Good hire.

I hope Huggins taught him how to cheat.

9-9 in his single year in the inferior B12 is "really good"?

Where else has "he gone" other than SFA?

This looks like a good hire. Didn't want them to grab another mid major guy who everyone believes is ready for a big time job. Even though he was only at OK State for one year he proved that he can coach in a power 5 conf.

It's a little rough because one of my guys is going out the door with Groce but at the end of the day they didn't deliver. He knew what it was when he came in 5 years ago and pretty much said as much to me.

I don't know if he is much of a recruiter though. The whole has to recruit Chicago thing is a little overblown too. Public league isn't putting out top level talent anymore. There aren't any current pro prospects to be found at any level in the Public keague. There isn't even a top 100 kid in the senior class from the Public League.

I think the dude can coach from everything that I've read an I think his style of play will lure kids too.

I honestly would not mind a return to the days of every Illini player driving the same brand SUV.

lead tribune sports columnist david haugh was on M&H this morning and had concerns (i'm paraphrasing here) about the fact underwood left OSU after only one year... that seemed fishy to david.... apparently david haugh doesn't believe a salary bump from $1M to $3M per year is an excuse to take a new job?

You recruit in the lean years and maybe sign a guy you do not want so that you have those contacts solidified when the fat years occur.

That was the thinking behind taking Jalen Tate from Simeon. Took him in the hopes that it would land Parker. Didn't get them so much as a campus visit.

I agree with this line of thinking however. The Chicago pipeline just isn't as fruitful as it used to be. The City's African American population has decreased by 200,000 since the year 2000. That has to have impact.

Tilmon requests release from NLI.

Illinois is going to really regret not getting Counzo.

Maybe for a year or two, but I doubt beyond that.

What makes you think it will get better in a year or two?

I think this guy is a way better coach than Cuonzo Martin. We'll see how Porter's dad helps him in a year after Porter is in the NBA.

I have no connection to Martin since I never saw him play but it's funny seeing a bunch of older Purdue fans try and justify him hiring his dad in order to get him. He has two sisters at Missouri on the basketball team! Well, that didn't stop him from planning on following his dad to Washington.

Orlando Antigua to join the staff. Was key recruiter for Kentucky. Big time hire.

Orlando Antigua to join the staff. Was key recruiter for Kentucky. Big time hire.

Shannon Ryan‏ @sryantribune
#Illini on hiring Antigua, who faces NCAA investigation from USF: "We thoroughly vet every coaching hire we make. ..

I don't care that he hired a kid's dad to get the player. That's happened before. But it only helps for a year or two. (Unless you hire LaVar Ball and get about six or seven seasons from his kids but that's probably not worth it. ) He's had some decent teams. I think he took Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen once. But I don't think he's some special coach.

I have no connection to Martin since I never saw him play but it's funny seeing a bunch of older Purdue fans try and justify him hiring his dad in order to get him. He has two sisters at Missouri on the basketball team! Well, that didn't stop him from planning on following his dad to Washington.

Illini lose Javon Pickett:

Cool. I was hoping that he'd free up the scholarship. Mid major talent at best from the people I've talked to. He wouldn't have cut it as a player there