Brad Underwood: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 27

Brad Underwood Updates Injury Status of Five Illinois Players Before UIC Exhibition

Illinois’ eagerly anticipated 2026-27 season hasn’t even tipped off, yet the Illini are already pretty banged up. Preseason All-American David Mirkovic

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 22

Brad Underwood Previews Illinois vs. Baylor, Updates David Mirkovic's Status

Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood on Thursday previewed his club’s upcoming exhibition matchup against Baylor. The Illini have already played one exhibition game – a 105-96 win at Cincinnati – and Friday's outing against the Bears (7 p.m.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 20

Brad Underwood Quotes to Know After Illinois' Exhibition Win Over Cincinnati

After Illinois took down Cincinnati 105-96 in its first exhibition matchup of the 2026-27 season (two more remain on the docket), Illini coach Brad Underwood addressed the media.

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College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / October 19

Illinois lost to UConn in Final Four, but they’re ranked ahead of them in Preseason AP Top 25 Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini may have watched their Final Four run end in heartbreaking fashion against UConn, but the latest preseason rankings suggest Brad Underwood’s team is positioned for another major season.

College Basketball News / Yardbarker

Looking back at the guy who followed THE guy in college basketball

North Carolina recently fired head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis, ending a five-year run in which he struggled to keep the program at the heights of its lofty expectations.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 19

Analyzing Freshman Ethan Brown's Unexpected Start in Illinois' Win at Cincinnati

The shocker of the night in Illinois’ exhibition win over Cincinnati had nothing to do with the final score or who came out on top. Instead, it was freshman Ethan Brown getting the start over standout transfer Stefan Vaaks (whom many, including us, expected to land in the Illini's starting five ).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 17

Brad Underwood's Key Quotes Ahead of Illinois Basketball vs. Cincinnati

On Friday morning, coach Brad Underwood addressed the media ahead of Illinois’ first exhibition matchup of the 2026-27 season – which takes place on Saturday at Cincinnati.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 15

Illinois Basketball to Host 2029 Forward Bronx Ganaway in Unofficial Visit

All of the recruiting attention for Illinois basketball has centered around the 2027 and 2028 classes (the former of which hasn’t been as successful as some would have hoped ).

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 13

Brad Underwood Revisits Illinois' Last Three Losses to UConn – But Isn't Backing Down

The last time Illinois beat UConn was [checks notes … still flipping pages] in 1938 in Huff Hall, back when it was called Huff Gym. And the Illini’s last trio of losses to the Huskies have been anything but painless.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

Brad Underwood Explains Why Jake Davis is 'Invaluable' to Illinois Basketball

When Jake Davis came to Champaign on the heels of a 9.0-points-per-game freshman year on a sub-.500 Mercer team, some observers – including some of us at Illinois on SI – were scratching their heads.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 7

Illinois' Brad Underwood on Transfer Stefan Vaaks' Progression – And His Next Step

Illinois basketball, which has accessed the portal at times during Brad Underwood's tenure with the program, elected to add only one transfer to the mix in the 2026 offseason.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 6

Illinois Misses on 5-Star Darius Wabbington to Big Ten Rival: Time to Be Concerned?

Close but no cigar… yet again for Brad Underwood and his staff. High-priority target Darius Wabbington picked Indiana on Tuesday, over Illinois and Arizona.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 6

Brad Underwood Expects New Defensive Strengths for Illinois in 2026-27

Illinois’ defense was more volatile than a penny stock in 2025-26. At times, the Illini were really good. Other times, though, they were ordinary – maybe even less than.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 6

Brad Underwood on What Makes 2026-27 Illinois Different From 2025-26 Version

"Retention" was the word of the summer for Illinois basketball. The Illini, who trekked all the way to the Final Four last season, return five of their eight rotation players from 2025-26 for their upcoming campaign.

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Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 6

Why Illinois Coach Brad Underwood's Comments on Quentin Coleman Are So Encouraging

Quentin Coleman was the crown jewel of Illinois’ talent-laden 2026 high school recruiting haul. A five-star recruit, Coleman is one of the highest-rated players to ever commit to the Illini in the modern-day era.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 5

Illinois' Brad Underwood on Freshman Lincoln Williams' High Upside

When Lincoln Williams, an in-state class of 2026 recruit from Kankakee, signed with Illinois in early June, it came entirely out of left field. It was, all things considered, a very late addition from the high school ranks.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 4

Brad Underwood Reveals What Illinois Needs From a Healthy Zvonimir Ivisic

Back in early September, it was revealed by Illinois coach Brad Underwood that big man Zvonimir Ivisic had hurt his hand . At the time, the Illini didn’t seem to have much information about the injury (or Underwood wasn’t interested in sharing it).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 3

Illinois Coach Brad Underwood Shares Latest on David Mirkovic's Recovery

It has been nearly two full months since sophomore Illinois forward David Mirkovic underwent surgery for a foot injury. Some initial reports foresaw an

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 1

Illinois Basketball Lands in 2027 5-Star Darius Wabbington's Top 3

Despite Illinois’ lengthy list of visits from five-star prospects in the class of 2027 – or should-have-been visits (thanks, Dan Hurley) – Brad Underwood and his coaching staff haven’t been able to lock down any members of that prestigious group.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 1

Illinois Misses on Another 5-Star 2027 Guard: Are the Illini Out of Options?

Over the past few months, it has felt like Brad Underwood and his coaching staff have been involved, one way or another, in the recruitment of practically every five-star prospect in the 2027 class.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 18

One Reason Illinois Basketball Shouldn't Be the 2026-27 National Title Favorite

Brad Underwood has quickly turned Illinois into a perennial national title contender – or something very close to it. But for the past few seasons, the Illini were viewed more as a dark horse candidate capable of going on a run, rather than one of college basketball's legitimate favorites.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 15

5-Star Illinois Target Darius Wabbington Moves Up Visit to Champaign

We know: It’s all coming at you fast. Illinois basketball recruiting has quickly become synonymous with the five-star label. In the 2027 class alone, the Illini are heavily involved – or have been – with five five-star recruits.