Bob Asmussen | Underwood and the Illini sitting pretty

Jul. 15—CHAMPAIGN — It’s quiet now near State Farm Center.

But that won’t last. Come October, a new friend visits the home of Illinois men’s basketball. Goes by the name Anticipation.

Brad Underwood did that.

The eighth-year Illini coach just put the school in the Elite Eight for the first time since the magical 2005 team reached the NCAA championship game.

The sense is Underwood is just getting started. Though he lost one of the best players in school history — Terrence Shannon Jr. — to the NBA, Underwood’s next team could be even better.

The players, coaches, fans and media will find out together. The full schedule hasn’t been announced yet, but the heavy lifts are all known: Alabama, Arkansas, Duke, Tennessee, Missouri, plus the 18-team Big Ten. What, the Celtics weren’t available?

The roster Underwood put together should be ready for it. Incoming freshmen Will Riley and Morez Johnson Jr. joining Arizona transfer Kylan Boswell are three of the keys. The Illini have big guys and defenders and ball handlers and shooters. From near (Illinois and Indiana) to far (Lithuania and Croatia).

Scott Richey, The News-Gazette’s college basketball guru, puts Illinois in the top two of the Big Ten (Purdue being the other) and somewhere in his national Top 25.

Remember, most of the guys from the Elite Eight team have moved on. Only two holdovers in Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. Yet, Illinois could be among the elite.

Underwood is doing this almost from scratch.

The level of trust from the fans is approaching an all-time high. Underwood’s style helps.

He has figured out how to make the transfer portal work for Illinois. He doesn’t complain about the changes or long for the good-old days. He finds guys who will fit what he wants to do while realizing he may have to adjust, too.

More than anything, Underwood and his staff provide hope for the fans and alums, who want to see their favorite team become a Midwest version of Connecticut or UCLA.

Heck, they would be giddy with one title. As a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-asmussen-underwood-illini-sitting-144800877.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-07-15 14:48:00

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