If it is that 2 guards in every OTHER class end up transferring out ... have you seen how that compares to other programs? I have not, but there are HUNDREDS of transfers every offseason now, so it would not surprise me at all if we are about average compared to everyone else. It also seems weird to count a transfer out like Miller or Curbelo against this staff but not give credit for great gets like Plummer or Shannon.
we have not had a Guard complete their Illinois eligibility from a recruited player since Ayo, which was pre-Portal era
Mark Smith, Alan Griffin, Adam Miller, Andre Curbelo, Brandin Podziemski, Skyy Clark and Jayden Epps all left now, including every Guard in the 'Portal Era' (can transfer without sitting out).
Look, I'm not saying Underwood is a bad human or a bad basketball coach, but at some point, a trend is a trend, and we can't keep saying "it just wasn't a right fit" or blaming the player from not looking up to Ayo enough (when Ayo has been gone for two seasons and Epps probably has no personal relationship with).
"maybe it was mom", "maybe it was concussions", "maybe he just isn't a Big Ten athlete", "maybe it was his ego", "maybe it was chemistry"
Yeah, maybe... but maybe it's Underwood and a fundamental inability to build a proper trust/relationship with young guards. I think that we are firmly in 'gut check' territory for Illinois in the Underwood era. I'm not saying the sky is falling, but I do think it's worth it to be realistic and consider things moving forward.