Brad Underwood Named Illini Basketball Coach
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Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
Man, the OSU fans are up in arms. Checked out their forum.
http://www.scout.com/college/oklaho...derwood-to-illinois-cheap-doesn-t-work?page=2
"Illinois offer: 6 years, $19mm, higher cost of living, higher property taxes, less tradition, worse arena, unknown talent
OSU offer: 5 years, $13mm (and may have gotten better had underwood engaged in scheduled discussions), lower cost of living, lower property taxes, significant tradition, better arena, known talent and recruits
OSU and it's administration were financially in-line, especially given the mediocre results and lack of major college experience. Underwood was never interested in our school and players, and past pay is irrelevant given how he left. He fell in love with his press clippings, and was only interested in money."
Interesting to say the least!
http://www.scout.com/college/oklaho...derwood-to-illinois-cheap-doesn-t-work?page=2
"Illinois offer: 6 years, $19mm, higher cost of living, higher property taxes, less tradition, worse arena, unknown talent
OSU offer: 5 years, $13mm (and may have gotten better had underwood engaged in scheduled discussions), lower cost of living, lower property taxes, significant tradition, better arena, known talent and recruits
OSU and it's administration were financially in-line, especially given the mediocre results and lack of major college experience. Underwood was never interested in our school and players, and past pay is irrelevant given how he left. He fell in love with his press clippings, and was only interested in money."
Interesting to say the least!
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I feel the opposite. If Weber gets canned, I just don't see Underwood leaving after only one year again, especially if he can keep this recruiting class. I say the sooner KSU opens up, the better.
More on hiring/departure from OSU from my source:
This deal was "done" in tandem with the stalled negotiations with Holder. Shortly after returning to Stillwater, BU resigned. Not a great relationship, felt very short-changed, bordering on after-thought as hoops coach at OSU.
Importantly (and for all of our Illini egos), Mizzouri was not the only other school to come knocking. BU really feels that potential is undertapped and that he will kick righteous !!! day #1. The relationship with Whitman, and hints that his base is $3M but can go up if/when he outperforms his contract, were big factors. Always loved Illinois since he was an assistant at Western.
This deal was "done" in tandem with the stalled negotiations with Holder. Shortly after returning to Stillwater, BU resigned. Not a great relationship, felt very short-changed, bordering on after-thought as hoops coach at OSU.
Importantly (and for all of our Illini egos), Mizzouri was not the only other school to come knocking. BU really feels that potential is undertapped and that he will kick righteous !!! day #1. The relationship with Whitman, and hints that his base is $3M but can go up if/when he outperforms his contract, were big factors. Always loved Illinois since he was an assistant at Western.
Kansas State fans are really super pissed off. They have *always* wanted Brad Underwood. Instead they have Bruce Weber. You want to talk about nut punches? You have no idea how sore their nuts are right now.
http://goemaw.com/forum/index.php?topic=39075.0
Why do they call Weber "Oscar"?
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Oklahoma State sure is on a high horse. I know they won some championships the year Hitler died and all, but WW2 ended a while ago. They are not a superior program to ours in any way. Texas is not a better recruiting ground than Chicago/Peoria/St. Louis. Eight of their eleven Elite 8s are from 1965 and earlier. I know their upset and all but still.
He was only at OSU the one year and DRASTICALLY improved their offense in that time, so I think it should be feasible that he can get the system in place for next year. Obviously having guys play in it for a couple years can only make things better.
Jerrance Howard
No need to get involved with all of this. We've had that shoe on our foot before. It sucks.
Why? Who was his best recruit at Illinois? Abrams? Egwu? Shaw?
His legend at Illinois is bigger than his actual production.
Grouch y
Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
College sports is a big business and if you aren't proactive you will not retain talented coaches. I remember the departure of Billy Self and how disappointed the fans were. Coach Underwood is in his early fifties, as most middle aged men "we"look for security and earning potential. He got what any coach of his background received. If he succeeds at Illinois, and he will I am sure JW put incentives in his contract to keep him happy! I'm hoping this will be a coach that succeeds and stays here! I look forward to an NIT game and the success of Illinois Basketball!
GO ILLINI!
GO ILLINI!
Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
You are correct sir! It's interesting to see it from a different perspective. Hopefully this won't happen to us!
LOTS of focus on Underwood offense, but I'm convinced that coaches play players who fit their defensive schemes more than their offensive ones. The Martin/Huggins school of defense means that we're going to get after it defensively more than any team we've ever had before. No idea if that'll work in the Big Ten, but we have the team to do it.
I think his defensive style fits guys like Kipper, Leron, and Pickett. Lengthy, high motor guys who'll be relentless from sideline to sideline. Am I the only person that's tempering the JCL expectations? His inability to drive to the basket, and not great defense could hamper him. DJ is probably the biggest wild card. With is ability to play 4 positions, he'd be a monster in this offense, but can he play with the heart needed to stay on the floor during defense?
I think his defensive style fits guys like Kipper, Leron, and Pickett. Lengthy, high motor guys who'll be relentless from sideline to sideline. Am I the only person that's tempering the JCL expectations? His inability to drive to the basket, and not great defense could hamper him. DJ is probably the biggest wild card. With is ability to play 4 positions, he'd be a monster in this offense, but can he play with the heart needed to stay on the floor during defense?
DJ, Richmond, Henry, Crandall etc etc
He went out and got who his head coach targeted. Almost every guy he landed was RSCI top 100. Some panned out some didn't, hard to lay that on Jerrance
:thumb:
I'd love to hire Jerrance or Roger. I'm sure it won't happen - doesn't make a lot of sense for them. I'd be stoked, though.
I'm curious to see who BU brings with him. Sounds like retaining Jamall is a done deal, which is a great thing IMO (provided everyone gets along).
If JCL doesn't appear to be a good fit, I guess it wouldn't be too surprising to see him transfer out. I'm going to remain hopeful that he adapts to the new system and becomes a 15-18 ppg scorer while crushing opponents' souls with timely 3-point bombs.
I'm curious to see who BU brings with him. Sounds like retaining Jamall is a done deal, which is a great thing IMO (provided everyone gets along).
If JCL doesn't appear to be a good fit, I guess it wouldn't be too surprising to see him transfer out. I'm going to remain hopeful that he adapts to the new system and becomes a 15-18 ppg scorer while crushing opponents' souls with timely 3-point bombs.
Dan
Admin
Please discuss the coaching staff in the Illini Coaching Staff thread 
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http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=23771
-http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=23771
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Fake Underwood twitter account has me cracking up. Kudos to the creator
https://twitter.com/NotBradUnderwud
https://twitter.com/NotBradUnderwud
JCL athletic, talented, and high motor. He's shown signs of defensive improvement. I think he will thrive under BU and become a better defender as well. DJW is the bigger question - does his talent thrive or does his lack of motor put him deeper in the doghouse?
Deleted member 4723
D
Guest
And, importantly, JW doesn't do business like we've heard the ISU AD does business.
(Still trying to catch up on all these pages)
With a lineup like that, maybe the Illini should forget about the Big 10 and take the Bulls place in the Central Division of the NBA. Won't it be fun to see Golden State and San Antonio playing in Champaign?
Is everybody feeling good this morning?
The fun times have arrived.
The culture of the Illinois Athletics Department has vastly changed and dramatically improved. The positivity is spreading and Josh Whitman is the "grand slam" who is responsible for all these supporting cast members.
B-Wood is exactly the kind of guy Illinois basketball needs and more importantly the kind of guy Illinois fans deserve.
been waiting for someone to follow up on this one. Just flows...
He is going to do good thigs
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