That's what I think. FB isn't near the attraction that our hoops program is. We're a sleeping giant and most coaches would know/see that. We're not going to end up with the 5th guy on our list, unless our list has Caoch K, Williams, etc kind of guys at it's top and I doubt that seriously.

Surprised
 

Kramer, I find the AD going directly to individual players and giving this type of assurances as baffling! When was this supposedly done, a day ago, week ago a month ago? I know, you just passing on info from "multiple sources."

And also, if he did it, the context? Was he telling them the standard cliche, next year is a new year (this applies to all of us)? Or, that a new coach will be here next year? If it is the latter, I have a difficult time believing it. You mean professionally, he couldn't wait for the completion of the BTT? This is the type of thing, an AD does after the plug is pulled in a team meeting.

Again, I just don't see that it happened? If it did within the context of getting a new coach with games and the BTT to be played, then I have misread the character of our new AD.

AI :chief: :illinois:

1) Better league; 2) Not playing 2nd fiddle to another team in your state; 3) As whole, travel schedule is much better. I don't know what the Big East will look like soon. You're at least traveling from Boston College to Memphis, possible even further west.

If ML goes pro, only Egwu, Griff and Djimde left underneath, so opportunities for PT as a soph should be there.

Drexel is on a 19 game winning streak, but VCU is favored by 3 points. Drexel lucked out by only playing VCU and George mason once each in conference and only played them at home. Since that game VCU is 16-1 and their only loss came at George Mason on a 35 foot 3 pointer that mason hit at the buzzer. I think Drexel will definitely give them troubles, but I've watched both teams play a couple times and VCU is by far more athletic. Drexel slows it down and that could be one thing that could cause VCU some issues, so I guess we will see how Shaka's game plan changes based on Drexels gameplan.

Also, if people tune in, I think you will see that VCU isn't really a "Havoc" style of defense, IMO. It is a trapping style D in the backcourt, but a lot of the time it is token pressure, and not really the Havoc style that I think of (and btw, I'm thinking of how Kentucky used to press back in the day when Pitino was there type of "Havoc)

Honestly, if the funding is in place for Illinois to be strongly competive, there's no reason we shouldn't have a shot at all but the top guys at leading programs, and we aren't after any of them anyway. Now, having said that, some candidates will have their own individual, family, or just plain quircky reasons for not being interested, but the job itself, standing on its own, will be plenty attractive IF the money's legit.

I noticed that as well. Most of their trapping is 3/4 or 1/2 court. Even in the half court they often fall back into a 3-2 zone or man defense once the other team beats the trap.

yes, Steve Bardo mentioned Brad Stevens and all the other names we have all heard. I just posted on the darkhorse candidates that Bardo mentioned.

Three questions:
#1--Does anybody think that the turmoil w/Hogan could be a factor in this hire?
#2--Was TB the #2 choice after KS for FB?
#3--Does Laurence Oliver's (BOT) public "chastisement" of MT's negotiations w/KS have any delay potential here??

Kramer, I wanted to comment, as well. If Thomas has communicated with the players as you suggest, I would be extraordinarily disappointed in him.

Sorry not to follow up, just saw these posts now.

My understanding (all through second/third hand info) was that a few players voiced their concerns over lack of playing time and worry about being buried on the depth chart going forward around the semester break and were considering transferring then.

Apparently they met with both Thomas and members of the coaching staff (not sure if together or separately), but they were asked to be patient with everything. I am sure this is quite common, especially for freshmen who are struggling to find playing time immediately. Again, I was not there, so can only on what I have both seen and have heard. Basically a few of the freshmen were asked to be patient and that they could have a fresh start next year.

Maybe someone else could elaborate more if they have seen/heard this. I am not sure there were joint player/coach/AD meetings, if people associated with the players voiced their concerns to the coaching staff and/or AD directly, etc.

1 - I wondered that myself. A lot of turmoil at the university may delay decision making. I suppose it could also mean another year with Bruce if nobody is willing to open the pocket book but I doubt it.

2. No idea

3. I think this gives Shaka's agent enormous leverage. Let's face it there are very few qualified African American candidates if one of the qualifications is success as a head coach. You are talking less than 10 guys in the world probably with half of them being retired (Cheney, John Thompson) and the others gainfully employed at top sites (Grant, John Thompson III, etc.). When you get right down to it there might only be one or two. Pretty easy to exert leverage in that setting. That is why I oppose a minority hire for the sake of being a minority. Hire the best qualified candidate and there is no leverage a Smart could exert over a Stevens as an example.

Players talking with an Athletic Director is common, especially in a situation like Illinois' this past year. From the sounds of what was described I don't think it's odd or out of line. Schools I've been involved in in the past have done this, most notably during coaching changes or "controversies"

Now, it could be a fine line, especially in the future as you don't want to undermine the coach, but it's not uncommon for an AD to be involved in this way.

People feel Sumlin was the #1 choice. I have seen it suggested that even Fedora and/or Butch Jones were pursued before Beckman. We have no way of knowing that for sure since Beckman did a good job keeping this under wraps.

I have been told by a few people that Sumlin was the guy and they had some sort of agreement before the A&M job opened up unexpectedly... which is not uncommon as we sort of saw with Tenuta backing out last minute (hell he was even announced via press release and was later in the game. It happens, and should not be surprising to anyone.

If that pecking order was valid, can't blame A&M, UNC, and even Cincy getting those coaches as we can all pretty much agree they are higher up on the pecking order than Illinois football (at least currently).

Back on topic to the basketball hire (which is expected to happen now), I am supremely confident Thomas can get a big name coach and will get one of his top choices. He can aim much, much higher in basketball and expect (realistically) to get one of them.

I was told back in September Thomas had one on one meetings with both Zook and Weber and let them know what his expectations were and that he expected better results (which nearly 99% of us can agree with on here). If the better results were not met, they could be potentially replaced. At the time, Thomas felt he could make a big time hire in basketball if he was put in that position, as he truly feels Illinois basketball is an elite program (just like many of us feel).

- No, I don't think the Hogan issue will be a factor at all. Coaches are a lot more worried about the AD.

-- I would assume so, but you never know.

-- I think the public comments by BOT members (and probably even more so things said in private) will strongly influence the hiring of the basketball coach.

Why wouldn't one expect a quick hire?
 

A question/opinion of sorts....certainly MT has better information available to him than any of us who post here, and if we have spent 3,000 posts analyzing the pool of candidates I expect our AD has done the same....once the trigger is pulled and the U of I bureaucracy has been appeased, the only thing delaying the announcement would be the fact that the successor coach is involved in the NCAA tournament

JMO

#2-- A better question is could anyone else have done any better? He was throw 3+million at KS. Beckman got like 1.5m. He offered good money, but no bigger name coaches would bite.

Also, would it have been better for him to be like RG and just go after the Beckman types in the beginning? I'm glad he at least tried for a big name.

I think folks are assuming that "quick" means "rushed", as in we're rushing to hire someone to keep our recruits and current roster happy.

Kramer, thanks for the clarification. It sounds that this was a joint effort by the coaching staff and the AD to assure specific players that next year is a new year, nothing is locked in place as to playing time, all have an equal shot...... I believe, it had nothing to do with a potential coaching change.

Man, as to your second para above, it is a fine line, now. Every ILLINI coach, present and future, coaching peers, even the media will be watching how this goes down with Coach Weber. He is highly respected in college BB circles and is still the coach of the BB team until a "coaching change" is annouced formally.

AI :chief: :illinois:

Perhaps he is not waiting for anything. We all assume he wants to move up to a "better" job, but maybe he likes where he is at. he is being paid well and if he continues to have success on some regular basis, he may not see the need to move.

Good questions.

1. I don't think so. Knowing the AD will be here for a few years is probably more important to a candidate.
2. Speculation would indicate that is the case, but I'm not sure any of us know. It would appear that KS was the first choice, but not sure if TB was #2 or not.
3. Not sure about this one nor how much weight it might have.

First you thing you do is crack open the wallet. You want something for nothing , good luck. I don't know anything about his personal goals , but as others have mentioned , ROMAR.

I agree with Ghd on making a good hire, but I also agree with Brooks that it needs to be quick in the sense of sooner rather than later. I know that sounds obvious, but a quick hire is what I'm leaning towards.

That's because I also fear the impact the transition will have on verbally comitted recruits (Hill and James), 2012 class (Orris and LaTulip), and the current roster. While there may be some time after the NCAA tourny and before the AAu events and recuriting period, the verbals and the current kids on scholarship are free to back out of their decision to commit at any time from now until the coach is hired.

We need all these kids to stay on board because it will provide the best foundation for the new coach to build off of.

Well, I guess we know what the impetus was for Bruce to coach "not to lose"!

Not necessarily. If what happened this year was a one time thing but IMO he has been coaching not to lose since about 2008.