Look at this poll:
http://www.collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=2014&appollid=1078#.Xi2eaGhKiUk
MU is ranked #21 and is 12-1 in record. Does that mean that Haith was going to be the right answer for MU that season and long term?
Long term Illinois is dependent upon successful Chicago recruiting. Chicago is probably the dirtiest place in the nation to try and acquire talent from. Underwood already shot himself in the foot several times in that regard, but even if he hadn't he isn't the type of coach who can do that successfully. Same thing as Bruce Weber, who is also a good coach, but failed at Illinois for the same reasons. That doesn't mean that Weber wouldn't be successful in a different job and he has been. Even if Underwood actually wins, but also doesn't successfully recruit Chicago, he will be viewed as failing and be under pressure to recruit Chicago. So he can't and won't win there.
Edited by FIJItiger at 08:20:38 on 01/26/20