Big Ten Media Day: ‘It has been a while’ - Underwood embraces NCAA Tournament expectations

Illini coach Brad Underwood: "I think we have a different swagger"

Brad Underwood clearly recognizes the first sign to solving a problem is acknowledgment.

The big-picture problem for the Illinois men’s basketball program is the fact that they haven’t heard their name called on Selection Sunday in March for the last six seasons.

“It has been a while,” the third-year Illini head coach said Wednesday morning. “The program is one where we keep striving to get back to that elite status.”

The current NCAA Tournament drought by the Illini program is its longest since an 18-year drought from 1963 to 1981. However, preseason hope and optimism exist as preseason practice began this week thanks to the return eight of their top nine leading scorers from last season including 85 percent of its points, 82 percent of its minutes, and 79 percent of the rebounds. The Illini will be led by sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team Wednesday morning and sophomore forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili, who averaged 12.5 points 5.2 rebounds per game last season, along with the arrival of four-star center Kofi Cockburn.

“I think we have a different swagger. I think there is a different feel about us just from the experience standpoint,” Underwood said. “Even though we’re an extremely young basketball team when you look at our roster, we do have some experience and some games under our belt.”

In his Big Ten Media Day session, Underwood didn’t attempt to run from the preseason hype analysts projecting his team as a contender for a 2020 NCAA Tournament berth. Underwood is embracing those predictions and isn’t shy about his optimism for the talent on his 2019-20 roster.

“Nothing would make me happier, not just for our players but our fans, to get back and get in the tournament,” Underwood said. “To be able to make a great run and be able to continue to lay the foundation of what should be an every year experience for us and that’s being in the NCAA Tournament.”

Illinois will open its season Nov. 1 with an exhibition contest against Lewis University. The Fighting Illini will then host Nicholls State for the regular-season opener on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The Illini’s non-conference slate includes a road game at Arizona (Nov. 11), a home game against Miami in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Dec. 2) and the annual Braggin’ Rights game in St. Louis vs. Missouri (Dec. 21). Illinois will open Big Ten Conference play at Maryland on Dec. 7.