Brad Underwood reflects on Illinois' first-round win, looks ahead to Houston
Illinois got quite a scare from Chattanooga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Illini didn’t lead for long, but they were on the right side of the scoreboard when Friday night’s game came to a close.
Alfonso Plummer hit a pair of clutch free throws and two shot attempts from Chattanooga’s Malachi Smith resulted in an Illini 54-53 victory, despite trailing by as many as 14 points and 11 in the second half.
“Survive and advance,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said after the game.
Now, the Illini will take on Houston on Sunday with a trip to the Sweet 16 at stake. On Saturday, Underwood met with reporters to talk about Friday night’s thrilling win and preview Sunday’s contest against Houston.
Here’s what the head coach had to say on Saturday:
#illini Brad Underwood: I thought we played tentative. I thought we played not to make mistakes. You can't do that. I don't know if that was pressure form last year's early departure. I don't know. It gets talked about a lot. They're human. They feel it.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: We could not play any worse offensively. To find a way to win a game, especially 20-6, is pretty gratifying.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: Trent Frazier wasn't great. He wasn't himself. He's not going to have many of those nights often.
He's been fighting an eye infection from pinkeye. Just starting to feel himself again.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood said he wants to keep Trent being aggressive. Keeps harping on that.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: We've got to be more assertive in transition. We have to be more assertive offensively. The ball stuck too much.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: There was a sense of joy last night. I think we felt a little bit different today. I don't know how to describe that. It's good to get that one by us.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: I want Dre to be aggressive. I more than a lot of people have a lot of trust in him to make good decisions. He makes others better, opens up opportunities for others.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood: Curbelo "was electric defensively. That's how you build a plus/minus quick."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
#illini Brad Underwood on Kofi drawing 11 fouls: "Well, they only called 11."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 19, 2022
