Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews schedules visits to Michigan, Xavier

According to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews has scheduled visits to Michigan (June 17) and Xavier (June 18). That's, uh, not the most promising development from Illinois' perspective, especially considering that the Illini have had zero public involvement in the Chicago native's latest recruitment.

Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews will visit Michigan next weekend and Xavier on June 17th and 18th, sources told @CBSSports.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 4, 2016

It's unfortunate because this may well have been a slam dunk move had Illinois shown a bit more success in recent years. It's hard to do anything well on the recruiting trail when you miss the postseason in three straight years.

So where does John Groce turn now? Assuming the Illini are completely out of the running for Matthews, it wouldn't be surprising to see the program sit on the scholarship so that it can be used towards the class-of-2017. But the roster could certainly still use another experienced, defensive-minded two guard so don't be shocked if Groce continues to pursue some more fifth-year transfer options.

Illinois Football News

- Illinois graduate transfer Marchie Murdock is heading to Iowa State (Scout)

After redshirting in his initial season at Illinois in 2013, Murdock caught one pass for 17 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Last season he caught 20 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games, including a seven-catch performance against North Carolina.

- Four-star Iowa commit Juan Harris participates in Illinois satellite camp (The Champaign Room)

Illinois football received an unexpected visitor at their Chicago satellite camp on Friday night. Four-star Iowa commit Juan Harris was one of over 150 high school players in attendance at Gately Stadium. 247Sports' class-of-2017 rankings have the 6-foot-4, 368 pound lineman pegged as the No. 283 overall prospect.

- Three-star DB Lyndarious Strange narrows list, includes Illini (The Champaign Room)

Strange's offer list includes Miami (FL), North Carolina, Louisville, Memphis, Syracuse, Indiana, and Oregon State. He'd be a welcome addition to an Illinois defense that's struggling to find pieces on the recruiting trail.

Illinois Basketball News

- Former Illinois GA is Ball State's new Director of Basketball Operations (Ball State)

Ball State men's basketball coach James Whitford has announced the hiring of Indianapolis native and former Ohio University standout Walter Offutt as the Cardinals' director of basketball operations.

Offutt comes to Muncie after serving the past two years as a graduate manager for coach John Groce at the University of Illinois. Before that, he spent one year as varsity assistant coach at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, where he also worked as a teaching assistant.

- Did Josh Whitman save John Groce's job? (FanPost)

TCR community member 'jbutcher90' discussed Illinois basketball's offseason, and examined how John Groce ultimately fits into Josh Whitman's evolving plans.

- Illini trying to find peace after setbacks (Herald & Review)

John Groce said he feels obligated to revisit everything they do in terms of preparing their players for dealing with life's challenges and having Brown as an asset will be a part of that.

"When you go through a situation like that, the first thing I'm trained to do is to look inward," Groce said. "What can we do better? Where did we fall short?