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.
Riley and KJ
I agree, last years team didn’t have a super highly rated defense, but they could really score. And he seemed to really love that team.
Brad said in his interview that this team may be even better at scoring (my interpretation of his statement not a quote).
Implementation of defense will be harder with this group than last years team due to the youth. AAU is very offensively driven and does not seem to teach much defense.
Good ball screen defense requires a lot of discipline, communication and film work to understand tendencies. Three things I’m guessing the freshman have not had a lot of experience with. For this reason I think Brad is just speaking the truth.
Once they pick the defense up the team length will cause a lot of problems especially for passing teams. Though it may take a few games.
I really hope our center doesn’t miss many games. The biggest weakness last year was lack of positional size at the rim. Rez will help but 7’ with a bit of weight is still hard to defend if you don’t have a similar size player to counter with.
Finally I was amazed at the interview comment saying Humrichous is running a sub 4:20 mile. That is impressive especially with his size.
Overall I thought Brad sounded really optimistic about this year and didn’t read much into the “7th grade defense” comments.
Personally I’m just excited for the season to start because this will be a fun team to watch.
Yes, I said if it weren't for Riley. Also, Rez is a higher ranking than KJ
You know how to read between the lines!
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
more of an indictment of the ratings services. KJ is on most of the projected NBA first round lists (from the people worth paying attention too, anyway).
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
killer (and free) article:
Watched a couple media days videos and we have a helluva coach. You can see the guys at media days who don't really enjoy dealing with the media and some of the questions they get. Underwood is prepared and seems to have a great feel for messaging. For example, the Maryland coach was complaining about the portal. Totally understandable, but the wrong messaging, and maybe says they're struggling with it. I'll take Underwood at his word that the defense isn't there and may be a problem.
As talented and high ceiling as this group is, it's hard in the preseason to imagine what identity might emerge. Looking at last year, TSJ was elite putting it on the floor and in transition (& Ayo before him). 276 FTs! Domask had 149. They put pressure on opposing teams and could pile up fouls on opponents (7th in the country). Makes me wonder how this team will attack.
As talented and high ceiling as this group is, it's hard in the preseason to imagine what identity might emerge. Looking at last year, TSJ was elite putting it on the floor and in transition (& Ayo before him). 276 FTs! Domask had 149. They put pressure on opposing teams and could pile up fouls on opponents (7th in the country). Makes me wonder how this team will attack.