Playing a true away game in the Sweet 16 is no easy feat, but it’ll take a lot more to phase Illinois head coach Brad Underwood than playing against Houston in Houston, TX.
Love this from #Illini head coach Brad Underwood – asked if he has any issue/finds it unfair to have to play Houston IN Houston in the Sweet 16.
“I could care less… I’m an old JUCO ball coach. I drove on 16 passenger fans. I drove from Dodge City, Kansas to Mesa, Arizona for a… pic.twitter.com/YdRNNbVuLq
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) March 25, 2026
As a former junior college head coach, Underwood knows that the type of traveling done by the Illinois team is no match to the overnight bus rides he used to endure while at a smaller, underfunded school.
I should just stop listening to these interview answers. It makes it hard to dislike Brad Underwood.
— NU68134 (@NU68134) March 25, 2026
As slight underdogs, Illinois will need to play at its best to compete with Houston, and with Underwood’s mindset and experience, he’s sure to get the best out of his players in enemy territory.
I love this stuff from coaches. Underwood was an assistant at Western Illinois when I was a student. I covered Division II when Ben McCollum played for Steve Tappmeyer at Northwest Missouri State and Tom Smith coached at Missouri Western. That’s a long way from charter planes. https://t.co/X8tkURFpBf
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 25, 2026
Cannot wait for this game… https://t.co/1LnlQ7gq4d
— Andy Staples (@AndyStaples) March 26, 2026
Some coaches could take notes https://t.co/L0V5NOGdul
— GSG (@GreenStGeneral) March 25, 2026
Underwood and Illinois face Houston on Thursday night with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.
