Underwood: "The fuse has been lit"

SPRINGFIELD – Strolling into the clubhouse at Panther Creek Country Club in the state’s capital city, Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood already felt the vibe.

A group of boosters and fans were inside, awaiting the arrival of a coach who brought a renewed hope and, ideally, a new path for a program that failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons.

“We’re a ticking time bomb,’’ Underwood said. “The fuse has been lit. It’s going to be a fun process. The passion of the fans has been off the charts. I love that. It’s special. It’s a pretty thing.’’

There might not be much more time for these stops on the rubber chicken tour, as coaches often refer to the banquets and hoops-style town hall meetings at country clubs, booster clubs and watering holes filled with fans ready to bust out the orange and blue wardrobe. Students are arriving back on campus, and Underwood is herding cats with so many youngsters on the roster, including Slovenian big man Matic Vesel who just made it to campus late Wednesday.

University of Illinois Basketball

Vesel is a 6-foot-9, 210-pounder with a Euro-style game and room to grow into his slender body, and he just might be the first of a run of future Illini players from overseas. Illini assistant coach Orlando Antigua is making contacts while serving as the Dominican Republic national team coach.

For Vesel, it’s his second trip to the states.

“The first one was his (recruiting) visit,’’ Underwood said. “He’s going through freshman orientation. It’s the ultimate adjustment. He speaks tremendous English, probably better than you and I. He’s a very bright kid, a very good student.’’

While Underwood was able to work with the entire roster other than Vesel and Wright State transfer Mark Alstork this summer, Vesel is the intriguing addition to the Illini roster. Unlike other recruits, who have videos splashed on recruiting web sites, Vesel is still a bit of a mystery.

“He’s long, really athletic,’’ Underwood said. “People associate Europeans as not being athletic. He’s athletic. He’s got some quick twitch and a very good rebounder and shot blocker. He’s versatile. He can step out and shoot the three. He’s a great, great runner. The pick and pop ability is there. He’s a tremendous passer. He’s thin, and he’s got to add a little bulk, a little strength. That’s maturation and time with Fletch in the weight room. That will come. He’s a quick jumper, springy and a guy who will guard multiple positions. He can play there offensively as well.’’

Vesel was unable to reach Champaign early because of a later finish to the school year in Slovenia and, more importantly, he was able to play for his country in the under-20 world championships in Crete. With Antigua’s ability to scout the field, Underwood is expected to continue a long reach in recruiting territory.

“No question,’’ he said. “Orlando went to Greece this summer. The world is a big place. There are a lot of really good basketball players. It’s a place that all programs have gone, and they’re starting to invest more time and resources. Those young guys over there, they’re really eager to come to the states. They know our game. It’s been good to me over the course of my career. I’ve had a lot of international guys, and I’ll continue to do that.’’

Alstork completed his academic work and was scheduled for a Friday arrival, Underwood said. That means the Illini are complete, so the coaching staff was ready to put the entire team together when possible for preseason workouts.

“There’s an excitement to get both of those guys here,’’ Underwood said. “They’ve not been a part of it. We’re a little slower this summer. We tried to not get good far ahead of ourselves. We didn’t want to have two guys playing catch up.’’

Like that time bomb, the clock keeps ticking. The season is just around the corner, but Underwood and his staff continue to work the recruiting carousel. It’s not a time to commit to numbers or even needs for the fall signing period in November. There’s still too much to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the current Illini.

“We have a lot of really good players that I’m excited about, but there are lot of unknowns,’’ Underwood said. “Mark Alstork averaged 20 points a game at the Division I level. Nobody else has averaged in double figures. How our players develop and fall into those roles is to be determined.’’

With so much to be learned in the next few months and the inevitable change in roster from the annual movement through transfers – it was around 800 or so nationally during this offseason -- Underwood would only say he likes to load up on guards. You can’t have enough of them, he said. Case in point, Golden State won the NBA title by essentially going small, using skilled players more than relying upon bulk.

“Size can be overrated,’’ he said. “I’m going to put good players out there on the court. You win games with guards.’’

It’s a process that never ends. Utah 7-footer Brian Penn-Johnson visited the Illini Wednesday. This weekend, Cincinnati big man Jaxson Hayes comes to campus in another important visit. It keeps Underwood and his staff on the move.

With that, Underwood calmly shook hands, strolled toward the country club front door, began slapping the backs of folks in Illini wear and continued into his process of rebuilding the Illini program, image, personnel and recruiting. He’s finding players in Slovenia and admiring the passion behind a fan base ready to pop. Underwood saw it 10 years ago as a Western Illinois assistant coach.

“The excitement level and the passion,’’ Underwood said. “That’s what I remembered about Illinois basketball.’’

With the players back on campus, recruits making stopovers and Underwood pumping life into the program, Illini fans can’t wait for the bomb to explode.

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.