Underwood praised the team's physicality after Iowa's early assault, noting a dominant second half where Illinois stifled the Hawkeyes' offense. The coach highlighted the growth of freshman Keaton Wagler and expressed immense emotion about finally reaching the Final Four at his alma mater, looking forward to facing either Duke or UConn.
Illinois Coach Brad Underwood Reaches Final Four Dream
The Illinois Fighting Illini defeated Iowa in the Elite Eight to secure a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2005, fulfilling a long-held dream for head coach Brad Underwood.