John Groce on preseason projections

Dan · Sep 2, 2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Still, it figures he will drum up memories of the surprising '05-06 Buckeyes to convince the '12-13 Illini preseason projections don't dictate the end result. And the first-year coach is hopeful a championship-caliber team will form at Illinois sooner than expected.

"I don't want to put a timeline on it. I just know that the championships that I've been a part of in the past have a combination of those things — a great culture in place and talented players," Groce said. "Coaches, in general, are not patient. I didn't come into this thing saying, 'Hey, I've got a 10-year plan.' That's not my deal at all. I want to do it now. Some people will say that's not possible. I don't want to hear that. That's the way to approach it: Let's go with this deal and make it happen now. I think if you take that approach to this deal — let's make it happen now — you'll end up getting to that point quicker than if you had taken the other approach. We're trying to do everything we can to help the University of Illinois be competitive immediately."

Klee

Foo G · Sep 2, 2012, 08:40 AM

Has this guy ever said the wrong thing?

AWESOME!

jcgoldie · Sep 2, 2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foo G

Has this guy ever said the wrong thing?

AWESOME!

Yeah! He said Cincinnati-Xavier is as good a rivalry as Mizzou-Illinois. C'mon get your head out of Ohio coach! :laugh:

IlliniFan3 · Sep 2, 2012, 11:06 AM

Great coach. As much as I loved Bruce....Groce > Weber

ryls · Sep 2, 2012, 11:19 AM

I like the mentality that we can be good now, if he can instill toughness in this team( a problem Weber mentioned repeatedly) I think we can surprise, I really like Groce and this staff and I am ready for the season. I loved his team last year at Ohio, they played very hard and loose, hope we can do the same.

Ress · Sep 2, 2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcgoldie

Yeah! He said Cincinnati-Xavier is as good a rivalry as Mizzou-Illinois. C'mon get your head out of Ohio coach! :laugh:

I'd say it's more intense.

U of I 89-05-10 · Sep 2, 2012, 11:44 AM

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Originally Posted by Ress

I'd say it's more intense.

I say no way!

DaytonIllini · Sep 2, 2012, 11:47 AM

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Originally Posted by Ress

I'd say it's more intense.

You'd be correct. Two teams, one city, intense hatred. Ugly rivalry too.

foby · Sep 2, 2012, 01:43 PM

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Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

You'd be correct. Two teams, one city, intense hatred. Ugly rivalry too.

I hope our Border War NEVER gets as ugly as their game did last season.

Illini B-Ball Fan · Sep 2, 2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foby

I hope our Border War NEVER gets as ugly as their game did last season.

Totally agree.

ryls · Sep 9, 2012, 10:42 AM

Just picked up Lindy's college basketball magazine, they have us picked 10th in the league and they also rank the top 25 at each position, none of our players made it, I think Paul will be one of the 25 best shooting guards in the country, but I hope these projections can motivate the team to prove people wrong.

256ILLINI · Sep 9, 2012, 03:35 PM

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Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

I say no way!

Tell that to this guy

jhayton · Sep 10, 2012, 02:29 PM

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Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

Tell that to this guy

LOL. Expertly done. X and Cincy certainly hate the other school. Whether it's more intense is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Perfect example is the fact that people in MN and NW Wisconsin think that the Packers/Vikings is a more intense rivalry than the Bears/Packers, but its the exact opposite in Illinois and Southern WI.

dz83ck · Sep 14, 2012, 07:37 PM

I don't think it is appropriate to compare any team projected to be in the middle or bottom of the Big Ten this year to the '06 Buckeyes. That is, a team of that ('06 OSU) quality simply will not be good enough to win the Big Ten this year. The reality is the Big Ten in 2006 was at a nadir - while the conference performed well in regular season nonconference play, no teams made the Sweet 16, only a few advanced past Round of 64, regular season champ Ohio State was routed by a #7 seed, and Big Ten tourney champ Iowa (the preseason favorite of many) lost to a #14 seed in the Round of 64. Generally the top teams in the league lacked depth of talent.

Compare that to this year, it will be much harder for a team from the bottom of the league to win the conference championship. Indiana is returning practically everyone who mattered on a Sweet 16 team, and adds a talented recruiting class. Michigan State does not appear to be in a lack of talented depth lull like they were in '06 and '07, as they have a very talented team coming off a Sweet 16 and #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Michigan grabbed a share of the Big Ten title last year and is bringing in their most talented class in many years. Ohio State has had 3 straight Sweet 16s and should be back there again this year. Wisconsin under Bo Ryan has had an occasional low NCAA tourney seed (for an at-large) season such as 2006, but it shouldn't be this year since they have advanced to the second weekend of the tournament each of the past 2 years, have 4 starters coming back off a Sweet 16 team, and are adding perhaps Bo's best ever recruit.

When you look at the teams you have to contend with to win the Big Ten championship, it is a lot different than 2006. You will have to at least be one of the best 16 teams in the country to win the Big Ten this year (probably top-10), and you didn't have to be in order to win the Big Ten in 2006.

Illini2016 · Sep 14, 2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhayton

LOL. Expertly done. X and Cincy certainly hate the other school. Whether it's more intense is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Perfect example is the fact that people in MN and NW Wisconsin think that the Packers/Vikings is a more intense rivalry than the Bears/Packers, but its the exact opposite in Illinois and Southern WI.

Was thinking along the same lines as you. It depends on where you're from. If you're from STL, you probably dislike Mizzou more than Xavier and Cincy dislike each other. Most people from Chicago have only a mild dislike for Mizzou, and it is mostly based on the kids they knew from high school who went there.

Looking at it from a general perspective, I would say that it is not as big as Xavier-Cincy. UI-IU is bigger, though, IMO.

WizardBill · Sep 15, 2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini2016

... UI-IU is bigger, though, IMO....

I agree. Do you know why all the trees in Coles, Crawford and Lawrence Counties lean east?

You guessed it, cause Indiana sucks.

AK Illini · Sep 17, 2012, 08:48 AM

It has become pretty clear that Groce will be able handle his own on the recruiting trail. It will be interesting to see what kind of mark he can make on the current group given some rather glaring long term deficiencies.

Sep 2, 2012, 08:40 AM	#2
Foo G Nobody likes a comedian Posts: 1,549	Has this guy ever said the wrong thing? AWESOME!

Sep 2, 2012, 11:06 AM	#4
IlliniFan3 Banned Location: MN Posts: 13	Great coach. As much as I loved Bruce....Groce > Weber

Sep 2, 2012, 11:19 AM	#5
ryls Banned Posts: 418	I like the mentality that we can be good now, if he can instill toughness in this team( a problem Weber mentioned repeatedly) I think we can surprise, I really like Groce and this staff and I am ready for the season. I loved his team last year at Ohio, they played very hard and loose, hope we can do the same.

Sep 9, 2012, 10:42 AM	#11
ryls Banned Posts: 418	Just picked up Lindy's college basketball magazine, they have us picked 10th in the league and they also rank the top 25 at each position, none of our players made it, I think Paul will be one of the 25 best shooting guards in the country, but I hope these projections can motivate the team to prove people wrong.

Sep 14, 2012, 07:37 PM	#14
dz83ck Posts: 10	I don't think it is appropriate to compare any team projected to be in the middle or bottom of the Big Ten this year to the '06 Buckeyes. That is, a team of that ('06 OSU) quality simply will not be good enough to win the Big Ten this year. The reality is the Big Ten in 2006 was at a nadir - while the conference performed well in regular season nonconference play, no teams made the Sweet 16, only a few advanced past Round of 64, regular season champ Ohio State was routed by a #7 seed, and Big Ten tourney champ Iowa (the preseason favorite of many) lost to a #14 seed in the Round of 64. Generally the top teams in the league lacked depth of talent. Compare that to this year, it will be much harder for a team from the bottom of the league to win the conference championship. Indiana is returning practically everyone who mattered on a Sweet 16 team, and adds a talented recruiting class. Michigan State does not appear to be in a lack of talented depth lull like they were in '06 and '07, as they have a very talented team coming off a Sweet 16 and #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Michigan grabbed a share of the Big Ten title last year and is bringing in their most talented class in many years. Ohio State has had 3 straight Sweet 16s and should be back there again this year. Wisconsin under Bo Ryan has had an occasional low NCAA tourney seed (for an at-large) season such as 2006, but it shouldn't be this year since they have advanced to the second weekend of the tournament each of the past 2 years, have 4 starters coming back off a Sweet 16 team, and are adding perhaps Bo's best ever recruit. When you look at the teams you have to contend with to win the Big Ten championship, it is a lot different than 2006. You will have to at least be one of the best 16 teams in the country to win the Big Ten this year (probably top-10), and you didn't have to be in order to win the Big Ten in 2006.

Sep 17, 2012, 08:48 AM	#17
AK Illini UofI Basketball..off the chain Location: Chicago Posts: 7,257	It has become pretty clear that Groce will be able handle his own on the recruiting trail. It will be interesting to see what kind of mark he can make on the current group given some rather glaring long term deficiencies.