebounders Rebounding Award: Giorgi Bezhanishvili, 5.2 rpg (173)
Orange Krush 3-Point Shooting Award: Aaron Jordan, 41.5 percent (59-142)
Illinois Alumni Association Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy: Andres Feliz, 79.2 percent in Big Ten play (57-72)
6th-Man of the Year: Andres Feliz
Kenny Battle Leadership Award: Aaron Jordan
Matt Heldman "Matto" Award: Andres Feliz
Lou Henson Courage Award: Da'Monte Williams
