Illinois coach Brad Underwood, Simeon coach Robert Smith speak

On Friday afternoon Simeon coach Robert Smith expressed his surprise that he had not talked with Illinois coach Brad Underwood.

The two coaches had a conversation on Friday evening.

“It went well,” Smith said. “He said it was no disrespect, that he just had a lot of things going on with players decommitting and transferring.”

Underwood said he’d be visiting Simeon soon.

“[Underwood] said he’s been spending a lot of time figuring out why Illinois hasn’t been successful the past ten years,” Smith said. “He mentioned that they don’t have a swagger anymore and he wants to bring that back. That’s something I think everyone in the state can get behind.”