Brad Underwood: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Climbs Up KenPom Rankings After Impressive Road Win at Ohio State

Before Illinois’ Black Friday loss against UConn, the Illini had been a KenPom darling, consistently ranking much higher in the well-respected metric than in the AP poll or any college basketball pundit’s personal evaluations.

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Illinois’ Brad Underwood only has 2 words to sum up Keaton Wagler’s breakout game

Brad Underwood has tuned Illinois basketball into an NCAA Tournament fixture, and a destination for NBA Draft prospects. He guided the program to its first Elite Eight appearance in almost 20 years back in 2024.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 9

Is Illinois Basketball Headed to Dubai in 2026? Here's What We Know

Like it or not, college basketball is a business. And contrary to what NIL naysayers may tell you, it’s not because of "amateur" players earning money.

College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / December 7

Illinois goes full ‘Smashville’ with guitar trophy after beating Tennessee

Illinois did not just beat Tennessee. The Illini embraced the city’s “Smashville” nickname and made it their own, punctuating a 75-62 win with a trophy celebration that turned downright rock-and-roll.

College Basketball News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Men's Final Four hosts since 2000' quiz

Can you name every city to host the Final Four of the men's NCAA basketball tournament since the 1999-2000 tournament?

The 'Mythical mascot' quiz

The 'College Basketball 'Power 4' team names' quiz

The 'Naismith Men's Player of the Year winners' quiz

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 7

Brad Underwood Dubs MVP of Illinois' Win vs. Tennessee: It May Come as a Surprise

In a game packed with NBA prospects, tough defense and a whole lot of orange, the most unlikely star of Illinois’ 75-62 win over Tennessee was the guy who took zero shots from the field.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 5

Illinois' Brad Underwood Details Game Plan for Tennessee's Stingy Defense

For avid college basketball followers, the name Rick Barnes is synonymous with lockdown defense. Barnes has been coaching superb defensive units for decades now, and, during his time at Tennessee, he has turned that program into perhaps the most consistently stingy defense in the country.

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

Illinois Basketball Ranked in Baffling Spot in Initial NET Rankings

Illinois’ recent two-week stretch hasn’t exactly been pretty. After the Illini were knocked off by Alabama in Chicago, they beat up on Long Island before scuffling a bit against UT Rio Grande Valley.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 1

How Illinois Basketball Must Attack Tennessee’s Dominant Defense

Interestingly, Illinois always seems to have an “off night” against the best teams in college basketball. That oft-described (by Brad Underwood) elite

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 28

Three Instant Observations From Illinois' 74-61 Loss to UConn

Illinois' Black Friday performance wasn't as egregious as the team's last trip to Madison Square Garden, but the No. 13 Illini again lost ugly – and foolishly – at New York's basketball mecca, puttering to a 74-61 loss against No.

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

Four-Star Forward Quinton Kitt Commits to Illinois: How He Fits

Illinois scored a major early win in the 2027 recruiting cycle on Thanksgiving, securing a commitment from East Peoria native Quinton Kitt, a 6-foot-6 forward ranked No.

College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / November 27

Illinois basketball lands commitment on Thanksgiving

The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball program received solid news on Thanksgiving by securing the first commitment of its 2027 class, marking a strong start to a crucial recruiting cycle.

College Basketball News / Field Level Media / November 27

Depth, size to collide in showdown between No. 5 UConn and No. 13 Illinois

In case you've forgotten: When UConn and Illinois met 20 months ago in the Elite Eight, the Illini were tied with the eventual national champion late in the first half - and then the Huskies' 30-0 run happened.

College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / November 25

Why Illinois basketball’s Brad Underwood was so ticked off after sloppy cupcake win

The Illinois basketball team has picked up a good amount of wins so far this campaign. That doesn’t mean that head coach Brad Underwood is happy. Underwood bemoaned his team’s play, following a 87-73 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley Monday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 25

Illinois' Brad Underwood: 'I'm Not Going to Stand for Not Playing Hard Enough'

In theory, No. 13 Illinois checked all the boxes in Monday's final tune-up ahead of the non-conference schedule really baring its teeth: The Illini defended home turf, won the rebounding battle and walked away from the State Farm Center in Champaign with an 87-73 win over UT Rio Grande Valley.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 24

Three Instant Observations From Illinois' 87-73 Win Over UTRGV

The calm waters are nearly all stern-side for the Illinois men's basketball now. The sailing gets considerably less smooth from here.On Monday, the Illini advanced to 6-1 with an occasionally flashy but often faltering 87-73 win over UT Rio Grande Valley at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

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The 'Oldest 4,000-passing-yard seasons' quiz

The 'Most passing yards by an NFL rookie' quiz

The 'AL and NL MVPs since 2000' quiz

The '2K-scrimmage-yard NFL seasons' quiz

College Basketball News / Field Level Media / November 23

No. 8 Illinois ready for tourney-like turnaround vs. UTRGV

When Brad Underwood scheduled No. 8 Illinois for home games on Saturday and Monday, he did it to simulate the NCAA Tournament's weekend format. It's the only time during the regular season that the Illini will play twice in a three-day span.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 23

Has Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic Only Scratched the Surface of His Potential?

We probably toss around certain phrases and words too often in sports: gifted, special (and in a nod to Illinois' Brad Underwood) elite. If you're playing Division I college athletics, chances are, one or all of those descriptors apply.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 22

Brad Underwood Sees Shades of Recent Illinois Great in Lucas Morillo

Fewer than 10 days after the early signing period got underway, Illinois has officially inked all three of its 2026 verbal commits. First it was forward Landon Davis , then combo guard Ethan Brown and, finally, the crown jewel of next year's class: Swiss Army Knife Lucas Morillo .

College Basketball News / Field Level Media / November 21

No. 8 Illinois lugs lessons from loss with Long Island in crosshairs

Illinois coach Brad Underwood is hoping his 8th-ranked team learned a lesson from a 90-86 defeat against No. 11 Alabama on Wednesday in Chicago. "We need to learn how not to lose," Underwood said.

College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / November 12

Illinois basketball HC Brad Underwood gives ‘complex’ Tomislav Ivisic injury update

The 2025 Illinois basketball team has considerable potential to make a significant impact in the Big Ten and nationally, especially after its win over Texas Tech.

College Basketball News / NCAA Basketball on ClutchPoints / November 12

The ‘unique’ aspect of Illinois’ win over Texas Tech, according to Brad Underwood

Illinois basketball was a bit of a unique case last season, as the Illini were very competitive in Big Ten play but flamed out in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Yardbarker / September 24

With recruiting rules in flux, Illinois HC calls NCAA a 'comedy'

With recruiting rules in flux, Illinois HC Brad Underwood calls NCAA a 'comedy'

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood says if the NCAA is going to change its recruiting rules to allow athletes to play five seasons of competition over a five-year span, he wants a decision to come ASAP.

Former G League pro granted NCAA eligibility in landmark ruling

20 college hoops home arenas that are vastly underrated

College Basketball News / Field Level Media / May 13

Illinois' Brad Underwood agrees to contract extension through 2031

Illinois has rewarded men's basketball coach Brad Underwood for five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and six straight 20-win seasons with a three-year contract extension that takes him through the 2030-31 season.

College Basketball News / Yardbarker / April 28

Illinois lands son of former NBA star via transfer portal

Illinois lands former five-star recruit and son of former NBA star via transfer portal

Illinois has picked up a very interesting player via the transfer portal. Andrej Stojakovic, son of former NBA player Peja Stojakovic, has committed to head coach Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini.

The 25 greatest NCAA men's tournament upsets of the 21st century

College Basketball News / ChiCitySports / March 24

Smoke surrounds Illinois Basketball coach Brad Underwood and major college basketball program

There is some smoke surrounding Illinois basketball head coach Brad Underwood and a major college basketball program. Underwood and the Illini suffered a heartbreaking 84-75 loss to Kentucky in the Round of 32 on Sunday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.