Illinois Falls Flat in Loss to Nebraska: Underwood Sounds Off on Focus, Effort, and Mental Toughness
Losses are part of the grind in college basketball. But every now and then, there’s one that stings a little more-not just because of the final score, but because of how it happened. That was the case on Saturday, when Illinois came out flat, played disjointed basketball, and let a winnable game against Nebraska slip away.
This wasn’t just a bad shooting night or a tough road environment. This was a team that looked out of sync from the opening tip, and head coach Brad Underwood didn’t mince words in his postgame press conference. From lack of focus to poor practice habits, Underwood laid it all out-and it’s clear he’s got some serious concerns about his team’s mental approach.
Here’s a breakdown of five telling quotes from Underwood that paint a picture of where things went wrong-and where Illinois needs to go from here.
1. “They go on a 7-0 run after we get a dunk… our immaturity, that is on me… He’s got to grow up.”
This one stung. After Zvonimir Ivisic threw down a momentum-shifting dunk midway through the second half to cut Nebraska’s lead to 54-51, it looked like Illinois was finally ready to make a push. Instead, Ivisic picked up a technical foul-an emotional lapse that flipped the game on its head.
Nebraska responded with a 7-0 run, and just like that, the Illini were back in a hole. Underwood didn’t hesitate to point to Ivisic’s immaturity, but he also took some of the blame himself, saying he hasn’t done enough in practice to address those moments. It’s a teaching opportunity, but in a tight Big Ten battle, it was a costly one.
2. “Tonight it was just laissez-faire… you look at our front line, there’s nothing.”
Underwood didn’t sugarcoat it-the frontcourt simply didn’t show up. And the numbers back him up.
In 79 combined minutes, Illinois’ frontcourt players managed just 17 points and 13 rebounds. That’s not going to cut it in the Big Ten, especially against a Nebraska team that came out firing. The lack of physicality, effort on the boards, and general presence in the paint was glaring.
Underwood called it "laissez-faire," but it looked more like checked-out. For a team with aspirations of making noise this season, that kind of production up front is a red flag.
3. “How does the best shooter in the Big Ten get a butt-naked three three minutes into the game?”
The frustration in Underwood’s voice was evident. Three minutes into the game, Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort-one of the top shooters in the conference-was left wide open in transition for a clean look from deep. No communication, no urgency, just five Illini on the court not dialed in.
That early defensive lapse set the tone for what would be a sluggish first half. Underwood said it best: that’s not a scheme issue, that’s a focus issue. And when your team isn’t locked in from the jump, it’s tough to recover-especially on the road.
4. **“The first possession of the game where we blow a switch… David was in Serbia.
I mean, he wasn’t in this building.” **
Underwood didn’t hold back when discussing David Mirkovic’s performance-and more importantly, his mindset. From the opening possession, Illinois looked mentally unprepared. A blown defensive switch, lack of energy, and no sense of urgency.
The coach even went as far as to say Mirkovic “wasn’t in this building,” a clear shot at his mental engagement. That kind of comment isn’t just frustration-it’s a challenge. Underwood is calling on his sophomore forward to lock in and bring the intensity that’s been missing.
5. “To be very honest, two really bad practices… I couldn’t play him.”
Underwood expanded on Mirkovic’s struggles, pointing to a pair of poor practices leading up to the Nebraska game. He was blunt: when Mirkovic is locked in, he’s elite.
But when he’s not? He becomes unplayable.
Three turnovers and a lack of defensive presence kept Mirkovic glued to the bench for much of the game. And for a player with the physical tools to make a real impact, that’s a tough pill to swallow. Underwood’s message was clear-practice habits matter, and they’re going to dictate playing time moving forward.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a bad night. It was a wake-up call.
Illinois has the talent to compete with anyone in the Big Ten, but if the mental approach doesn’t shift-and quickly-more games like this are going to pile up. Underwood took ownership for the lack of preparation, but he’s also putting the onus on his players to respond.
The next few practices? They won’t be easy. But they might be exactly what this team needs.
Because in the Big Ten, you don’t get to coast. And if Illinois wants to be taken seriously in March, they’ve got to start showing up in December.