“It’s What I Do”: Brad Underwood’s Plan to Rally Illinois Basketball

Illinois Basketball is heading into hostile territory, looking to keep a 9-game win streak against Wisconsin alive. However, this time around, they’ll have their work cut out for them against Greg Guard’s surging 11th-ranked Badgers.

The Illini have been on a rollercoaster, struggling with illness, a prolonged shooting slump, and now the loss of freshman big man Morez Johnson Jr., who is sidelined indefinitely with a broken wrist. Meanwhile, the Badgers are surging, fresh off a highly impressive 94-85 road win over No. 7 Purdue. Undoubtedly, a performance that proves Wisconsin can beat anybody in the country when firing on all cylinders.

If Illinois wants to extend its dominance over Wisconsin, they’ll need to find a way to slow down one of the most efficient offenses in the Big Ten. The Badgers are loaded with scoring options, led by G John Tonje, who averages 19.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He and G John Blackwell (15.2 ppg) are both shooting over 47% from the field, making them a dangerous threat to the Illini’s inconsistent defensive efforts. Max Klesmit is the engine of Wisconsin’s offense, facilitating while chipping in 10.4 ppg. Down low, Wisconsin boasts serious size with Nolan Winter (6’11, 235 lbs) and Steven Crowl (7’0, 250 lbs), a frontcourt duo that could make Illinois feel the absence of Johnson in the paint.

In the face of adversity, Illinois now challenges one of its toughest tests of the season, on the road. Can the Illini find a way to rally? For Brad Underwood, the answer is simple….. “It’s what I do.”

Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Underwood on Rallying Illinois Basketball For Wisconsin

“I’m going to rally now. It’s what I do,” said the Illini head coach.

“I’m that Pizza Hut parking lot guy who’s taken an ass-whooping in my life, and gotten back up. You get off the mat. I’m not going to feel sorry for anybody and I relish these chances in these opportunities.

He continued, “At 3 o’clock in the morning, I’m watching the Kurt Warner story. Trent Green goes down, coach Vermeil didn’t cry over spilled milk, put Kurt Warner in the ball game, and they go to the Super Bowl. Isn’t that what life‘s about? It’s about taking your blows, pulling your boots straps up, getting off the mat.” 

Underwood concludes, “We’ve got really good players and we’re going to control the controllables. Unfortunate, because Morez is outstanding….. Control the controllables.

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