Illinois MBB coach Brad Underwood refuses to dwell on Final Four past, turns page to 2026

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Illinois MBB coach Brad Underwood refuses to dwell on Final Four past, turns page to 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In the modern landscape of college basketball, roster turnover is the new normal.

For Illinois coach Brad Underwood, however, the challenge of integrating new faces goes far beyond just learning names and assignments. As the Fighting Illini navigate the dog days of summer, Underwood is making it clear that his group is focused on forging its own path rather than looking in the rearview mirror at previous achievements.

For a program that has seen significant highs in recent years, there is often a temptation to rest on the memories of past teams. Underwood is actively guarding against that. As the team works through its summer development program, the message remains centered on the unique identity of the 2026-27 roster.

"This team will have its own identity," Underwood told reporters. "They’ll have their own mannerisms. They’ll have their own characteristics. They’ll have their own style."

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While Underwood acknowledged that there would naturally be some technical carryover in terms of system and philosophy—the pillars that define his coaching style—he emphasized that the mental approach for this specific roster is completely detached from the previous campaign. In coaching, "identity" isn't just a buzzword; it is the collection of habits, communication styles, and chemistry that determines how a team responds when the game is on the line in February, deep in a crowded Big Ten race.

"You know, it’s our job to put that together," Underwood said. "There’s no doubt that there’s some carryover with guys and some things we do want to carry over, but from the mentality, I won’t talk about last year very much."

By refusing to dwell on the previous season, Underwood is attempting to clear the psychological slate. For players, especially those returning from deep runs like last year's Final Four, separating their current identity from past successes is crucial to sustaining hunger. The summer period offers a rare, high-leverage window for this work.

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Without the pressure of the weekly game schedule, the staff can focus on the foundational elements of culture. As the Illini continue their preparations, the focus remains internal: building a team that is defined not by what they did last year, but by the characteristics they are developing right now in practice.

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