Ayo Dosunmu offered direct advice to Illinois freshman Lincoln Williams during a workout in Champaign, detailing the requirements to secure playing time under head coach Brad Underwood. The former Fighting Illini guard emphasized defensive intensity over high school scoring records.
Dosunmu, who played for Illinois from 2018 to 2021 before transitioning to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, spoke with Williams inside the Fighting Illini practice facility. The interaction was captured during a recent YouTube vlog hosted by the former college star. Addressing what Underwood requires from freshmen entering the program, Dosunmu offered a blunt assessment of the head coach’s expectations on the floor.
Detailing the mindset needed to earn early minutes in Champaign, Dosunmu told the incoming prospect: “Underwood loves psychotic motherf*ckers,” before adding specific tactical instructions: “Pick ‘em up full court, grab every rebound, tip dunk that… you gonna play.”
Williams arrives at Illinois following an exceptional high school career. But past scoring records offer no guarantees in Big Ten basketball.
The 6-foot-5 wing signed with Illinois in June as Kankakee High School’s all-time leading scorer with 1,853 points. During his final high school campaign, Williams set a single-season program record with 703 points and established a single-game benchmark with 44 points against Thornridge. Despite those offensive credentials, Underwood’s system demands full-court defensive commitment, aggressive rebounding, and quick help-side rotations. Sharing the workout footage online, Dosunmu reinforced his message in the video caption, writing: “[Coach] Underwood loves psychotic motherf*ckers. Pick em up full court, grab every rebound, tip dunk that…you gonna play”
Dosunmu understands those operational standards from personal experience. During his three-year tenure in Champaign, he anchored the program’s resurgence, leading Illinois to a Big Ten Tournament championship and earning consensus First-Team All-American selection. As Williams joins a competitive roster competing for minutes on the wing, adapting to Underwood’s defensive demands will dictate how quickly the freshman earns a role in the rotation.
