had us in their top group even though neither really wanted to talk about us (which suggests to me they weren't thrilled about the idea of going to BYU (not surprising) — but had very good reason to regard us anyways).

If that's not the sign that we represented their best offer on the table, I don't know what is. And both guys represent guys our roster sorely needs to be competitive in the Big 12 next season.

Which forces me to wonder if the Illini report of BYU giving their Euro-target Demin an outrageously high offer — isn't at least in part true (even if the "2 million" report is probably an exaggeration).