Brad Underwood's Eight-Year Climb and College Basketball Wasn't Ready For It

Holy smokes, did you guys see what Brad Underwood pulled off with Illinois basketball? After eight long years at the helm, dude finally got them to the Final Four, their first since 2005! He went from being announced as head coach for the 2017-18 season to standing on that ladder, cutting down the net, with orange and blue confetti everywhere. It's been over two months since that Elite Eight win over Iowa, which pushed the Illini into the national spotlight, but the man himself hasn't even watched the game back. He hasn't watched the UConn loss either, but he knows what that Final Four run, just the sixth in program history, means.

The Dream Job, The Grind, and The Bravado

Underwood said that whole experience, that climb up the ladder, was for the fans, for the program, for the university. No personal feeling, just pure thankfulness and celebration. And honestly, you gotta respect that. He always believed this team could get to the Final Four. When he took the job, calling it his dream gig before the 2017-18 season, Illinois desperately needed a facelift. They'd gone four seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance, and yeah, they would've made it in 2020 if not for the pandemic, but the drought was real.

It wasn't easy, not by a long shot. The Illini lost 39 games in his first two seasons. There was the Loyola Chicago upset as a No. 1 seed in 2020-21, and those first-weekend exits in the next two seasons. They got to the Elite Eight in 2023-24, but it took another two years to finally crack the Final Four. This rebuild wasn't instant, it wasn't linear, but it was all fueled by a coach who just KNEW what Illinois could be. His bravado, that supreme confidence in his vision, it was the only way forward. He believed Illinois was a premier program, and that belief landed guys like Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, who were total game-changers.

Building a Winning Standard, On and Off the Court

This past Final Four run wasn't just about big names, either. It was built on a wildly under-recruited freshman, a Balkan brigade, a hometown kid, and the right role players stepping up. Compare that to some of his earlier teams with stars like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask, who fell short in that unforgiving three-week NCAA Tournament sprint. Underwood didn't waver, and that's the kind of tenacity you need to drag a program back to the top. He knew this program from his Western Illinois days, he knew what a basketball-driven university could be at high speeds.

And it's not just on the hardwood where that "winning standard" is getting pushed. Over on the football side, Matthew Bailey, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound defensive back, arrived four years ago and has been maniacally working to elevate the program. He saw guys like Sydney Brown, who was an alpha leader in that incredible secondary with Devon Witherspoon and Quan Martin, and just absorbed everything. Brown, who became a top-70 NFL Draft pick, taught Bailey how to approach his craft, build a routine, and respect people. Now, Bailey is that guy for the younger defensive backs, holding them to a high standard to keep the Illini's winning ways rolling.

What's Next for the Illini?

So, what does this all mean for Illinois? It means they've got a coach who made good on his vision, and a program that's seen what's possible when you stick to the plan. You gotta wonder if this Final Four run is just the beginning of a new era for them. With leaders like Bailey stepping up on the football field too, Illinois is showing they're serious about being a force. It's gonna be wild to see what they build on this momentum, right?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.