You’re speaking hyperbolically to make a point, and it’s a bad look. Illinois is very clearly not the 5th best team next year, and it’s had by far the best record in the conference the past several seasons, including a Big Ten title (maybe 2 without Michigan COVID dodging…), BTT title and a #1 seed. That’s not “mediocre,” and you wouldn’t paint it as such if Woodson accomplished any of that next season, regardless of what happens in the Second Round of the NCAAs. (Actually, maybe you would in some lame attempt to blow smoke up your ass about high Notre Dame, err, I mean Indiana’s expectations are.)
Anywho, last year, Illinois and Purdue both split with Indiana and had significantly better records/seeds. PU made a Sweet Sixteen, but Illinois hung a conference championship banner … and Illinois will be much better than PU this year, with far better recruiting of late. Not sure what your leg to stand on comment literally means, lol, other than the hypothesis (anecdotally confirmed) that people in your state are rather ignorant of what goes on outside of it.