CHAMPAIGN — Brad Underwood speaks from experience when he stresses the need for patience in reigniting a basketball program. He also readily admits patience is not his strong suit, but he’s seen what time and effort establishing the culture and foundation of a program can accomplish.
Underwood’s lone season as associate head coach at South Carolina under Frank Martin yielded a 14-18 record and tie for 12th in the SEC in 2012-13. While Underwood left to become a head coach — first at Stephen F. Austin then Oklahoma State and now Illinois — he saw Martin post another sub-.