Brad Underwood Named Illini Basketball Coach

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#576      
IlliNYC
I'm so pumped about this hire. The style of play, the coaching tree, the results.

Give Jamal a raise, keep the class together, get Smith & find a big somewhere to round it out.

I assume he can sit in on practices as long as we win in the NIT? He wouldn't want to change style of play, but just getting to work with the underclassman would pay dividends.

:shield:
 
#577      
gibb52
Illiini said:
Well, we're not starting with a completely clean sheet, but let's hope for a ribbon of success to return.
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He'll have to manually install his system, but it will be electric when he's finished.
 
#578      
kuhl84
It's going to take time to install...is our foreign trip year this summer or next?

I know it's once every 4 years. It would be incredibly useful if this was the year, but I'm thinking this is year 3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#579      
haasi
kuhl84 said:
It's going to take time to install...is our foreign trip year this summer or next?

I know it's once every 4 years. It would be incredibly useful if this was the year, but I'm thinking this is year 3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Believe last trip was 2015. So next one not for a couple years
 
#580      
casner57
My first reaction was surprise, disappointment, with a dash of that old familiar feeling of here we go again..he did what? we got who?.Now that it's soaked in and I've researched & educated myself on this guy..Im drinking the coolaid..Im all in!..cant wait!..make it happen..!!!
 
#582      
oscar
I had Archie as my top pick, but didn't think the chances of landing him were very good. I was totally on the Keatt's train until that derailed. Was a little underwhelmed when BU was named, but I remember the SF Austin teams being very good the last few years. After reading the background and comments, I'm very excited about the future of Illini BB. I agree we have been a very mentally weak team with no identity. Sounds like that is about to change real soon!
 
#583      
Deleted member 3875
Josh Whitman aka Rambo swoops in to Stillwater, rescues BU, takes no prisoners. Mission accomplished.
 
#584      
DoctorOrange
I am cautiously optimistic about this hire. I love the coaching chops of underwood, but I really hope he can recruit. We don't really have any evidence of how he can recruit as a head coach.

Another thing that I realized, is that unbeknownst to me, OSU has a rich basketball history. They have the same number of FFs as us in the last 30 years, and they have two NCAAT championships (albeit in 1940s). This isn't as much of an upward move as I expected.
 
#585      
MadSeason
Berg88 said:
I really want you to be correct, but frankly, nothing except a big buyout will give me any confidence. The thought that he'd move to KSU (his alma mater and started dream job) for less money is not completely off the wall. I don't buy point 3, I don't think point 4 means it can't happen, and point 5 would mean a lot more if KSU weren't his dream job.

Like I said, I hope you're right. I doubt it'll happen. But I'll be wearing my cup next March if BW is fired until KSU had completed their search.
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Same amount of worry Kansas should have that Self will bolt for Oklahoma St. It's not going to happen
 
#587      
Ransom Stoddard
I was away from all media for quite a while yesterday and imagine my surprise when I see the news. Underwood was barely on my radar and it seemed unlikely that Whitman would make an attempt at someone who just completed their first year under a contract, but the stars aligned and I couldn't be happier. I think we're in for some exciting times in the hoops program.

If nothing else (and there is plenty else), Whitman has made Illinois a POSITIVE topic of discussion in the national sports media with both of his revenue hires. I really, really like where things are going, and for the first time in almost 30 years as an alum I'm both able and motivated to open a checkbook to support these programs.
 
#588      
CubIllini
Berg88 said:
I really want you to be correct, but frankly, nothing except a big buyout will give me any confidence. The thought that he'd move to KSU (his alma mater and started dream job) for less money is not completely off the wall. I don't buy point 3, I don't think point 4 means it can't happen, and point 5 would mean a lot more if KSU weren't his dream job.

Like I said, I hope you're right. I doubt it'll happen. But I'll be wearing my cup next March if BW is fired until KSU had completed their search.
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Guys......he hasn't coached one game. Let's pump the brakes and win some games before we have to worry about him leaving for anywhere else!!
 
#590      
Chipatsj23h
The Pontiff said:
Actually, on Mar 12 there was a sign. Can't find the video or the original post from here (I think), but someone had posted that during Underwood's interview on Selection Sunday, he had mentioned he had only seen Michigan twice with the last being their first round game in the B1G tournament on Mar 9.

Why would a coach watch a tape of an IL/MI game before he knew Michigan was his first round foe?
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He may have been watching because he was in the loop but also it was a Thursday 11am CT game. By far the best game at that time slot on Thursday.
 
#591      
KansasIllini
Berg88 said:
I really want you to be correct, but frankly, nothing except a big buyout will give me any confidence. The thought that he'd move to KSU (his alma mater and started dream job) for less money is not completely off the wall. I don't buy point 3, I don't think point 4 means it can't happen, and point 5 would mean a lot more if KSU weren't his dream job.

Like I said, I hope you're right. I doubt it'll happen. But I'll be wearing my cup next March if BW is fired until KSU had completed their search.
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The first time I heard that mentioned, I got a little worried, mostly in a "well that would sure suck" kind of way. But I got over that pretty quickly and am now of a "if that happens, it happens" mindset. It's hard to compete with the allure of home for most people, and while it would suck, I wouldn't blame him if it did happen. Of course, that was before I actually realized the ties he has to the state of Illinois as well.

Regardless of any of that, you cannot make these types of hires while worrying about something that might happen in the future. Identify your man, and go out and get him no matter what. Plus I trust that JW's lawyer side got some kind of assurances and/or will structure the contract in a way that makes an early exit difficult. And even if the worst case happens, JW is quickly proving himself as very proactive and someone who won't be caught with his pants down. Far less need to worry now than in the past.

Put the cup away, we're about to be the ones delivering some of the punches and kicks :D
 
#592      
KU1Fan
Big KU fan

I just wanted to say that I went to the same high school as Steve Henson & Brad Underwood in McPherson KS.They won numerous state championships.Steve later played in the NBA after starring at K-state.They both know how to coach so you have a great hire.
 
#593      
BWBW
I like the Brad Underwood hire. It looks like fun basketball for the players and the fans.

Illinois will be a power in both football and basketball with Whitman at the helm. Definitely competing for Big Ten titles and, hopefully, NC as well. Basketball may get national prominence sooner than football, but Lovie will get us to meaningful bowl games soon enough.

My hunch is this: Whitman's vision is an NC in both major sports in the same year. It may never happen, but that is one heck of a vision. It sure beats hoping for a minor bowl game just for the extra practices or hoping for a bubble berth just to say we made it to March Madness.
 
#594      
Illiini
gibb52 said:
He'll have to manually install his system, but it will be electric when he's finished.
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Well, he's taken it everywhere he's gone, so it has to be portable.
 
#595      
Brass Cannon
I wouldn't worry too much about losing him. This isn't 2005 anymore. If he's built a winner at Illinois nobody outside of the Big Ten will be able to outbid Illinois if they really want to keep him.
 
#596      
illinihoops
ILLHangOut said:
Just perusing the Scout board for the first time in awhile. Wow. The consensus didn't even know who Underwood is. How far has that board fallen? Are they still suffering from the Peoriaman days?

I realize I only have a few posts, but I've been lurking since the Brumby days. Then Scout, then Peoriaman and his self-righteous Bruce loving possey caused the Scout exodus. Then the Cesspool. Then that's when I found Lotalty. Then Loyalty snatched up InisideIllini.com from Scout on the sly (lol). Not sure what Loyalty's history was before that.

Seems like Scout hasn't recovered at least from a content perspective.
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Same here. And Jack was just as insufferable with his constant lecturing. But I liked JW when he was with the other site so I'm going to give Scout another chance. They all have their positives and negatives, a lot driven by who they allow to dominate posting.
 
#598      
Dan
[YOUTUBE]M7PppVXTUto[/YOUTUBE]
 
#600      
FatGreg
I'll be shocked if JCL takes fewer than 7 threes per game next year. What's the program record for 3-pointers made in a season?

This is going to be fun to watch - especially if Jeffrey Carroll transfers in.

PG - Frazier/TJL/Smith
Wing - JCL/Smith/Jordan/DMW
Wing - Jeffrey Carroll/Kipper/DJW/Pickett
F - Leron/Finke/DJW
Big - Tilmon/Finke

Run a lineup of Frazier or Smith with JCL, Carroll, and Finke and it will be bombs away.
 
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