Illini Basketball 2024-2025

#278      
doowink
illini0440 said:
Also side note....if some of you think Brad is bad....Hurley is worse.
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That's because Hurley is a
shake dat GIF
 
#280      
Second place is 1st loser
Iamgroot said:
www.si.com

Illinois Misses Out on ESPN's Preseason College Basketball Top 25 Rankings

The Illini have the potential to far exceed – or undershoot – their position in the early polls
www.si.com www.si.com
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It's a fair take. Nobody knows what this team is going to look like. As fans and those that are close to the program, it's a guess for us as well. Heck, we don't even know if one of our bigs is even going to be able to suit up.

The fact that we're "next in line" is because coach B is respected with the media and the belief is that he's going to have a good, competitive product in the floor.

When replacing 86% of the roster, including our two best players(one being an All American).... it's a roll of the dice and hope for the best. That said, high ceiling for this group.
 
#281      
Illiniguy13
ChiefGritty said:
I know he's always hard-charging behind the scenes, but his demeanor in the actual games has changed a TON during his time here.

I credit BU with the emotional intelligence to know where to set the Brad-O-Meter for different rosters and situations.
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www.espn.com

Underwood goes on screaming rampage during timeout - ESPN Video

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood gets very upset with his team early in the second half, he then unloaded his anger on them.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

God bless this clip...many people turned on BU here. I, for one, fell in love with the guy :D
 
#285      
NarrowJ
I was coached this way in HS, coach was a former collegiate player for University of Arizona, very passionate guy and screaming and cursing at us was the norm every day in practice. I won't divulge what he said to a young man who had dyed his hair colors to match Dennis Rodman circa mid-to-late 90s. All of us kids would've ran through a brick wall for the guy. When I heard he passed two summers ago, I took 3 days off work and flew to Phoenix, Arizona to attend services.
 
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#286      
BretMyBeachHouse
IlliniKat91 said:
How much of that also comes from having rosters full of players who have bought in and run what he wants so he doesn't have to scream his head off at them? I do agree he's tempered himself, but it's a lot easier to do when you have the right people with you.
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Did you already forget two years ago?
 
#298      
BalloonsTheElephant
IlliniKat91 said:
How much of that also comes from having rosters full of players who have bought in and run what he wants so he doesn't have to scream his head off at them? I do agree he's tempered himself, but it's a lot easier to do when you have the right people with you.
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I remember his first season and he was getting asked about play calls and his reply was something to the tune of "I spent the first half just trying to get my guys to want to play basketball, much less run a play."

I think the Skyy/MM year was a learning year on the portal and he pivoted nicely. The fact we still made it to the tournament is a testament of his coaching and ability to work on the fly, which is something I wouldn't have said in year one or two.
 
#299      
eas23
Don't know if there's a better thread to put this in, but I was listening to a preview show talking about KState and Coleman Hawkins, and it compelled me to go back and count how many former Illini are on rosters for other schools this year and I got 12.

Obviously it's no secret how much the transfer portal has positively impacted our program, and I'm not even saying it's a bad thing, but that's just insane to think about how much college basketball has changed. It's an entire team.

Miller
Curbelo
Lieb
Clark
Melendez
Epps
Harris
Dainja
Hansberry
Moretti
Goode
Hawkins
 
#300      
BWA
BalloonsTheElephant said:
I remember his first season and he was getting asked about play calls and his reply was something to the tune of "I spent the first half just trying to get my guys to want to play basketball, much less run a play."

I think the Skyy/MM year was a learning year on the portal and he pivoted nicely. The fact we still made it to the tournament is a testament of his coaching and ability to work on the fly, which is something I wouldn't have said in year one or two.
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That Skyy/MM/Epps year was so frustrating and Underwood was screaming more than usual. Lot's of talent, and lots of drama. Think Underwood realized he had to focus a bit more on the locker room after that.
 
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