The Quiet Before The Storm

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder

April 1, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Brad Underwood doesn't take any of this for granted.

"We're going into April and we get to practice. Not many teams get to do that", the Illini head coach told reporters on Tuesday. 

After returning from Houston and taking a day to celebrate the program's first NCAA regional title and Final Four trip since 2005, Underwood says the team is now busy preparing for Saturday's opponent in the national semifinals. 

"We've got our hands full with a UConn team . . .

 

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