Brad Underwood gets real about Final Four opportunity ahead of Illinois-UConn rematch originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are four days away from potentially clinching their spot in the national title game should they knock off the UConn Huskies in Indianapolis Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Before getting to the doorstep of the top of college basketball, however, coach Brad Underwood fully recognizes his team deserves a chance to soak it all in.
Speaking to select reporters in Champaign Tuesday, Underwood, who has been vocal about letting his team be themselves, knew when to transition back to reality.
“I love this team,” Underwood said. “I’ve said it all year. I think this team’s ceiling was very, very high. It’s nice to be rounding into really playing our best basketball. I thought we did that in Houston.”
MORE:Who is in the Final Four?
The celebration of clinching a Final Four berth after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes this past Saturday, 71-59, was short-lived for about 16 hours before Underwood revealed he and his coaching staff reassembled the group to focus on the next step: win one game, then win one more.
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“You have to enjoy it,” Underwood said. “You have to be excited about what you’ve accomplished, and yet know that the job is far from done. We’re taking everything day-by-day.”
Underwood said he feels as connected with this team as he has with any in the past, largely because no one complains.
“I enjoy this team,” Underwood said. “It makes me happy. They make me smile. They make me laugh. We’ve had very few miserable days or bad days of practice. This team just doesn’t have them. So, yeah, to be able to extend that [opportunity to practice and play], you know, we’re going into April practice. Not many teams get to do that. I’m blessed I get to do that.”
Underwood sought advice from Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo and Purdue Boilermakers coach Matt Painter, among others, both of whom have previous Final Four experience. Izzo’s Spartans last won a national title in 2000, the Big Ten’s only title in 26 years. Meanwhile, Painter’s team fell to the Huskies in Arizona in 2024.
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Nonetheless, though, the key takeaway is that the Final Four is “crazy,” as Underwood noted from those conversations.
MORE: Iowa vs. Illinois box score
But instead of having the same feelings as Izzo and Painter, Underwood said he wants to ensure his lasting memory is his and his team’s alone.
“You try to take a little bit and figure out if it works for your team or not,” Underwood said.
Illinois-UConn will begin semifinal Saturday with tip scheduled for 6:09 p.m. ET on truTV and TBS, which is followed by the Michigan Wolverines-Arizona Wildcats matchup to decide the other half of Monday night’s title game.
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