Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining than Underwood's 1st year. Everything about the Maui tourney, beating #1 ranked IU, the Brandon Paul buzzer beater vs. Minny in the B1G Tourney, beating Colorado in the Tourney, the game against Miami to go to the sweet 16.
I am hopeful Underwood gets this train rolling, but debating the "excitement" level or "entertainment" level of years 1 under Groce vs. Underwood is unbelievable. Year 1 was Groce's peak, and it was a breath of fresh air after the end of the Weber era. That was the last time Illinois basketball was genuinely enjoyable on any tangible level. Every experience since has been a hope and a prayer.
Posters suggesting that the cringe-worthy experience of last year could touch the excitement of the first year under Groce is unbelievable to me. That doesn't mean, in any way, that we were wrong to part with Groce or wrong to hire Underwood. It's just that Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining (an understatement) than the 1st year of the Underwood tenure. Optimism ABOUND after year 1 of Groce. Fingers crossed on Underwood, if he had the momentum Groce had after year 1, we would be sitting so pretty right now.
(and I know you are agreeing Banana, I am primarily building off your post here)