Illini basketball is in good hands

John Groce didn't look the part of ace recruiter. He had no slick suit. He doesn't have movie-star hair (or much hair at all). Instead, the Illini head coach was wearing an adjustable orange Illini baseball cap, a white golf shirt and funky plaid shorts.

But as he trailed Black to one of the 800-level suites, Groce oozed confidence - saying, 'Hey, how you doin'?' to passers-by - like a man who knew he was getting his target but was enjoying the chase anyway.

Jeremy Werner