The Illinois basketball team came so close to getting to the national championship, only to fall just short to UConn.
It was a great game from tip to final horn, but the Illini just didn’t have the firepower that UConn brought on both sides of the court.
Illinois narrowed the margin to four points in the second half, but UConn managed to fend us off. Losing in a tough game in the Final Four is always painful. Brad Underwood even had trouble holding back the tears in his postgame press conference.
Here are five interesting Brad Underwood quotes from the Illinois basketball loss to UConn
- “It seemed like we were fighting uphill all day.”
I believe Underwood just described every Illinois game against UConn. For some reason, the Huskies are just a nasty team that we don’t have the code for.
When Illinois would do something well, UConn would always end up having an answer. They went on a huge drought, but somehow they kept us at arm’s length. This is a very talented UConn program, and it was an uphill battle the entire game.
- “Winning is really hard. It is why I have so much appreciation for Alex Karaban. He’s been to three of them (national championships).”
I think this shows the true character of Underwood. In the middle of the biggest loss of his career, he mentions how impressed he is with a UConn player.
Alex Karaban has had a great career. He is now heading to his third national championship in four seasons, and he is looking to secure his third ring. What an impressive career.
- “When they beat us in the Elite Eight, we were right there. That was a bad feeling. This is even worse. I will say what I always say…you just have to keep knocking on the door.”
The mentality of just knocking on the door is what all Illinois fans want to hear. Underwood hits the nail on the head here. We just need to keep getting back to this point, and Illinois will eventually break through.
Underwood has led the Illini to elite status. Making the Elite Eight and Final Four in two out of the last three seasons is amazing. It is going to be our time soon.
- “I feel sad. I’m sad. If you want to know the truth, I am sad. Seasons coming to an end stink.”
Watching this part of the postgame press conference tore me up. I would argue that Illinois hasn’t had a better coach when it comes to X’s and O’s, and we haven’t had a better coach when it comes to being a human.
Underwood had tears in his eyes, and it took everything out of him not to start crying. I know how I feel after this great season and the Final Four loss, so I can’t imagine what he is feeling right now.
- “That was my message at halftime. Keep shooting those shots. We couldn’t get better shots.”
You have to keep shooting against a team like UConn. Sometimes the shots don’t go in, and this was Underwood’s message at halftime.
Illinois had one of our worst shooting games of the season. I think the UConn defense does just enough to set us off a little bit, and it affects the entire game. You have to give all of the credit in the world to the Huskies.