INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (104.3 The Score) — The famed movie Hoosiers, based down the road from Lucas Oil Stadium, features a memorable scene in which coach Norman Dale reminds his Hickory Huskers that the rim is the same on the game’s grandest stage as it is at their small school's gym.
The Illinois Fighting Illini may not believe that to be true after their 71-62 loss to the UConn Huskies in the Final Four on Saturday evening. Illinois just couldn’t get shots through the rim the way it did all season – at State Farm Center in Champaign and across Big Ten play – and will lament that at the end of a breakthrough season.
Illinois shot just 33.9% and posted its fewest points since Nov. 28, when it suffered a 74-61 loss to UConn at Madison Square Garden. The Fighting Illini led the nation in scoring efficiency during their run to the Final Four, but in looking to punch a ticket to the national championship, Illinois couldn’t get the ball through the rim.
"We fought, we fought, we fought,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “We had a very tough shooting night, especially at the rim. We missed some shots that we normally don’t miss. That’s part of this game. The ball has to go in.
"Today was not our day.”
Champaign is just 124 miles away from Indianapolis on a drive along I-74. The Fighting Illini made that drive to Indianapolis, as did an overwhelming turnout of orange. The Final Four is often divided equally with fan base turnouts. That wasn't the case Saturday, as orange was the dominant color.
The walk off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium was painful for the Fighting Illini. The drive west to Champaign will hurt as well.
It had been 21 years since Illinois was on this Final Four stage, with that beloved 2005 team reaching the national championship game in St. Louis. That was a different team than this one, as it was led by five upperclassmen who all reached the NBA. This team was pieced together like modern college basketball powers with deep pockets in the NIL era.
There were players recruited in from Champaign and across the state of Illinois, then those hailing from Montenegro, Puerto Rico, Greece, Croatia and Serbia. The man who built the team was Underwood, a coaching veteran who took 26 years to earn his first Division-I job.
Thirty-nine years into his career, Underwood coached a team in the Final Four.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Underwood said with emotion in his voice. “And I’ve never been around a group of guys who gave me more joy.
“I may not be as big as part of their life, but they are my life. And I’m sad. I’m sad.”
During pregame introductions inside Lucas Oil Stadium, there were loud boos for UConn head coach Dan Hurley. He had done nothing worthy of this dismay other than coaching the team opposing the local favorites in Indianapolis.
Fighting Illini fans took over the town Saturday with orange all through the streets. But there were few chances to channel that energy after tip-off. UConn led for 35:14 of the 40 minutes on the clock.
Illinois battled back from down 14 points to cut its deficit to four before UConn threw down the dagger. It came on an offensive rebound by Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr., who delivered a pass to Braylon Mullins.
Perhaps it was only fitting that the decisive 3-pointer was hit by Mullins, the small-town Indiana native. With 52 seconds remaining, Mullins found the bottom of the net to put UConn up 66-59.
After the final horn sounded, Underwood consoled those players in whom he invested – those who came together for a memorable season. He once served as a junior college head coach in Dodge City, Kansas and Daytona Beach, Florida before carving out a path at this level.
Now, the 62-year-old Underwood has built a Final Four team at Illinois and awakened a sleeping giant of a program. There will be a banner raised in Champaign to celebrate this team, and there’s reason to believe that the Fighting Illini will be right back on this stage in the coming years.
But on a night when the shots just didn’t fall, Underwood struggled to accept Illinois’ run ending like this.
“My gut hurts so bad right now,” Underwood said. “I feel for all of them. But I’m also excited about the joy that we brought a lot of people in this run. We got Illinois back to a level that they’re in Final Fours again. By God, as long as I’m a ball coach, it better not take 21 damn years to get back there.
“I feel sad. I’m sad. If you want to know the truth, I’m sad.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
Illinois shot 33.9% in a 71-62 loss to UConn in the Final Four.
