To respond to your question, at year end, I think it would be someone stronger in potential. Given his age, unsure about how the resumes could be comparable. Don't you think coaches will look at the potential here with the alleged NIL money Illinois has floating around? Illinois has not seen the impact of NIL when hiring a basketball coach yet.
Sure - I mean, I don't think Illinois' resources have ever been the issue. I don't think anyone doubts that Illinois has a huge, great fanbase and that if you're good here it will be an amazing place to coach - and that the administration/boosters will for the most part be willing to pony up the resources you need to do that.
I don't think anyone doubted that when we hired Underwood either though.
I do think some coaches recognize that our fans cut both directions, and are quick to turn on guys even when maybe a little patience is warranted/earned. I think some variation of that notion has been an issue with us in the past. And also, just like in recruiting players, sometimes there's just some unseen force working against you, like a wife not wanting to move to Champaign, etc.
It's kind of like a blue blood or an NBA job in that expectations are very high no matter the context, but Illinois doesn't really have the history or sell of a blue blood. It's not like there was ever a period in our history where we went on a Calipari type run - we've played in two Final Fours since these recruits' grandparents were born, for the most part. Maybe NIL will turn the whole notion of a blueblood on its head though, as you kind of allude to.
I do not think we're likely to pull a Musselman or Miller type hire, regardless of the resources. If we do end up moving on from Underwood, I hope I'm wrong - both guys have shown the ability to win at a high level. I just think it's far more likely we get the next mid-major up and coming guy, which doesn't really have the best track record.
People here sell me like some Underwood worshipper, but really what I am is someone who wants Illinois basketball to succeed. If we move on, I'll move on too - but right now the guy's won 70% of his games in the Big Ten over the last three years. The notion that we'd be considering firing a guy like that, especially given the program he inherited here, is just completely foreign to me.