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Illinois Basketball: 5 reasons to be excited about Brad Underwood

By Rees Woodcock

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
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 /
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Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Record

The main reason that John Groce was fired as the head coach of the Illinois basketball team was because he couldn’t win. He spent five seasons in Champaign and only made the NCAA tournament once.

That is all going to change with new head coach Brad Underwood. He is coming into the position with a winning pedigree and that is what the Illini needed.

Underwood has made the NCAA tournament in all four years as a head coach. He started with Stephen F. Austin back in 2013 and that year the team finished 32-3 and made it to the second round of the tournament.

The following season the Lumberjacks finished 29-5 overall and the team barely fell to No. 5 Utah in the NCAA tournament. And then in the final season with Stephen F. Austin, Underwood once again impressed with a 28-6 record and a second round out in the postseason.

In Underwood’s only season with Oklahoma State, he was impressive as well. He led the Cowboys to a 20-13 overall record and a close first round out of the NCAA tournament. Let me remind you, though, this Oklahoma State team was 12-20 the year before under Travis Ford. That is an amazing turnaround by Underwood.

So if you are hesitant on Underwood as the head coach of the Illini just remember, he wins. He has been a winner everywhere he goes and he is now in Champaign. He will make sure this team wins.

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