Brad Underwood turns 60 today. He’s a gift to Illinois.

For two days, Illinois Head Basketball Coach Brad Underwood will be exactly 20 years older than me.

BU turns 60 today.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday, Coach Brad (from Terrence Shannon, Jr.). Happy birthday to you!

Underwood’s trip to become the lead man at my state school was not only long, but strange, indeed.

His tenure in Champaign has not only been strange, but exhilarating, frustrating, transformative, controversial, and anything in between.

Never a dull moment at State Farm Center or Ubben, it seems. This is meant to be more literal, and less figurative. You really never know what the hell is going to happen.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?

Underwood is in the throes of Year 7. Here’s where his current squad stands. More context on this in a bit.

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