Illini Basketball Dominates Big Ten Media Day with Fun Bingo Card

Ah, Media Day—the fine art of saying a lot while meaning very little. Everyone is “excited to be here” and “can’t wait to get started,” insisting they have the potential to be the best (insert position group here) in the Big Ten, if not the entire nation. Amidst this familiar backdrop, the Illini basketball program stole the show at the 2024 Big Ten Media Days with their creative Bingo card.

With a plethora of buzz phrases to choose from—like “process,” “culture,” and “buy-in”—the event became a playful way to engage while navigating the usual clichés.

Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young, during a one-on-one interview with RG.org, dropped a few familiar phrases like “another level,” “taller in person,” and “has a lot of upside” while discussing his teammate and No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.

Meanwhile, the two Illini basketball players representing the program at Big Ten Media Days in Rosemont, IL—Kylan Boswell and Ty Rodgers—were equipped with Bingo sheets for their media sessions.

Illini basketball coach Brad Underwood shared the inspiration behind the Bingo sheet and its purpose.

“This was a chance to inject some fun into the day,” Underwood remarked. “Courtney (Bay) came up with the idea, and when she presented the card to me, I was fully on board—even with the ones poking fun at me. Media Day can be a long haul.”

“It’s a long day where you have to stay ‘on’ the entire time,” Underwood explained. “The Bingo game helped our guys relax and feel more at ease during the experience, and from what I’ve heard, everyone enjoyed it.”

The Illini basketball Bingo sheet featured four squares related to Underwood, though it was a missed opportunity that no one brought up the notorious Pizza Hut parking lot—at least not while I was there.

As we learned back in February 2022, the Pizza Hut parking lot in Underwood’s hometown of McPherson, Kansas, was known as the place to settle scores… with a good old-fashioned fistfight.

“We demand a lot from our players; they put in tremendous effort and dedication,” Underwood said.

“However, we also believe in having fun throughout the journey. We have exceptional young men in our program, and I want them to showcase their personalities and embrace the experiences that come with this stage.

“You probably noticed that last year during the postseason, from the locker room celebrations with super soakers to the cold tubs and their chair routines at press conferences.”

After snapping a photo of the Bingo sheet, I shared it with both Northwestern coach Chris Collins and Purdue coach Matt Painter. Collins mentioned that “life after Boo Buie” would definitely be an entry if Northwestern had a similar Bingo sheet.

Painter remarked that “youth of our team” resonated with his squad on Media Day as well.

“Shout out to C.B.,” added Ty Rodgers.

“C.B. is always coming up with creative ways to keep us engaged and active. It’s great that we can have a good laugh from it,” said Ty Rodgers.

We chatted with C.B., Courtney Bay, the Illini basketball Director of Branding and Creative Media, about her clever idea.

“The ‘talk about…’ square features one of my favorite NBA memes of Alonzo Mourning,” Bay revealed.

“The meme typically shows an animated Alonzo Mourning looking exasperated, followed by a moment of realization that sometimes you just have to accept defeat. I picked the first frame because his irritated expression perfectly captures what many athletes and coaches experience when they’re asked to ‘talk about’ something vague,” she explained.

She’s spot on; the phrase “talk about…XYZ” or “Can you talk about (XYZ)?” is truly a scourge on humanity.

It’s been my biggest pet peeve for nearly a decade.

It’s a lazy, thoughtless, and condescending practice that makes my eyes roll every single time I hear it.

The phrase “talk about,” along with variations like “walk us through the…” or “how big was that (specific play)?” likely first emerged from sideline reporters.

It was a strategy devised by television networks, either wholly owned or closely tied to sports leagues, aiming for a non-question that would serve their promotional agendas.

Of course, it’s not the fault of TV network sideline personalities that this marketing-driven practice was adopted and spread by journalists who should know better. The “talk about…” phrase may be suitable for state television, but it has no place in genuine journalism.

Bay also provided a great explanation of the “Daddy Brad” square:

The nickname “Daddy Brad” predates my time here, but I believe it originated from Greg Waddell at Sleepers. It has become a catch-all term within our fanbase to describe Coach Underwood’s intense and vibrant presence. He’s always at 110% on the basketball court, yet he maintains a laid-back and approachable demeanor off the court.

“Daddy Brad” is often used affectionately to refer to the Coach during his memorable moments, such as bringing super soakers into the locker room, being shirtless in that same space, or donning his aviator sunglasses while boarding the plane for a road trip.

Even though I’ve been covering Illini basketball since 2009 and thought I understood all 25 entries, I still had to ask Bat to clarify what “fit check” meant.

“‘Fit’ is shorthand for ‘outfit,’ which the guys use a lot,” Bay explained. “A ‘Fit Check’ just means showing off your outfit for the day—a common ask on media day when they’re suited up.”

During the podium session, Boswell scored a Bingo when a reporter brought up NIL (name, image, and likeness).

“I’ve been waiting for NIL all day,” Boswell said with a smile. “You’re clutch, man. Love it.”

No actual prizes were awarded for completing the Bingo—it was all about the fun of participating.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank and author of Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America and No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wire Network, with previous work featured in the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Washington Post, and ESPN. Follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Source: https://www.thesportsbank.net/illinois-illini/illini-basketball-bingo-card/