Illinois Basketball: 5 reasons to be excited about Brad Underwood

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Dec 30, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Illinois basketball team made a big announcement yesterday that will change the future of the program for years to come.

Josh Whitman introduced the new head coach of the Illini, Brad Underwood. He comes in after just one season with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The history of Underwood is quite impressive. I think he is the only head coach in D1 that can claim he has been to the NCAA tournament in every season he has coached in college basketball. That is an impressive feat.

Oklahoma State barely lost to a hot Michigan team in the first round this year. He also made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament twice with Stephen F. Austin.

Illinois is getting a winner here with Underwood and he brings an offense to an Illini team that just wasn’t playing well under the previous regime.

This was a big move by Whitman and the Illini. There was so much speculation on who the new head coach will be moving forward and Underwood was not mentioned by anyone. This was a sneaky good hire and I cannot wait to see what he can do at the helm.

I think the future is bright for the Illinois basketball program and here are five reasons I think Underwood will succeed.

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