Illinois dominated Penn 112–70, but Brad Underwood’s postgame attention wasn’t fixed on the blowout. Instead, the Illinois coach turned to two elite shooters watching from the stands: WNBA star Caitlin Clark and retired NBA great Peja Stojakovic.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Their presence was more than a celebrity appearance, as both had personal connections to the matchup. Stojakovic was there while his son, Andrej, represented Illinois on the floor. Meanwhile, Clark attended alongside her partner, Connor McCaffery, who also played basketball at the University of Iowa and is the son of Penn head coach Fran McCaffery.
In a post-game press conference, Underwood was asked about the impact Clark’s presence had in the building.
“Not only Caitlin, but Peja. I mean, we should have had a three-point contest to see who really the best shooter in the gym was,” replied Underwood (via Fighting Illini Athletics on YouTube), adding, “Because it wasn’t anybody who played tonight. No offense to any of those guys that played. But we’d probably still be out there playing a game of horse watching those two shoot.”
Underwood also acknowledged Clark’s accomplishments across both college and professional basketball during his postgame remarks. After referring to her achievements in the Big Ten and at Iowa, he added, “And then what she’s done in WNBA is pretty spectacular.”
Why Caitlin Clark and Peja Stojakovic Drew Brad Underwood’s Attention
The notable presence in the stands accompanied a dominant performance on the floor as No. 3 Illinois defeated Penn 112–70 on Nov. 5 at State Farm Center in Champaign. Six Illini players reached double figures in the blowout win, with the team shooting 58.9% from the field. Andrej Stojakovic led Illinois with 25 points, while Quentin Coleman added 19.
Underwood’s praise of Clark’s professional career is substantiated by her historic 2026 WNBA season. In 40 regular-season appearances, she averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 36.1% from three-point range. Named the AP Comeback Player of the Year and selected to the All-WNBA First Team, Clark finished third in WNBA scoring and second in assists. She became the first player in league history to finish in the top three in both categories in the same season.
Peja Stojakovic’s own legendary career makes Underwood’s three-point-contest joke particularly fitting. The three-time NBA All-Star made 1,760 three-pointers across his 13 NBA seasons, shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc. Most notably, he won the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest in 2002 and 2003, giving serious weight to Underwood’s hypothetical shootout.
Peja’s presence was tied directly to his son Andrej, whose 25-point performance led Illinois against Penn. Underwood’s three-point-contest joke also had a backstory. During Andrej’s recruiting visit to Illinois, Peja stepped onto the court without warming up and made 13 consecutive shots from the corner, according to an anecdote Underwood shared on The Rich Eisen Show.
The coach recalled that 10 of those shots did not even touch the rim. The experience gave Underwood a firsthand look at Peja’s exceptional shooting touch well after his NBA career. He also praised Peja for allowing Andrej to establish his own identity rather than simply being known as his father’s son.
Underwood also spoke warmly about Connor McCaffery, whom Illinois had previously faced during his time at Iowa. Reflecting on their relationship, he said, “I love Connor. I talk to Connor a great deal.”
While fans in Champaign did not get to see the impromptu shooting contest, the presence of Clark and Stojakovic gave Underwood an unusual reason to compliment two generations of elite basketball talent. The contrast between Clark’s current WNBA achievements and Peja’s established NBA legacy proved to be the ultimate highlight of the night.