"Beg" is too strong of a word, but given our current status, we really need to do a lot more convincing to attract talented recruits. All kidding aside, the biggest problem with the previous statement is not the second part, but the first. We love this tough talk "we are the University of Illinois" and we do not need to do this and that, pretending somehow that we are currently among some elite group in college basketball based on some accomplishments of the past. The truth is "we are the University of Illinois," right now is more synonymous with being irrelevant in college basketball for the last 12+ years. That is the truth.
We've heard all this tough talk before, "we are the University of Illinois" we do not need Chicago and AAU, they need us. That was nonsense. The Chicago AAU programs (like MIF) elevated themselves among the top in the nation, while we slipped into irrelevancy. We need them more than they need us, and the same is true for talented recruits.
I also find it hypocritical that love the current tough talk "we are the University of Illinois" but quite a few do not believe of the potential (not current status) of our program. We often hear that we should not "expect" this and that (e.g., talented recruits) because of some exogenous constraints (e.g., resources) that have nothing to do with coaching, management, and administrative decisions. Yet, our main problem in the last 12+ years has been exactly that. Bad administrative, management, and coaching decisions. JMO.