Brad Underwood scoffs at Big Ten roadtrips after Illinois earns 36-point win vs. USC

If it were up to Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood, every team would probably be like his. Fast, physical, athletic, talented and fearless.

After playing 11 games in 33 days, there was barely any time for Illinois to rest up following this past Sunday's 71-51 win against the Indiana Hoosiers (17-9, 8-7 Big Ten).

Wednesday night saw his 10th-ranked Illini, still alive for the league title with March around the corner, head to California for back-to-back road games against the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins. While the Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) await the Bruins (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) Saturday night in Westwood, they thumped the Trojans (18-8, 7-8 Big Ten) by 36, 101-65, in front of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

Seven Illini reached double-figures, becoming the first Big Ten road team to accomplish that feat since 2011. Guard Andrej Stojaković (22 points, 3 rebounds) returned to the lineup after recovering from a high left ankle sprain that saw him miss brief time following an overtime loss to Michigan State (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) earlier this month to lead all scorers.

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Following the win in an interview with Big Ten Network while walking off the Galen Center floor, Underwood said his team is unbothered by travel or any of the adjustments necessary to make unfamiliar territory seem normal.

“I don't worry about the trips, we’re spoiled, we charter," Underwood said of his team. "We have great food, we stay in nice places. It's really not that hard. We just gotta show up and play.”

Illinois certainly has done a good job of the "show up and play" mindset, especially on the road. Its lone road defeat came against the Spartans, and it has otherwise remained perfect away from Champaign with seven wins thus far.

Underwood shouted out the displaced Illinois fans who either made the trip out to the West Coast or were able to see it in action for the first time this season.

"I've got the best job in the country, and a large piece of that is because of our fans," Underwood told reporters. "I can't say 'Thank you' enough. You make it fun, and you make it the best job in college basketball."

With more road and neutral site games ahead for Illinois, its stance on traveling and treating it like a business trip seems to be working. Soon, it will be win-or-go-home come the start of March Madness.

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If Illinois can keep its momentum afloat, it arguably doesn't matter where it ends up.

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