Pieters and Detry bring credibility to program in convincing talented Belgian players to pick Illini
The Belgium-to-Illinois men's golf connection started with Thomas Pieters. Then, Thomas Detry. And now Giovanni Tadiotto and Adrien Dumont de Chassart, a Big Ten medalist as a freshman.
All four have played critical roles in Illinois' long run of NCAA tournament success.
So, Illini coach Mike Small must have a summer home in Antwerp? Knows his way around Ghent and Brussels?
Not exactly.
How many times has Small visited the European country? Twenty? Thirty? The correct answer is zero.