Brad Underwood ranked the 11th coach in the Kenpom rankings

The Brad Underwood era. The famous college basketball analytics site, KenPom.com put out a new coaches component to their algorithm. A picture online showed the top-25 coaches, and there were a number of Big Ten coaches well within the top-25. However, Brad Underwood was the highest of the Big Ten coaches at number 11. Without surprise, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson was listed as number 1. In terms of other Big Ten coaches in the top-25, Michigan’s Dusty May was 12th, Purdue’s Matt Painter was 16th, and Minnesota’s Niko Medved was listed at 17.

Underwood has really adopted analytics into what they do on both sides of the ball. In the past few years, the Illini have had top-ranked offenses. The Illini have grown to shoot a lot of three-pointers while also making an effort to crash the offensive glass. On defense, though they are frustrating to watch at times, they play drop coverage. Drop coverage has its cons; however, it really limits open three-point shots and layups. After being exposed in the NCAA Tournament by Kentucky, Brad Underwood hired Camryn Crocker to help bring a fresh new perspective to their defense. With a coach who plays to the analytics and is always willing to adapt, the Illini are primed for long-term success.

Kenpom dropped his Top 25 Preseason Coach rankings

There are four Big Ten coaches on there

11. Brad Underwood (Illinois)
12. Dusty May (Michigan)
16. Matt Painter (Purdue)
17. Niko Medved (Minnesota)

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) October 10, 2025

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