Bob Asmussen | Second time around even better for Antigua: 'Now, we're selling results'

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SAVOY — Brad Underwood couldn’t make it to the annual Kendall Gill golf outing Monday at the University of Illinois Golf Courses.

But the Illinois men’s basketball coach had a good excuse (shoulder surgery) and sent a substitute (new/old assistant coach Orlando Antigua). A member of Underwood’s original Illinois staff, Antigua left for three years to work under John Calipari at Kentucky.

Calipari is now the big boss at Arkansas and Antigua is again at Illinois, replacing departed Chester Frazier this past April.

Three months into his second stint with the Illini, how does it feel to be back?

“It’s been great,” the 51-year-old Illini associate head coach said. “Really busy, juggling a lot of things and trying to help the staff to finish out the roster.

“Excited about the group we have and how they’re working. More importantly, the kind of young men that they are. It’s been a pleasure.”

Having spent time at Illinois before makes the second stint easier.

“Absolutely helps. Helps me to be able to become an extension of Coach Underwood and all the assistants,” Antigua said. “We’ve got an unbelievable staff. Tim Anderson is an elite coach. Geoff Alexander has been unbelievable. Zach Hamer and Tyler Underwood are young stars in the making.

“When you have that collective understanding, that kind of quality of coaching, paired up with the kind of talent that we have, it makes for a lot of good things to be able to happen for us.”

The sales pitch to recruits and transfers is different now than when Antigua was here earlier from April 2017 until May 2021.

“When we first took over, we were selling hope. We were selling our relationships. Our prior development with kids,” Antigua said. “Now, we’re selling results. Now, we’re selling sold-out arenas. Now, we’re selling 20-plus win seasons. Now, we’re selling Big Ten championships. That makes it a lot easier. On top of everything else the university has to offer.”

One change for Antigua upon his return: he won’t be moving back into his former home. He sold it to Anderson.

“I have to go find another one,” Antigua said.

Top of mind

Antigua took questions for about 15 minutes Monday before the golfers teed off.

Antigua didn’t play, instead returning to the Ubben Basketball Complex for player workouts.

Any update on Tomislav Ivisic? The Croatian big man hasn’t been able to join the team since he signed in early May.

“We’re hoping here any day,” Antigua said. “The process is now on the embassy side of things back at home.

“It’s complicated. As the world is complicated.”

What will Ivisic add to the team? Well, he is 7-foot-1, which is a good start.

“Big body, skilled lefty,” Antigua said. “Maturity and experience and a great kid.”

Antigua coached Tomislav’s twin brother, Zvonimir, this past season at Kentucky and feels Tomislav is a good fit at Illinois. The connection helped land Tomislav with the Illini.

“I was glad that we were able to connect some of those dots,” Antigua said.

The Illinois schedule in the 2024-25, which includes a string of games against power programs, will help Ivisic “immensely,” according to Antigua.

“That’s one of the reasons why we think it’s a great fit,” Antigua said. “He’s battle-tested. He’s a physical player.”

Learning together

The 2024-25 team is mostly new to Illinois with only Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn getting significant action in the past.

The lack of familiarity presents challenges.

“It’s getting everybody to understand how they have to sacrifice for one another,” Antigua said. “And that’s every roster now and the way college athletics is moving lately, it’s going to be that. But it’s getting them to understand our principles.”

It can take time. Or not.

“Some teams click right away,” he said.

Plenty of talent stands out among the newcomers, starting with Canadian Will Riley, a five-star freshman who signed with Illinois in late June.

What did Antigua think of Riley at first glance?

“It was good,” he said. “He and I and the family have had a long relationship. It’s something that the pieces fit and the stars aligned and we were able to convince him to come and see it.”

Good plan.

“I knew when they got here and got a chance to spend some time with the staff and got a chance to see the facility and feel the support that Illinois gives,” Antigua said, “I thought all those things lined up and it made sense.”

So far, so good for the 6-8 Riley, a gifted scorer at all three levels.

“He’s talented,” Antigua said. “He’s getting acclimated right now. He’s probably drinking out of a fire hose because he’s got so much stuff going at him. Particularly (strength coach Adam Fletcher) making him eat like he’s drinking out of fire hose.

“He’s been great. He obviously has a high ceiling. Time will tell. He’s got to continue to work like the rest of the guys.”

Antigua likes what he has seen from Notre Dame transfer Carey Booth and incoming freshman big man Morez Johnson.

“Both of them are really unique,” Antigua said. “Both of them are sponges in terms of wanting to learn and taking everything in that you’re giving them. I’m really excited to be working with both of them.”

A big fan

Gill’s outing just wrapped up its 35th year, an impressive number to Antigua, who attended for the first time.

“It’s a great event that has lasted that many years for such a great cause,” Antigua said of the event that supports Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana. “It’s incredible. It speaks to Kendall’s commitment, (and) it speaks to the community’s commitment to continue to support it and continue to help all those kids in need.”

Antigua was in his teens when Gill starred at Illinois in the late 1980s and early 1990s. What does he remember about him as a player?

“He was a bad boy. He was one of the Flyin’ Illini, getting up and down, shoot it, great size,” Antigua said. “I also remember him getting drafted and playing in the league. I can remember also when he was with the Nets and (Calipari) was coaching. There’s some six degrees of separation there.”