Brad Underwood thinks A LOT about returning Illinois to Final Four

Jon Rothstein sits down with Illinois head coach Brad Underwood for a wide-ranging conversation following the Fighting Illini’s run to the Final Four and a look ahead at what’s next for the program.

Underwood reflects on whether reaching the Final Four has changed anything for him, the impact of Illinois’ early exit from the Big Ten Tournament and the biggest moments of its NCAA Tournament run, including the Sweet 16 win over Houston and the matchup with Iowa. He also reveals when he first realized his team was capable of making a Final Four run and what he learned from the experience.

The conversation then turns to the upcoming season, as Underwood breaks down Illinois’ roster, the players poised to make the biggest jump, the program’s newcomers and how the Illini plan to move forward after Keaton Wagler. Plus, he discusses the schedule, the challenges of coaching in today’s college basketball landscape and what it will take for Illinois to make another deep March run.

0:00 Intro
0:35 Coming off the Final Four
1:15 Does it feel different after a Final Four appearance?
2:20 Impact of losing early in the Big Ten Tournament
4:15 Beating Houston in the Sweet 16
5:30 Iowa game
7:40 When he knew Illinois was Final Four worthy
9:00 Looking back at the UConn game
10:10 Advice for future Final Fours
11:50 Illinois this season
13:30 Who will make the biggest jump?
15:30 Illinois newcomers
16:45 Life after Keaton Wagler
18:25 Schedule
20:20 Coaching in today’s college basketball climate
22:30 Thinking about returning to the Final Four
24:15 Biggest keys for this Illinois team

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