I come to this board for my own addiction to Illinois hoops, and hoping to watch the types of teams we saw in 89 & 05. At this point I would be thrilled with simply our good teams that always had a shot at a B10 title, Sweet 16 or better NCAA run.
Living in Michigan it is even harder being an Illinois fan as MSU and SCUM have been consistent winners on the gridiron and hardwood. Tom Izzo and Dantonio have been able to feed off each other, building a top football program definitely helps with all other sports, especially hoops. Both of them acknowledge their partnership in this regard, and support each other to strengthen their own brand. Harbaugh has obviously resurrected the SCUM football program, and Bielien is benefiting recruiting wise in the last couple years as a result.
With all the nut punches we have taken in recruiting, it is completely normal, and rightful for us to be pessimistic recruiting enthusiasts. I would imagine most fans can say the same thing about losing recruits, and we believe we are the most snake bitten given our history; likely much of that is because we are vested in U of I and don't get emotionally involved with other schools.
Regardless, I am now an eternal pessimist once again. Feel free to tell me to take a pill, get off the ledge, have faith, trust BU and the boys, blah, blah, blah, fricken blah. If these words of hope came from the staff, then okay, but I would bet my daughters five signed MSU bballs that the staff IS disappointed in not only missing out on their targets, but the real possibility of watching the others (who the eternal optimists believe will save our 2018 class) sign elsewhere. Especially out of state schools, damn, U of M and MSU are both top tier programs and have to compete against each other for in state kids, and the other state schools are no slouches. Illinois has not had that competition until arguably recently with NW.
I am going to do my best to not worry about crystal balls, get excited about all the names floating around here for months, but am just going to worry about this years team and hoping they turn this brand around as we all expect they will. Sure, I am going to check in and hope we get some great recruiting news, but am going to take the approach that this is a rebuild despite our staff, and no matter who we hired and all the hype and connections they supposedly had, #WEMUSTWIN to instill faith in the kids and those who can influence them.
It does hurt that we have signed NOBODY, and the B10 is recruiting the leather off the ball. Oh I forgot, the early signing period is not here, wait until spring, blah, blah, blah, fricken blah. Guess what those schools full for 2018 can focus that much harder on 2019 and beyond kids, so filling your class early is an advantage.
Damn that felt good!