Brad Underwood, Illinois hoops HC, sets goal to achieve by end of season
Brad Underwood and the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team are not in the greatest of spots right now. However, things are getting better after a rollercoaster start to the season.
Illinois has won 2 straight, downing Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Illini are 11-5 on the season with great wins over the Badgers, UCLA and Texas, but still dropping more than Underwood would like.
On Thursday, Underwood named the one thing he would like to see from the Illini by the end of the season, once tournament time rolls around. The Illini have a good defense, but he wants to see a top 15 unit by March.
It’s hard to win in the B1G without defense, after all.
#Illini Underwood: You’re going to win in this league with your defense. I feel like we’re gaining ground on that. Have moved up 20 spots on KenPom in recent weeks. To get where we want, I’d like to be top-15 in the country in defensive efficiency.
— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) January 12, 2023
And there are plenty of strong offensive teams on Illinois’ future schedule. Iowa, Indiana and Ohio State are on the schedule in the next month alone.
Illinois plays next on Friday against Michigan State.