- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Illinois MBB Reveals Key 4-Word Rule Driving Win Streak
Coach Brad Underwood says his team repeats this mantra '100 times a day' during their 12-game winning run.
Feb. 5, 2026 at 11:07pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The No. 5 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team has won 12 games in a row, and coach Brad Underwood credits the team's focus on a simple 4-word rule they repeat constantly: "Don't drink the poison." Underwood says they discuss this mantra "100 times a day" to avoid getting caught up in the national attention and hype surrounding their impressive season.
Why it matters
As Illinois continues its push towards March Madness, maintaining this disciplined, "next day" mentality will be crucial to avoiding complacency and staying focused on their standards and goals. The Illini have already shown they can win without a key player, Kylan Boswell, further demonstrating their cohesion and resilience.
The details
Underwood revealed the team's mantra of "Don't drink the poison" - meaning they avoid reading or talking about the national attention and hype around their 12-game winning streak. Instead, the Illini maintain a "very simple, mundane, 'Every Day Guys' mentality" where they focus solely on living up to their own standards, which they discuss "100 times a day." This approach has helped Illinois dominate opponents like the Northwestern Wildcats, winning 84-44 on Wednesday.
- The Illinois Fighting Illini have won 12 games in a row entering a critical Saturday night game against Michigan State.
- On Wednesday, Illinois defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 84-44 to sweep the season series.
The players
Brad Underwood
The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team, who has instilled a disciplined, "next day" mentality in his squad during their 12-game winning streak.
Kylan Boswell
An Illinois guard who has been nursing a broken hand, but the team has continued to win in his absence.
What they’re saying
“We have one saying: 'Don't drink the poison'”
— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini
“And it's something we literally talk about every day. Don't read it, don't talk about it. We haven't brought up anything [about the national attention]. We just don't talk about it. It's just the next day. It's very simple, mundane, "Every Day Guys" mentality. And then we talk every single day, 100 times a day, about our standard. We have to play and live up to our standards.”
— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini
What’s next
The Illinois Fighting Illini will face a critical Saturday night matchup against the Michigan State Spartans, as they look to extend their 12-game winning streak and maintain their focus on their own standards and goals.
The takeaway
Illinois' disciplined, "next day" mentality and relentless focus on their own standards, rather than external hype and attention, has been a key driver of their impressive 12-game winning streak. As the Fighting Illini continue their push towards March Madness, maintaining this approach will be crucial to their success.
