Brad Underwood praises unselfish attitude of Illinois after blowout win over Mizzou

Brad Underwood’s Illinois Fighting Illini may be a problem.

Illinois boat-raced Mizzou Friday night, improving to 9-2 on the year with a 97-73 win on a neutral court. The Illini, who have downed Rutgers and FAU this season, pick up another quality win with just 1 game to go before the bulk of conference play kicks off.

Following the game, Underwood spoke to media to discuss his team’s performance. Underwood emphasized his group of guys, insisting that these players go out there without an agenda. They’re playing for the team, not themselves.

Or, as Underwood put it, there are no “knuckleheads” on the Illini squad:

“They’re playing to win, there’s no other agendas, they all are mature enough to know that winning comes back to all of them,” Underwood said. “There’s no me, me, me there’s none of that, it’s all about approach, having fun together…there’s no knuckleheads. Everything you could think of you would want in a connected team, right now we have.”

“They’re playing to win there’s no other agendas”#Illini Brad Underwood on his veteran team after blowout win over Mizzou

“There’s no me, me, me there’s none of that…there’s no knuckleheads. Everything you could think of you would want in a connected team, right now we have” pic.twitter.com/td5nYKlHyA

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) December 23, 2023

Terrence Shannon and Quincy Guerrier had the best outings against the Tigers, combining for 48 points and 19 rebounds. Shannon dropped a 30-point, 11-rebound double-double with 4 assists and a pair of blocks with just 1 turnover in what may have been his best outing of the season.

The Illini will take a Christmas break then be back in action against Fairleigh Dickinson on December 29. Northwestern and the brunt of league play await the Illini following their return against the Knights.