It is not every year that the Illinois basketball program can claim a spot in the Final 4.
In fact, it is not every decade. The Illini are making a trip back to the Final 4 for the first time since 2005. It has been over two decades since we have been in this position to eventually hoist the national championship trophy.
None of this would be possible without Brad Underwood. He took over at Illinois in 2017, and since then, it has been absolute magic in Champaign.
Underwood laid out his feelings about his journey and put everything in perspective at the 48:29 mark in the postgame press conference.
“It is not just me. It is so many people who have helped along the way. You believe in something so much, that it drives me every single day to want to make it happen.”
This win in the Elite 8 for Underwood gives him something that he has never had before: a Final 4 appearance. Just at the DI level, Underwood has spent 13 seasons as a head coach, and he is now heading to his first Final 4. He reflected on that as well.
“One of the most fulfilling moments, personally, that I just had was standing on the ladder with the net. And then seeing our fans. That wasn’t about me, that was about our fans.”
It has to be hysteria right now in Champaign. This is Illinois’ first Final 4 appearance since that great team that featured Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head, Roger Powell, and James Augustine.
Illini fans across the country are not only excited but are in tears over the huge win. A Final 4 appearance is something I didn’t think would happen again. We have been so far away for years, and now Underwood has led us back to this point.
Brad Underwood has had an incredible career that is only getting better with the Illinois basketball team
It has been a great run for Illinois under Underwood. But when you look at his career, it is pretty astonishing.
Underwood spent three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. He was able to take them to the NCAA tournament every year, and they advanced to the Round of 32 twice.
The next stop was at Oklahoma State, where Underwood once again led his team to the NCAA tournament.
Illinois then came calling, and Underwood has been with us for the last nine season.
So, breaking down Underwood’s career, he has been a DI head coach for 13 seasons. He has been eligible for the NCAA tournament in 11 out of 13 seasons. He has reached the Elite 8 twice and is now heading to a Final 4. That is an incredible 13 years of coaching.