David Haugh

Bruce Weber was great in leading Illinois to the 2005 national title run.

The next year, James Augustin and Dee Brown were still here, but he just did not maintain that.

And that's a credit to what Bill Self, Lon Kruger, Lou Henson before them had built.

But after that 05 run, this program was a middling Big Ten team for the most part and then fell during John Gross' tenure to a bottom half.

big 10 team.

So the fact that Brad has built this from his first two years in that rebuild, losing more games in a two year stretch than Illinois has ever had to a point where now the expectation is to get to a sweet 16.

Like that is the bar he has set and credit to him.

He said that needs to be the bar.

We should be competing for national championships here and big 10 championships here, but it shouldn't be overlooked that, you know, Illinois fans now can complain about

about not making Elite Eights or Final Fours or winning Big Ten championships because Brad Underwood has lifted this program from the bottom half of the Big Ten to one of the best programs in the Big Ten, one of the best rosters.

Illinois is now an NBA factory.

That's all because of Brad Underwood and his hires, his ability to change scheme, go to an NBA-style offense, and get the guys from overseas, find guys like Keaton Wagler, and develop them into NBA players.

So,

He deserves all the credit in the world.

I think he's building something similar to what Lou Henson is doing.

And Lou Henson got to one Final Four.

That's the next check for Brad Underwood is to get there.

He's got a huge test in front of him.

But if you're able to beat Houston, set up a game where you would be the favorite over Nebraska or Iowa.

for the chance to get to the Final Four.