Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood recently voiced severe disappointment with his team’s performance during an embarrassing losing streak.
Brad Underwood Talks About How Tough Losing Is
No. 3 Duke drove Illinois through the mud on Saturday in New York, handing the team its worst loss in program history, 110-67. The Illini’s head coach is more concerned about losing in general than with the margin of defeat.
Following the loss to Duke, Underwood openly expressed his disappointment, stating:
“I take losing really, really hard. It means a lot to me. I think life is about winners and losers and you’re either one or the other… I don’t want [my players] to like it, and I don’t want them to accept it… Losing is something I’m not wired for.”
Illinois has lost three in a row, all by 14+. Brad Underwood says the margin doesn’t matter to him- he just hates losing in general.
“I take losing really, really hard. It means a lot to me. I think life is about winners and losers and you’re either one or the other… I don’t… pic.twitter.com/wp4wyiDgrg
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) February 24, 2025
He underlined the importance of more intense effort and focus from his players, stating that the team’s present pattern is unacceptable. This statement illustrates his commitment to sustaining high program standards.
The Illini have had serious health concerns. Forward Jake Davis left the Wisconsin game early due to illness, having played only eight minutes before being unable to keep playing.
Tomislav Ivisic is only now returning to Illinois practices after missing plenty of games and having limited availability due to mono, an ankle sprain, and the flu.
Over the last month or so, the illness has affected numerous other Illini players, forcing some to skip games and practices.
In response to recent failures, Underwood has hinted at potential changes to the starting lineup. The team has struggled, particularly without starter center Ivisic, due to mononucleosis.
Underwood highlighted the need for changes, adding that the present lineup has been outscored by 32 points, implying a probable lineup change for better performance.
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As the Illini negotiated this testing phase, Underwood’s passionate leadership and willingness to confront the challenges demonstrate his commitment to bringing the team back on track.
Fans and experts will be looking keenly to see how these trends play out in the upcoming games.
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