Fighting Illini Forums - Bruce Weber on the Hot Seat

Prior to joining the Aggie family, Theus spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under head coach Rick Pitino. While at Louisville, Theus was an integral part of the Cardinals’ run to the Final Four, the 2005 Conference USA regular season and tournament titles while helping lead the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2004-05, Theus helped guide Louisville back to the Final Four for the first time since their national title run in 1986.

Along with being an excellent teacher on the practice floor, Theus was also Louisville’s top recruiter, helping the Cardinals sign a handful of the nation’s top high school players over the past two seasons. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., and an Inglewood High School graduate, Theus was able to utilize a vast network of connections throughout the region to help Louisville land national letters of intent from four highly recruited prep players on the west coast, an area in which Pitino and Louisville had never recruited before Theus’ arrival.

In the spring of 2005, Rivals.com named Theus one of the nation’s top 25 recruiters and he continues to attract talent from all over the country. Since taking over the Aggie program, New Mexico State has signed 11 players, including a quartet of transfers from several top flight Division I programs and the 2006 NJCAA National Tournament MVP in power forward Hatila Passos.

Theus’ coaching resume includes a variety of diverse experiences that have helped the former NBA All-Star adjust to his first Division I head coaching position. Before joining Pitino’s staff at Louisville, Theus spent a year as a volunteer assistant at Cal State Los Angeles. He also gained coaching experience as the head coach of the Southern California All-Stars (17-and-under AAU Team) and as a summer league coach for the Philadelphia 76’ers and the Denver Nuggets.

Ransom Stoddard

Mar 7, 2012 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kramer116 (Post 536408)

They were talking about candidates on The Score yesterday driving home, mentioned there is an "infatuation currently" with Reggie Theus, but that Shaka Smart is the #1 guy.

How would people feel about a guy like Reggie Theus?

Theus succeeded Henson at New Mexico State, that's about as far as I could stretch any real Illini connection.

As far as coaching the beloved....no thanks. I'd like someone with more than 2 years at the college level.

Jcool

Mar 7, 2012 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kramer116 (Post 536408)

They were talking about candidates on The Score yesterday driving home, mentioned there is an "infatuation currently" with Reggie Theus, but that Shaka Smart is the #1 guy.

How would people feel about a guy like Reggie Theus?

The Score is the last place you want to go for your college basketball insider info.

The Sprouting Divot

Mar 7, 2012 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson (Post 536416)

Name recognition: What's the big deal? WTF cares if the pick isn't a known guy to casual fans? I don't get it. Shouldn't matter an iota to MT.

And if "casual fans" don't recognize the coach prominently featured throughout the tournament last year, they probably don't recognize more than a half dozen coaches anyway.

I think this whole silly notion says more about Katu's associates than anything else.

Groundhogday

Mar 7, 2012 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kramer116 (Post 536429)

http://www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArt...&ATCLID=114853

I didn't realize he coached for Pitino. Still... no thanks. A quartet of D1 transfers + a juco in two years at New Mexico State? Wow.

Kramer116

Mar 7, 2012 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcool (Post 536433)

The Score is the last place you want to go for your college basketball insider info.

I don't, I come here instead... :D

Just throwing some more names out there being discussing in the media in our possible coaching replacements thread.

Kramer116

Mar 7, 2012 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday (Post 536435)

I didn't realize he coach for Pitino. Still... no thanks. A quartet of D1 transfers + a juco in two years at New Mexico State? Wow.

Hypothetical question for all:

If the criteria is that we have to hire an AA (or minority) candidate, and Smart and Romar say no thank you, who do you guys want to target? Also assuming Anthony Grant has zero interest in the job (which I have heard).

Craig Robinson?

Johnny Dawkins?

Who else would be realistic?

prepbullseye

Mar 7, 2012 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynifan34 (Post 536405)

Way to go out on a limb there. When BW gets fired, will your thoughts be: "we think we know who MT will hire, but we will say more after he hires the candidate"

Then you will say, "we said it all along, MT was going to hire person X"

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeFever (Post 536414)

Ain't it the truth? Claim knowledge. Say nothing. Afterwards, proclaim "We knew all along, and you heard it here first".

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

Botb9

Mar 7, 2012 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536439)

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

Not nearly as silly as the University would look after this debacle of a season.

illynifan34

Mar 7, 2012 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536439)

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

But you do say, "we have some ideas" then you don't share them. Let me try this game.

Let's hear these ideas, add to the discussion.

OrangeFever

Mar 7, 2012 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536439)

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

Relax, relax, fellas. Nobody is out to steal your lolly pop . . . You're the best; you're awesome. I mean, you've been doing it for 26 years.

OrangeFever

Mar 7, 2012 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicksmithfanclub (Post 536427)

I've offered them the same advice repeatedly. I'm a lawyer and pretty much write for a living. You can tell good legal writing when it lays out the facts and arguments clearly and persuasively. You can tell bad and amateurish legal writing when it spends way too much side attacking the other side on a personal level. And it turns off the reader, because when it comes to the personal squabbles, the reader has no way to know (or care) who is really right (that's why you stick to your facts and arguments). I think that's an apt analogy here. The style only hurts their credibility. As a result, I've never taken them all that seriously, even if some of their information might be perfectly good. I just have no idea. If that's the tone they want to send to their readers, keep doing it I guess, but they should consider whether it's in their best interests (or at least get a good editor to do so).

Just as BW could have used a PR person, so these guys need some objective advice in that area.

prepbullseye

Mar 7, 2012 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicksmithfanclub (Post 536419)

Doesn't that completely contradict your post yesterday that Sonny Parker seems to know who our next coach is (or isn't) going to be? If no one knows exactly what is going through MT's mind, how could Parker?

Doesn't contradict anything at all. Never said a thing with respect to what others might know. Only said that WE don't know what is going through MT's mind.

To answer your second question, seeing as though Illinois is recruiting Jabari Parker, don't you think that Sonny would be one of the first people who is tipped off when it comes to what direction the Illini are looking to go in with respect to their men's basketball program? And not only would the Illini administration talk to him about that, but so would any other D1 coach who is recruiting Jabari AND is being rumored as a candidate to become the new coach at Illinois.

Apparently a lot of people on here don't know the difference between rumor and opinion.

prepbullseye

Mar 7, 2012 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynifan34 (Post 536441)

But you do say, "we have some ideas" then you don't share them. Let me try this game.

Let's hear these ideas, add to the discussion.

Go to our web site and you will see those ideas and thoughts laid out when the time comes.

Joel Goodson

Mar 7, 2012 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536446)

Doesn't contradict anything at all. Never said a thing with respect to what others might know. Only said that WE don't know what is going through MT's mind.

To answer your second question, seeing as though Illinois is recruiting Jabari Parker, don't you think that Sonny would be one of the first people who is tipped off when it comes to what direction the Illini are looking to go in with respect to their men's basketball program? And not only would the Illini administration talk to him about that, but so would any other D1 coach who is recruiting Jabari AND is being rumored as a candidate to become the new coach at Illinois.

Apparently a lot of people on here don't know the difference between rumor and opinion.

As a courtesy, fine. For feedback, heck no.

4LaCosaNostra

Mar 7, 2012 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536439)

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

JMHO, I think that is a "silly" statement to make in the first place. It is clear MT is in firing mode, an all Illini fans see this very clearly, Zook- gone , Law-gone, Weber- next.. He will not be the coach next year at UI. I would say its 99% Weber is gone at the conclusion of this season and for a ton of reasons; from attendance, $$$ alumni, performance, and MT stating he wants championship along with giving no sense of assurance to Weber at all doing this horrific season that he will be save regardless etc...Nothing at all suggests he will be back, nothing. 1% I guess if he wins 4 in a row in Indy and a game or two in tourney..lol, not going to happen.. Nothing but the best to Weber, he is loyal, honest, good coach, and we have been patient as hell- time to move on an get the program back!

illynifan34

Mar 7, 2012 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536450)

Go to our web site and you will see those ideas and thoughts laid out when the time comes.

Oh I see, you are trying to get hits, not add to the discussion.

4LaCosaNostra

Mar 7, 2012 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynifan34 (Post 536454)

Oh I see, you are trying to get hits, not add to the discussion.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

add to the discussion with your thoughts your if on the board and posting... Not advertising

BrooksTaylorFan

Mar 7, 2012 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynifan34 (Post 536454)

Oh I see, you are trying to get hits, not add to the discussion.

If I want to read an article about something after it happens, I'll just read the newspaper. :laugh:

ford	Mar 7, 2012 11:02 AM

Get the wallet out and call Romar. Don't care , all he can say is no. Beside the fact Romar is a dang good coach , get Romar , get Parker.

Joel Goodson

Mar 7, 2012 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536417)

Not going to give this subject any more time than it deserves, which is very little. First of all, the person who interviewed Sonny is not a competitor of ours. He is not a recruiting analyst or scout (at least not to our knowledge). Will also ask this: how the hell was the above statement a dig? It is the truth. Then again, that is the problem that everyone in the business has these days--credible people such as ourselves aren't allowed to speak the truth. Had we been the ones who spoke to Sonny and had he given us the same response and had we run the same story we would expect the same reaction with respect to being played. So call it a shot, a dig or whatever you will but either way the remark was warranted.

And just as you say you and others ignore our comments which are perceived as "digs" guess what--we will do the same when it comes to all talk from others trying to tell us how to run our business, seeing as though we have been in operation for 26 years and are doing just fine. Thank you.

Sigh.

Digs from you are so constant you're sometimes not cognizant you're making them.

nicksmithfanclub

Mar 7, 2012 11:09 AM

If you want to show you're the smartest guy in the room, it's a lot more effective to demonstrate why and let that speak for itself, as opposed to telling everyone that you're the smartest guy in the room. Just a thought that applies in many aspects of life...

AHSIllini32

Mar 7, 2012 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicksmithfanclub (Post 536422)

Agree completely. So far, MT has talked a lot, some of it helpful and some of it not. Hopefully the football and basketball hires turn out well, that will be how he is judged.

You can be impressed with how someone does things before the results of their actions come to full fruition. So far, Thomas has said all the right things, backed up his thoughts by firing the people who need to be fired, and, at least to this point with football, seems to have made a very solid hire that 99% of the football fandom approves us.

It's not like you can only say you're impressed 3 years from now after his coaches have had a chance to show us what they can do. It can certainly change your mind but there's no reason not to be impressed with what hes done so far. And that includes the marketing stuff he's got going in Chicago.

prepbullseye

Mar 7, 2012 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan (Post 536458)

If I want to read an article about something after it happens, I'll just read the newspaper. :laugh:

Well that's exactly what you'll get if you read the newspaper. With us you will get actual analysis and insight breaking down the situation and offering thoughts and opinion, all of which will be based on first-hand knowledge of the situation. But how many people actually want that these days?:rolleyes:

However, this can't occur until something actually happens. Until then, whatever thoughts and ideas that are offered don't have nearly as much substance if any at all. It really is amazing that so many don't understand this elementary concept, but then again nothing surprises us any more.

MTILLINOIS

Mar 7, 2012 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prepbullseye (Post 536439)

Learn how to read! We never said that we know who MT is going to hire.

Also, all of you would look pretty damned silly if Bruce Weber were still the coach at Illinois next season wouldn't you?

Yeah. This has been at the back of my mind for some time. We all would look silly but as others have said, MT would take a beating from the media/program/boosters/fans.

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