I know coaches need to find a balance in their style, but there shouldn't be a surprise about who Underwood is and how he coaches. If a player or their family don't realize this, they haven't done their research. I get a annoyed sometimes when I see him screaming in the face of a player at every timeout, but if we are going to be an elite program, we have to expect that we have high standards. The difference between great and elite is literally inches or half seconds. Underwood's track record speak for itself. It's clear he isn't only about yelling, because you see the water guns, the hot tub picture, etc, (Bobby Knight or Gene Keady would not have done that) so I appreciate a coach that says, if you can't take it, then the door is open.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
I didn't read the article but only gleaned enough information to get myself riled up... So thems fighting words. Let's get em boys!
Purdue Head Coach Matt Painter on Illinois' Basketball Roster Overhaul
Boilermakers coach notes Illini's success in portal – but warns that transfers can cut both wayswww.si.com
Ayo and TSJ seemed to have loved Underwood.
We can always give out participation trophies, I guess, to our team to deal with tough love teaching through hard nosed coaching.
Have you seen this year’s recruiting class?
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I remember Brad's first one or two years with the portal and he sort of fell victim to the very things that Painter points out.
But, last year made me think that he's learned a lot from those experiences and now recruits the portal based almost as much on character as skills.
And it worked!
He built a heck of a team and it gel'ed pretty fast. And went to the Elite Eight.
So, my takeaway is that when Paint needs to go the portal route, he is likely to suffer those same early results.
I saw a little good news in there. One less arrow in Paint's quiver.
Not to worry.
In Brad we trust.
My guess is the writer meant to put Marcus Domask in there, not Coleman Hawkins.The writer (or Painter?) probably got his facts mixed up given that Coleman just recently transferred out of Illinois. He could also have assumed that Coleman is one of the many players nowadays that have had multiple transfers.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
This is the team:
BU doesn't throw shade, he speaks the truth.
Guys coming from overseas won't be used to the physicality, freshmen won't be used to the physicality and transfers generally have a better feel depending on what conference they came from.
My guess is that only Rodgers is meeting his expectations this early. One thing about coach...if you don't play defense, you don't play period and some kids don't take well to that.
It'll be an interesting first two months.
This: “can’t guard 7th graders” bit is classic, coach-speak stuff.
I’m sure he is mostly straight forward and truthful but I also think:
If you look up hyperbole in the dictionary…there might as well be an illustration of Brad Underwood right by it.
I mostly agree but not sure it’s too much hyperbole. Brad wants strong defense and we have a lot of new guys and young guys. He wants them to step up on D. D will win titles. Love Brad!
LOL.
I think BU rarely speaks the truth. Mostly he just speaks in a way that he thinks will get results. I take everything that he says with a grain of salt.
Are you telling me that everyone and everything isn’t “elite?”
For most coaches, if you don't play defense, you don't play. I actually think it's less true of Underwood than of most coaches.