Illinois vs. Penn is a Brad Underwood-Fran McCaffery reunion, and nobody’s upset — yet
Illinois is in bother towards Penn within the first spherical of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Minor bother, in any case. Unless it is no bother in any respect.
Who could be certain?
Since the match expanded to 64 groups in 1985, No. 14 seeds have upset No. 3 seeds 23 instances in 160 tries, or 14.4% of the time. So it undoubtedly occurs, and it may occur Thursday (8:25 pm, TNT) in Greenville, South Carolina, despite the fact that the Quakers completed third within the Ivy League throughout the common season and are on the unsuitable finish of a 24½-point unfold.
Illini coach Brad Underwood is not taking something as a right. That’s as a result of 10 years in the past in New York, he witnessed mentor Bob Huggins go down onerous as a 3 seed, his West Virginia crew smoked 70-56 by 14 seed Stephen F. Austin. Nicknamed “Press Virginia” for the havoc they created defensively, the Mountaineers as a substitute had been harassed into 22 turnovers themselves, 15 greater than they created. Huggins was simply plain outcoached that day — by SFA’s Underwood, who’d labored for Huggins for six seasons at Kansas State.
It led to this all-timer of a quote from a disgusted Huggins:
“I don’t know why anybody would waste energy pressing us. We’ll throw it to you regardless.”
Don’t you simply have to like this match?
Another good story: Former longtime Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, who was fired final yr after his fifteenth season, landed at Penn, his alma mater. At 66, McCaffery — a temperamental coach Illinois followers beloved to not love, but in addition shut associates with Underwood — is again residence in additional methods than one. Penn is in Philadelphia, McCaffery’s hometown.
The Quakers (18-11) upset Yale to win the Ivy match, with 6-9 ahead TJ Power — whom McCaffery calls “one of the best players in the country, bar none” — exploding for 44 factors and 14 rebounds. They received the match with out main scorer Ethan Roberts, who is from Arlington Heights (Hersey). Roberts is in concussion protocol and is not going to play towards the Illini (24-8).
“If it was his ankle, he’d be playing. Tape it up,” McCaffery stated. “But the concussion stuff, you don’t mess with that. His future is too important, and we love him.”
Even McCaffery’s critics should admit his monitor document of getting groups to the Big Dance is spectacular. Long in the past, he received Lehigh there and it helped lead him to UNC Greensboro. He took UNC Greensboro there and it helped lead him to Siena. He took Siena there thrice — profitable first-round video games twice — and that received him to Iowa. The Hawkeyes went to the match seven instances beneath McCaffery.
Now Penn is dancing for the primary time since 2018.
“What he’s done with that team is just short of amazing,” Underwood stated. “They’re good. It’s a good basketball team. I see Fran’s thumbprint all over it, and the competitiveness.”
By the way in which, that sound you hear within the distance is, actually, McCaffery’s critics. They’re declaring the person has taken groups to the NCAA Tournament 12 instances with out ever making it previous the second spherical. It’s the reality. Barring a huge upset towards Underwood — who was 9-6 head-to-head towards McCaffery in Illinois-Iowa video games — it is about to be 13.
Underwood would appear to carry all of the playing cards on this one.
“He gets pieces that fit,” McCaffery stated. “He gets pieces that prioritize winning, and his teams continue to win. Because, as we know, some teams that build rosters now look good on paper, but they don’t win. His teams win, and there’s a reason for that.”
But at Bon Secours Wellness Arena — Greenvillians simply name it “The Well” — something would possibly occur. That’s why it is known as March Madness.
Well, nicely, nicely — a 14 over a 3? Or no bother for the Illini in any respect?
It’s that point.
