Underwood has stomped out any in-game coaching critiques with his excellent management during Illinois' Final Four run – which is reflected in this stat
Let’s go down the list of Illinois’ regular-season losses: Alabama . Nebraska . Michigan State . Wisconsin in Champaign . UCLA . Wisconsin in Chicago . Save for the UConn and Michigan losses, Illinois held a lead or was tied in all of its defeats heading into the NCAA Tournament.
In other words, the second half has rarely been kind to the Illini in its losses. Although some of that may be sheer coincidence , it was also influenced by all-around poor late-game management and a lack of halftime adjustments from Brad Underwood – all of which he received criticism for. In the NCAA Tournament, though, Illinois has also been a different squad in the second half – but, this time around, as a runaway freight train. Even in the first round against Penn, the Illini held just a 10 point lead at the break. Against VCU in the Round of 32, it was just seven. By the Sweet 16, Illinois’ halftime lead was just two against Houston. And in theYet Underwood’s club managed to win all four of those games – and each by double digits. Illinois’ second-half point differential of plus-63 in the Big Dance heading into the Final Four ranks as the fourth-highest total of all time, per CBS Sports. In this tournament, Underwood has flipped the script, launching himself into elite game-manager status – an air he has rarely sniffed . The strides he has made in that area in just four games is nothing short of spectacular – and they’re the primary reason the Illini are set to play in the Final Four next Saturday. “I didn’t have to talk much halftime about X’s and O’s,” Underwood said, addressing the Iowa victory. “We got good shots. I just wanted to see if we’d counterpunch. And I thought we leveled off the first half, but I didn’t think we ever really crawled in. And we had three fouls in the first half. Again, we’re not out there trying to maul them and foul, but we had to have some tenacity and some aggressiveness. It started kind of withon that play, and just kind of grew. From there, obviously, it worked. Six field goals , and only On Saturday against Iowa, it may have just been an old-fashioned fire the Illini needed lit under them – which Underwood clearly sparked – at the break.of schematic adjustment that impressed. Illinois’ renowned offense was in shambles through the first half, yet Underwood hunkered down, maintained the plan of attack and trusted his squad to settle in and execute – which it did . Time and again in the tournament, Underwood has pushed all of the right buttons. Riding the hot hand ofin both the Houston game and Iowa contest proved to be the right call offensively, while shifting Stojakovic on to Hawkeyes star guard Bennett Stirtz was also an exceptional move. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, one could never imagine Underwood going head-to-head with the likes of a Dan Hurley or Jon Scheyer in the game-tactician department, but entering the Final Four, it feels as though Illinois has just the man it would want to pull the strings in the biggest moments.Primarily covers Illinois football and basketball, and Kansas basketball, with an emphasis on analysis, features and recruiting. Langendorf, a third-generation University of Illinois alum, has been watching Illini basketball and football for as long as he can remember. An advertising student and journalism devotee, he has been writing for On SI since October 2024. He can be followed and reached on X @jglangendorf.College Basketball Experts React to Illinois' Elite Eight Win Over Iowa
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Illinois on verge of Final Four thanks to Eastern European playersIllinois is in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament thanks in large part to players recruited from Eastern Europe. Coach Brad Underwood’s third-seeded Illini meet Big Ten foe and No. 9 seed Iowa Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament’s South Region final with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
Read more »
The Big Ten's Last Dance: Illinois and Iowa Battle for a Final Four SpotA 3-seed vs. a 9-seed, but don’t let the numbers fool you. These are two teams who have scrapped their way to this stage of the tournament, and both would love to be the one to send the other home.
Read more »
Illinois powers its way to its first Final Four in 21 years, beating Iowa 71-59Illinois beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 71-59 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
Read more »
Illinois powers its way to its first Final Four in 21 years, beating Iowa 71-59Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Illinois ended Iowa’s underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005
Read more »
Illinois defeats Iowa 71-59 to head to first Final Four since 2005The Associated Press
Read more »
Illinois powers its way to its first Final Four in 21 years, beating Iowa 71-59Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Illinois ended Iowa's underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 on Satu
Read more »