Illinois Coach Brad Underwood: "I'm Here To Win A National Championship"
The Illinois Fighting Illini had their share of recent failures in the NCAA Tournament.
Last year they were bounced in the first round by Arkansas. In 2022 and 2021, they were unable to advance past the second round despite being a high seed. In 2021, they were a No. 1 seed.
Still, Illinois coach Brad Underwood is past all of that. This is a new year as the No. 3 seed Illini prepare to face No. 14 Morehead State Thursday in the first round of the East Regional.
"There are very few guys that know anything about the past," Underwood said. "They're living in the moment. We didn't talk one second about coming to the Big Ten tournament and getting beat in the first round. Every team has its own identity. This team is no different."
Underwood is now in his seventh season in Champaign. Despite fielding talented teams, they have yet to make a Sweet 16. The Illini are playing some of the best basketball in the country, winning eight of nine and the Big Ten conference tournament.
So this could be his best chance for a breakthrough.
"It's not about checking a box," Underwood said when asked about the Sweet 16. "I came here to win a national championship ... We've had unfortunate draws. I think we've had some tough draws. Every program has had these moments you get upset, maybe don't play as well ... I think we're going in, in a place we're as healthy as we've been and we're playing well. This team doesn't know anything about any of that."
While most focus on the opening weekend failures, Underwood is thinking much bigger. He didn't come here just to make the second weekend.
"I'm here to win a national championship," Underwood said. "... If those goals ever change, then I probably don't need to be your ball coach any more."
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com