Illinois Coach Brad Underwood Declares Champaign Home, Fans Key to Success
No. 10 Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood emphatically stated Wednesday that he has “the best job in the country,” attributing much of his satisfaction to the unwavering support of Illinois fans. The declaration came after a dominant 101-65 victory over USC at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, a game where a significant contingent of Illinois supporters turned out despite the 2,000-mile distance.
The Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) opened their West Coast swing with a resounding win, showcasing a balanced attack that saw seven players score in double figures, led by Andrej Stojakovic’s 22 points in his return from an ankle injury. The victory was a pillar-to-post performance, characterized by pace, physicality, and sharp shooting.
“I don’t know how else to say it. I’ve got the best job in the country, and a large piece of that is because of our fans and their support,” Underwood said after the game. “It was great at the hotel to see so many. I love when [Illinois associate athletic director] Joey Biggs sends out that we don’t have any more tickets. That’s a great thing. And this goes back years, so our fans support us. I can’t say thank you enough. You make it fun, and you make it the best job in college basketball, in my opinion.”
Illinois point guard Kylan Boswell, a Champaign native, echoed the coach’s sentiment, noting the impressive turnout of Illini fans at USC. “That’s nuts,” Boswell said. “I remember being a freshman here, and the ‘SC game, playing for Arizona, it was packed red. And now seeing us, just how we’re traveling … Yeah, it’s pretty surreal. Just another great thing about Illinois basketball is how much our fans love us and care about us. But, yeah, it’s pretty crazy to see we’re all the way in California and there’s more orange and blue than ‘SC red.”
The strong fan support comes as some Big Ten coaches have voiced concerns about the challenges of conference expansion westward. However, for Underwood and the Illini, the travel hasn’t been a deterrent. The team’s performance and the enthusiastic backing of their fans have created a positive atmosphere on the road.
The win over USC was a comprehensive display of Illinois’ strengths. The Illini jumped out to an early double-digit lead, consistently punishing USC mistakes and responding quickly to any Trojan baskets. USC head coach Erik Musselman attempted to stem the tide with multiple timeouts, but Illinois’ relentless offense and depth proved too much to handle.
Underwood’s comments also appear to quell any speculation linking him to the recently vacated coaching position at Kansas State, his alma mater. He expressed a clear contentment with his current situation at Illinois, emphasizing the program’s success and the unwavering support he receives.
“I’m one of those coaches, I really don’t give a daggum where we play,” Underwood said on the Big Ten Network. “I don’t worry about the trips. We’re spoiled. We charter. We have great food. We stay at nice places. It’s really not that hard. Yeah, playing on the road is really hard in the Big Ten. This is a trip that the schedule says we gotta go play. We got UCLA next, who’s very good and very well-coached. So we just gotta show up and play.”
Currently alone in second place in the Big Ten with a 13-3 record, trailing only 15-1 Michigan, Illinois is ranked No. 4 in both the NET rankings and KenPom. The team appears poised for a deep tournament run, fueled by its balanced roster and the enthusiastic support of its dedicated fanbase.
