This already looks different.
In a whirlwind seven-month period, new Illini basketball coach Brad Underwood has landed the state's Mr. Basketball in Edwardsville's Mark Smith and 2018's projected top player in Morgan Park's Ayo Dosunmu.
Acquiring the state's blue-chippers back-to-back — it is, remember, a guard's game — is an extraordarily good sign. This happened just once previously since 2000 when Brandon Paul (2009) and Jereme Richmond (2010) signed on with Bruce Weber.
It is also different on the Illini practice court.
A major transformation is taking place, creating questions as to how quickly this revamped squad can meet Underwood's new demands.