"They've been here since the onset, since it was rough,” coach Brad Underwood said.
www.stltoday.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Shortly after Illinois wrapped up basketball practice at State Farm Center on Thursday morning, coach Brad Underwood shouted across the court to get Da’Monte Williams’ attention.
The fifth-year senior, along with fellow fifth-year senior Trent Frazier, was scheduled to speak to the media. Frazier had just finished his session, and Williams was up next.
“Hurry up!” Underwood shouted. “I’m trying to get out of here.”
“It’ll hit me before the game,” Williams said. “I can already picture it. Me and Trent just sitting in the locker room talking and then just going from there.”
The guards are the only two players on Illinois’ roster who have been with Underwood since he began his tenure in 2017-18.
However, Underwood believes the program’s recent success still wouldn’t be possible without Williams and Frazier — two guys who might not have NBA scouts reaching out to them, but two guys who helped him establish a winning culture.
“(Williams) is who we are. He and Trent are back for a reason,” Underwood said. “It’s one more opportunity for them to enhance their legacy here, enhance what they want to be remembered by. And again, they’ve been here since the onset, since it was rough. And it was a proud moment for me as a coach to see not just Da’Monte but Trent come back as well.”
“(We want to) make a run again. That’s our whole thing. That’s why we wanted to come back,” Frazier said. “Obviously we lost (some) players, but I thought it was important to come back and be part of an older group with Kofi and (Andre) Curbelo being back. I think that’s important, us being a part of this team.
“We can do some special things again.”
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Thank you Trent and DMW for all you have and will do for the Illini program....it's been a pleasure to see your dedication to the program ...........
Go Illini