Illini
- Thread starter NJCat
- Start date
Remember when we basically had a .500 record against them over a 5 or 6 year period? Just checked it — we were 8-7 against them from 2010 to Jan. 2019. Good times. Seems like decades ago.
I'm not convinced Underwood is a great game coach, but the guy can recruit and that's most of the college game. Given its fan base and the talent available in the state most years, Illinois should be a perennial top 15-20 program.
It was an impressive performance. They played the best defensive game against them that I think anyone in conference has all year - maybe with the exception of that loss @Minnesota which I didn't watch so can't compare. Their young guards are getting a bit of a trial which could be useful for the postseason. And Kofi is a beast.
I don't follow IL enough to have an opinion one way or another. But I was impressed with the way he handled the sideline in Evanston. Got on the players, put a walk on in just to prove the point that if you are not going to put in the effort, you are not playing. And they came out blazing in the 2nd. Have zero recollection of CC doing anything similar. Has he even been t'ed for anything but basket interference?
I have seen what I perceive are dumb decisions on the sideline by Matt Painter. Most memorable, not putting Trevion Williams in for a free throw that allowed VA to be national champion. Point being, everyone makes mistakes and most coaches can be weak on certain aspects in game and be strong on other aspects in game.
It’s just the opposite. Underwood is a great game coach who doesn’t like to recruit. A criticism is that his assistants set up recruiting opportunities that he does always dive into enthusiastically. If you asked the fan base if he was a great recruiter, they would laugh. But the man can coach and develop players.