After beating Iowa State in the Sweet 16, Illinois' players were eager to celebrate in the locker room. They were waiting for their coach, Brad Underwood, to start the party.
To the surprise of his team, Coach Underwood entered the locker room shirtless, wearing goggles and spraying them with a water gun, adding to the celebration.
Forward Marcus Domask expressed surprise at seeing Underwood shirtless with a water gun.
Despite his serious demeanor, Underwood knows how to have fun and believes it's important. The team's first Elite Eight berth was a reason to celebrate, despite the unconventional sight.
Underwood wants winning to be more than just a relief and emphasizes the importance of enjoying the moment. He appreciates the team's humor and their ability to focus when necessary.
The players joke about the unexpected sight of a 60-year-old man taking his shirt off and making light of his appearance.
The Fighting Illini are relaxed and not anxious, despite preparing for their biggest game against No. 1 UConn for a spot in the Final Four.
UConn appears unbeatable, but the Illini are unfazed by their impressive performances and seemingly Herculean task.
Illinois senior Coleman Hawkins feels no pressure, considering the upcoming game against UConn as just another one.
The Illini were not very familiar with UConn, having only watched the exciting tournament games. Their preparation for the game began early Friday morning.
Publicly, Underwood didn't seem overwhelmed by the challenge ahead.
Underwood believes UConn's playing style is not overly complicated, and they are prepared for it.
Underwood mentioned that UConn employs many known strategies that they have encountered in Big Ten play and postseason.
Although both teams have strong offenses, the game's outcome may depend on physicality, as UConn coach Dan Hurley expects a fierce battle on the boards.
UConn has been easily defeating its opponents, but Hurley doesn't think it will be easy to make it to the Final Four again, especially against the Illini, who have won seven games in a row.
Hurley thinks the Illini are one of the top teams in the country. He expects every game to be a tough battle.
The UConn team feels more comfortable now after making it to this stage and succeeding last season. Hurley said it was very nerve-wracking before, but now they seem more relaxed.
Hurley feels things are different now. They had a breakthrough last year and established a level of performance. There's less pressure because they believe they will continue to be successful in the future.
The team doesn't feel as anxious as before. They have a lot of respect for their opponent and know it will be a tough game. But they expect to make it back to this stage.
Hurley knows both teams are eager to make it to the Final Four. They both consider themselves to be among the best in the country.
It would be surprising if UConn lost on Saturday, given their dominance. However, Illinois seems quietly confident and not concerned about the outcome. They are playing with a certain determination that could be helpful on this stage.
Underwood believes the team's experience and maturity are valuable. He trusts that the team knows how to handle any situation due to the players' extensive experience.
