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Brad Underwood explains why he called off Illinois-Wisconsin postgame handshake line

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•02/19/25•

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Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Illinois coach Brad Underwood revealed the reason why he called off the handshake line with Wisconsin and head coach Greg Gard.

What looked odd at first, following the Illini’s 95-74 loss on the road, Underwood didn’t appear fond of a postgame handshake. However, he revealed his team was battling illness and didn’t want to further the damage.

He explained in his postgame press conference.

“At the end of the day guys, we don’t have very many healthy bodies,” Underwood said. “Tomi (Ivisic) didn’t make the trip with us. He drove up before the game because he said he wanted to try and play. And Jake Davis got sick right after pregame and said he wanted to try and start but he didn’t even join us at halftime. He was in the restroom.

“That’s why we didn’t shake hands with them after the game. They don’t need this. In 38 years, I’ve never seen anything like what’s gone through our team.”

Underwood revealed this has been going on for awhile with his team.

“Tomi’s literally practiced maybe once in a month with mono, then the ankle injury and now this,” Underwood said. “Hats off, they won the rebounding battle, we knew it was going to be tough. We had some mixed-matched lineups, was great to have Tre (White) back out there and I thought (Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn) was outstanding tonight.”

In the loss, Gibbs-Lawhorn finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists to lead the team. As Underwood pointed out, White returned and put up seven points and five rebounds.

Now at 17-11, Illinois and Underwood will look to break a two-game losing streak Saturday when they travel to No. 3 Duke.

That’ll be a tough game regardless, but if Underwood and crew are down a few players, the Blue Devils could runaway with that game this weekend. Especially with the contest being in Cameron Indoor Arena.