Speaking of Lou getting Eddie Johnson. In 1977 Eddie’s sr yr. I spotted Lou and Les Wothke at a JC game at IVCC in Oglesby. They were recruiting Johnny Robinson (Mich) brother. I went over and sat by them and probably made a pest of myself asking about recruiting. Lou kind of avoided answering. But when he got up at halftime Les leaned over and whispered to me “We got Eddie Johnson.” Made my night!!!Its one thing to return home to a Big Ten champion team (TSJ) or an BTT champ elite eight team (Tre White, Kylan Boswell). We have been a very successsful MBB program since 2020.
The WBB program was very bad for 15 years. Finally barely getting to post season for past 2 years average 3,700 attendance.
Janae Kent left LSU SEC to go to Texas A&M. SEC National Champions 2011. Made NCAA tourney 14 years in a row between 2006 and 2021 including two elite 8's. Attendance 3,900.
Alysa Latham left Syracuse ACC to go to Tennessee. SEC 8 national championships. Averaged 8.9k attendance last year.
It is hard sell to get a blue chip recruit or transfer to come to Illinois. Shauna needs her Ayo / Kofi to raise the program to next level. Lou did not break thru till he got Eddie Johnson.