Illinois Fighting Illini main man Ayo Dosunmu paid a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant after his team emerged victorious in the Big Ten Tournament. The 21-year-old guard celebrated by mimicking the legend's iconic pose back when the Los Angeles Lakers won their second straight title in 2001, via Bleacher Report.

After a stellar regular-season campaign, the Fighting Illini were the second seed upon heading to the tournament. In the opening proceedings, Illinois dominated the seventh-seeded Rutgers Scarlet Knights by way of a 90-68 victory. Dosunmu and company then sustained their winning momentum as they eliminated Luka Garza and the third-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes with an 82-71 win.

Illini head coach Brad Underwood eventually found his match in the Ohio State Buckeyes, who gave his team a tough challenge on the championship stage. Both squads had a back-and-forth encounter in the tilt, which even extended to overtime before Illinois successfully came out on top with a 91-88 triumph.

Dosunmu was hailed as the tournament MVP after he notched 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists for the Fighting Illini. Backup playmaker Andre Curbelo also stepped up as he registered 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists against the Buckeyes.

Staying true to the wise words of Kobe Bryant, the job is indeed not yet finished for Ayo Dosunmu and the entire team as they head to the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Illini will aim to make noise and prove that they are the real deal when they finally compete for the national title come March Madness.