Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood hugs Giorgi Bezhanishvili as they celebrate after Illinois defeated Ohio State in overtime of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Indianapolis. Illinois won in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Patient, relentless Underwood has top-seeded Illini rolling

By Will Graves Mar. 17, 2021 07:47 PM EDT
Brad Underwood arrived at Illinois in the spring of 2017 tasked with trying to

File-This March 14, 2019, file photo shows Illinois head coach Brad Underwood talking to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament, in Chicago. A young, maturing Illinois team is hoping for a breakthrough this season, the kind coach Underwood saw coming when he arrived in Champaign two years ago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Illinois welcomes higher expectations entering season

By Terry Towery Oct. 23, 2019 10:30 AM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A young, maturing Illinois team is hoping for a breakthrough