Illinois Basketball 2025-26: Brad Underwood's Best Team Yet?
Illinois basketball is having its best season in years. They're ranked in the top 10, they're battling for the Big Ten title, and they have legitimate Final Four potential. Brad Underwood has built something special in Champaign, and this might be the year it all comes together.
The roster: balanced and deep
Illinois doesn't have a single superstar, but they have five guys who can all score 15+ on any given night. That balance makes them incredibly hard to defend.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is the closest thing they have to a go-to guy. He's a 6'6" wing who can score from all three levels — he's shooting 38% from three, he can get to the rim, and he's automatic from the mid-range. He's averaging 19 points per game and is the guy who takes over in crunch time.
Marcus Domask is the glue guy. He's a 6'7" forward who does everything — scores, rebounds, passes, defends. He's averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. He's not flashy, but he's the most important player on the team.
Coleman Hawkins is the stretch big. He's 6'10" and can shoot threes, which makes Illinois's offense nearly impossible to guard. When he's on the floor, the spacing is perfect.
The backcourt is led by Ty Rodgers and Luke Goode, both of whom are solid role players who know their jobs. Rodgers is the defensive stopper, Goode is the shooter. Neither is a star, but both are essential.
Brad Underwood's system
Underwood's teams are known for two things: elite defense and chaotic offense. Illinois ranks in the top 15 nationally in defensive efficiency, and they force turnovers at a high rate. They press, they trap, and they make you uncomfortable.
Offensively, they're less structured. They play fast, they shoot a lot of threes, and they trust their players to make plays. It's not pretty, but it works. Illinois is scoring 82 points per game, which is in the top 30 nationally.
The key to Underwood's system is versatility. Every player on the floor can switch defensively, and every player can handle the ball and make decisions. That makes them incredibly hard to game-plan for.
The Big Ten title race
Illinois is tied with Purdue for first place in the Big Ten. They've already beaten Purdue once (at home), and they play them again in the final week of the season. That game could decide the conference title.
The Big Ten is brutal this year. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Northwestern are all tournament teams, and every road game is a battle. Illinois has handled the schedule well — they're 12-4 in conference play, and their only bad loss was to Penn State.
Winning the Big Ten regular season would be huge for Illinois. It would give them a 1-seed or 2-seed in the tournament, and it would prove that they're one of the best teams in the country.
Tournament potential
Illinois has all the pieces to make a deep run. They have experience, they have depth, and they have a coach who knows how to win in March. But there are concerns.
Three-point shooting variance: Illinois shoots a lot of threes, and when they're hot, they're unbeatable. But when they're cold, they struggle to score. In a single-elimination tournament, one bad shooting night can end your season.
Lack of a true closer: Terrence Shannon Jr. is good, but he's not a guy who can take over a game and get you 35 points. Illinois is balanced, which is great, but they don't have a superstar who can carry them when things get tight.
Defensive consistency: Illinois's defense is elite when they're locked in, but they've had lapses this season. Against Penn State, they gave up 90 points. Against Northwestern, they gave up 85. In the tournament, you can't have those lapses.
The Final Four case
Illinois has the talent to make the Final Four. They're deep, they're experienced, and they play a style that travels well in March. Their defense can shut down anyone, and their offense is explosive enough to win shootouts.
The path is there. If they get a 1-seed or 2-seed, they'll have a favorable bracket. And if they can avoid a bad shooting night, they can beat anyone.
But this is college basketball. Anything can happen. Illinois has been here before — they were a 1-seed in 2021 and lost in the second round. They were a 4-seed in 2023 and lost in the first round. The talent is there, but the execution in March is what matters.
The bottom line
This is Brad Underwood's best team at Illinois. They're balanced, they're deep, and they're playing with confidence. If they can win the Big Ten and carry that momentum into the tournament, they're a legitimate Final Four contender.
But they have to prove it. Illinois fans have been burned before. This year feels different, but we'll see if it actually is.