CHAMPAIGN — Identity can be everything for a men's college basketball program.
Some have never changed. Think 42 seasons of Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and his use of a matchup 2-3 zone. Other coaches adapt in special circumstance like former Illiniois coach Lon Kruger at Oklahoma when he tailored his offense almost solely around the likes of Buddy Hield and Trae Young.
Illinois lacked an on-court identity throughout John Groce's five-year run.
The closest approximation was his final two seasons when Malcolm Hill was asked to nearly do it all.
Brad Underwood took steps toward establishing an identity in his first season at Illinois.