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New Illinois coach says ‘a national championship can happen here’

Illinois has hired Oklahoma State’s Brad Underwood as its new basketball coach.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois has hired Oklahoma State's Brad Underwood as its new basketball coach.

Underwood spent three successful seasons at Stephen F. Austin before signing on to coach Oklahoma State for 2016-17. The Cowboys got off to a rough start to Big 12 play before rallying with a 9-1 stretch that landed them an NCAA Tournament bid.

Oklahoma State fell to seventh-seeded Michigan 92-91 on Friday, closing out Underwood's only season in Stillwater.

Underwood replaces John Groce, who was let go earlier this month.

The Fighting Illini went 95-75 in five seasons under Groce but made just one NCAA tournament appearance.

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