Lots of criticism from fans about BU not being the best at “X” I would offer that he very well may be the VERY best at building a culture. He wants hard nosed, hard working, committed to the team individuals. Young men who accept coaching and put in the work to grow - both as players and individuals. It has created a brand that is so fun to watch and support. Next time any of us decide to get critical of BU we should reflect on whether we have ever had a better “product“ in terms of men’s basketball. I for one think this is the best we have ever seen. Sure it’s great to think about a national championship, but in many ways I would argue that it’s even better to have this man at the helm leading an unmatched culture
Yep, I think now that the Sweet Sixteen monkey is off his back, there can be no denying what a smashing success he has been at Illinois. We don't need to recap post-Dee/James Bruce Weber and John Groce, but our program was in the worst shape it's been in like 40 years when Brad Underwood decided to leave Oklahoma State - a program with a great tradition in its own right and that had just made the NCAA Tournament - to come here. I think two things prevented some from TRULY appreciating the turnaround:
1. COVID cutting our 2020 season short just as we were hitting our stride (we had just beat a very good Iowa team at home to get the double bye in the BTT and looked slated for a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament). If we even make the Second Round that year, #2 is POSSIBLY avoided...
2. The Loyola loss. Our meteoric rise from a losing season to a #1 seed and what should have been 2 Big Ten championship banners in one year seemed like a fever dream. Not only that, but our 2021 team was playing some of the best basketball I have ever seen an Illini team play in history as it cruised through the end of the regular season and BTT, beating top 10 teams away from Champaign left and right. Then it came crashing down in one loss.
2022 was what it was ... we lost a generational talent in Ayo, along with Miller and Giorgi. We also dealt with more player absences from games than anyone in the country, IIRC. While our dreams of a long Tournament run were slim by mid-March, we got the Big Ten regular season championship that the previous team deserved ... mission accomplished.
2023 is just a normal rebuilding year that we all give Brad a pass for in a previous era. Instead, he proved that this program can recruit with literally ANYBODY in the Big Ten and reloaded to have a preseason top 25 team after losing all five starters?! It didn't end up working out, but it was a gamble ... and he would have taken slack from people if he didn't hit the portal hard.
Upsets happen in the Tournament, and #1 seeds go down in the Sweet Sixteen quite frequently. So, let's pretend for a second that our Sweet Sixteen appearance (which, don't get me wrong, is hopefully way more than that after a win tonight!) occurs in 2021 with a #1 seed and we don't have the psychological scar of the Loyola game. THIS is an impeccable record the last five seasons:
Record: 116-48 (.707)
B1G Record: 69-31 (.690)
NCAAT Appearances: 5 (counting 2020, as they would have made it)
NCAAT Finishes: 1 Sweet Sixteen (at least), 3 Second Round appearances
Big Ten: 1.5 regular season championships, 2 BTT championships
AP Poll Finishes: #21 - #2 - #19 - NR - #10
Preseason AP: NR - #8 - #11 - #23 - #25
I included that last part to remind everyone that Brad has actually now improved on the preseason ranking his team had in 3 of 5 seasons. Super happy to have him, and we better open up the war chest to pay the man to keep him forever!