Game by Game, Day by Day’: Underwood’s Blueprint for Conquering the 18-Team Big Ten

Game by Game, Day by Day’: Underwood’s Blueprint for Conquering the 18-Team Big Ten

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Big Ten has come a long way since it had only ten teams, back in 1949. Fast forward to 2024, and the conference has nearly doubled in size, now encompassing 18 teams, stretching from coast to coast. This expansion, which mirrors changes in football, is altering the landscape of conference play, and Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is keenly aware of the impact.

In a media session on Thursday, Underwood shared his thoughts on how the new 18-team format will shape competition. “You’re going to see discrepancies in strength of schedule,” he said, pointing out that teams like Purdue and Indiana have drastically different schedules despite their similar status. Purdue ranks sixth in the nation in strength of schedule, while Indiana sits at 65th. While trading those schedules wouldn’t necessarily change their records, it highlights the differences that may arise.

Underwood also acknowledged that these differences will be felt across the season. The 20 Big Ten games will help normalize some of the disparities, but the format will still lead to situations where teams face varying levels of competition. Illinois, for example, won’t have to visit Purdue’s Mackey Arena this season, but it will meet Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Michigan State twice.

When asked about how the expanded Big Ten might unfold, Underwood wasn’t quick to make predictions. He recognized that road victories will be particularly valuable in this new setup. “I don’t know how it’s all going to play out,” he admitted, but emphasized that “wins on the road” will carry more weight.

The complexity of navigating an 18-team conference means Underwood and his staff are relying heavily on analytics to keep things in focus. “I’m really trying to keep it simple,” Underwood explained, noting that he focuses on metrics like the NET rankings and KenPom to guide his strategy. His goal for the time being is straightforward: stay focused on improving the team, game by game.

“We just have to keep getting better and winning,” Underwood said. “All of our games up to Washington are Quad 1 games [except Chicago State]. We’ve got a good strength of schedule, so it’s about taking it game by game.”

As for scheduling, Underwood isn’t a fan of multi-team events (MTEs). He cited UConn’s recent struggles in the Maui Invitational as a reason he avoids such events, believing there’s little value in them. Illinois, however, has chosen to schedule tough non-conference matchups like games against Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Duke in the hopes of strengthening their schedule. Three of those teams are ranked in the top ten of KenPom.

Illinois will kick off Big Ten play with a road trip to Northwestern. While the Wildcats are off to a rocky start this season, with their last two matchups resulting in losses, their home court at Welsh-Ryan Arena has proven tough for Illinois in recent years. Underwood’s squad will be aiming to reverse the trend and open conference play with a crucial victory.