Klee on John Groce

justsomedude · Sep 10, 2012, 02:01 PM

Klee with some strong words on the staff Saturday

http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-0...ne-9-8-12.html

I hate to go overboard, because it could be difficult this first season because they don’t have multiple PG’s so I hate to go overboard, but I feel like Mike Thomas hired a star, I really do. John Groce has star potential as a coach, I see the way he interacts with people, the way he remembers names. People who have been around this Athetic Department for a long time, one of them makes Bill Self comparisons, and he may be the best in the business. What he meant is how he interacts with a high big money booster or with inner city kids from Chicago. He is able to relate to all different sorts of people. The stuff coaches run is not that different, a lot of guys are similar but there’s certain things that set the great ones apart, I think John Groce has a chance to be a really, really good Big ten, wherever he wants to be type of coach. He’s going to be good, it’s going to take some time, but I think he hit the nail on the head with this hire.

He got the student section for volleyball fired up.

One thing that Tyler Griffey said the other day is he gets up in the morning and he can’t wait for workouts. Through the last probably 5 or 6 months, not just the last two months of last season, I rarely got that feeling from the group of players that they were excited about that day’s basketball. I’ve gotten that from two guys in particular, JB and TG, they’re really good friends, they’ve been around the program a long time and I think that was important to hear from TG, he was kinda in the dumps toward the end of last season especially, but he’s been inspired by the change. I think the positive encouragement that they preach get’s taken ahold a little bit and that’s a good thing because there are some fragile psyche’s in that locker room unfortunately. But what JG does is he builds guys up and if DJ Richardson misses 4 shots, he’s not going to get an earful because he took those shots, it’s because he didn’t take a 5th one, that’s his approach.

His teams weren’t that good in Nov – Dec, but a big reason he wanted to keep those coaches and staffers together is he likes the idea of being strong at the end of the season, and that’s their M.O. A lot of that comes from he had some different personalities on that Ohio roster. That was not an easy team to coach. I don’t think, even though they bring back everything, that they’re going to be as good. You had to have a special coach to handle those personalities up and down that roster.

There is no doubt in my mind that they made the best possible hire that they could have made, and I mean that more than other guys that were considered because of the fit for Illinois.

carmelillini · Sep 11, 2012, 09:13 AM

Hope Djack reads this.

Groundhogday · Sep 11, 2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmelillini

Hope Djack reads this.

I hope DJack has independently reached the same conclusion about Groce.

Illinoy · Sep 11, 2012, 10:11 AM

It is on the record that I said these very same things before the hire. I actually knew he was going to be interviewed when I was in STL for the sweet 16 and I was one of the few that saw him as a steal.

ChitownIllini · Sep 11, 2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illinoy

It is on the record that I said these very same things before the hire. I actually knew he was going to be interviewed when I was in STL for the sweet 16 and I was one of the few that saw him as a steal.

Dan, please let the record reflect the above. :rolleyes:

Great to hear about JG. I think MT made two solid hires and I like the change in both the football and basketball programs.

Calilama · Sep 11, 2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChitownIllini

Dan, please let the record reflect the above. :rolleyes:

Great to hear about JG. I think MT made two solid hires and I like the change in both the football and basketball programs.

Football is so much tougher of a nut to crack....need broad recruiting strength plus everything else....couple of players can turn a bball program given competent coaching...like both guys a lot and they went out of their way to make me feel important when I met them...that is a legit gift and folks remember it just as I have

MTILLINOIS · Sep 11, 2012, 04:26 PM

Did Klee just give the kiss of death to Groce with that compliment? I hope not.

Groundhogday · Sep 11, 2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTILLINOIS

Did Klee just give the kiss of death to Groce with that compliment? I hope not.

:laugh: The last time Klee was this enthusiastic about someone related to the Illinois basketball program, he was calling for Richmond to be made a captain as a true freshman.

whatahack · Sep 11, 2012, 07:22 PM

I'm okay with 'His teams weren’t that good in Nov – Dec' as long as that does not include a certain game around Christmas in StL. I can't take another loss......

jackman404 · Sep 12, 2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

:laugh: The last time Klee was this enthusiastic about someone related to the Illinois basketball program, he was calling for Richmond to be made a captain as a true freshman.

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Whoops....I do think we've got the right guy in Groce. This season will still be a struggle, but I think Groce can turn it around.

PeoriaSteve · Sep 16, 2012, 07:10 PM

John Groce will be a great Illini coach...maybe legendary.

Juice · Sep 16, 2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

John Groce will be a great Illini coach...maybe legendary.

+1

justsomedude · Sep 16, 2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

John Groce will be a great Illini coach...maybe legendary.

Consider this for a second

Groce's first class just might have someone highly ranked from both the CPL and Indiana.

Add to it a chance at a top 30 National recruit from an elite prep school.

In 4 months.

Iceberg34 · Sep 16, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

:laugh: The last time Klee was this enthusiastic about someone related to the Illinois basketball program, he was calling for Richmond to be made a captain as a true freshman.

Maybe that would have changed how the season turns out.

Richmond tied the game against Texas with a move at the end of regulation.

I'm just glad debacles like 2010-11 are behind us now.

VTIllini · Sep 16, 2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

John Groce will be a great Illini coach...maybe legendary.

Give the man some space. He's 0-0.

OrangeandBlue89 · Sep 16, 2012, 10:47 PM

+1

Thank you for saying that. I couldn't agree more. Let's wait on this kind of talk geez.

PeoriaSteve · Sep 17, 2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeandBlue89

+1

Thank you for saying that. I couldn't agree more. Let's wait on this kind of talk geez.

That's my opinion and I'm statiing it...now...for the record. You want to wait, go ahead, but predictions aren't much good when they're already a fait accomplie'. (Sorry, my French spelling is likely off)

AzIlliniFan · Sep 17, 2012, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

That's my opinion and I'm statiing it...now...for the record. You want to wait, go ahead, but predictions aren't much good when they're already a fait accomplie'. (Sorry, my French spelling is likely off)

Opinions, with the occasional fact thrown in, are the lifeblood of the board!

Lose the e.

CHI 1086 · Sep 18, 2012, 09:44 AM

This season is kinda like the wedding night of a second marriage...You kinda know what to expect, but you hope like heck that after a full day of celebration, that it's better than you remembered (from the last marriage!)

PeoriaSteve · Sep 18, 2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justsomedude

Consider this for a second

Groce's first class just might have someone highly ranked from both the CPL and Indiana.

Add to it a chance at a top 30 National recruit from an elite prep school.

In 4 months.

That's what I mean. He's a freakin' genius recruiter. That alone will give him the chance to win big at Illinois.

Holdemall · Sep 18, 2012, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHI 1086

This season is kinda like the wedding night of a second marriage...You kinda know what to expect, but you hope like heck that after a full day of celebration, that it's better than you remembered (from the last marriage!)

Boy, that would be one hell of a dry spell. You're doing it wrong.

Sep 10, 2012, 02:01 PM	#1
justsomedude Posts: 1,360	Klee with some strong words on the staff Saturday http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-0...ne-9-8-12.html I hate to go overboard, because it could be difficult this first season because they don’t have multiple PG’s so I hate to go overboard, but I feel like Mike Thomas hired a star, I really do. John Groce has star potential as a coach, I see the way he interacts with people, the way he remembers names. People who have been around this Athetic Department for a long time, one of them makes Bill Self comparisons, and he may be the best in the business. What he meant is how he interacts with a high big money booster or with inner city kids from Chicago. He is able to relate to all different sorts of people. The stuff coaches run is not that different, a lot of guys are similar but there’s certain things that set the great ones apart, I think John Groce has a chance to be a really, really good Big ten, wherever he wants to be type of coach. He’s going to be good, it’s going to take some time, but I think he hit the nail on the head with this hire. He got the student section for volleyball fired up. One thing that Tyler Griffey said the other day is he gets up in the morning and he can’t wait for workouts. Through the last probably 5 or 6 months, not just the last two months of last season, I rarely got that feeling from the group of players that they were excited about that day’s basketball. I’ve gotten that from two guys in particular, JB and TG, they’re really good friends, they’ve been around the program a long time and I think that was important to hear from TG, he was kinda in the dumps toward the end of last season especially, but he’s been inspired by the change. I think the positive encouragement that they preach get’s taken ahold a little bit and that’s a good thing because there are some fragile psyche’s in that locker room unfortunately. But what JG does is he builds guys up and if DJ Richardson misses 4 shots, he’s not going to get an earful because he took those shots, it’s because he didn’t take a 5th one, that’s his approach. His teams weren’t that good in Nov – Dec, but a big reason he wanted to keep those coaches and staffers together is he likes the idea of being strong at the end of the season, and that’s their M.O. A lot of that comes from he had some different personalities on that Ohio roster. That was not an easy team to coach. I don’t think, even though they bring back everything, that they’re going to be as good. You had to have a special coach to handle those personalities up and down that roster. There is no doubt in my mind that they made the best possible hire that they could have made, and I mean that more than other guys that were considered because of the fit for Illinois.

Sep 11, 2012, 09:13 AM	#2
carmelillini Location: Hamilton Co. Posts: 2,065	Hope Djack reads this.

Sep 11, 2012, 10:11 AM	#4
Illinoy Posts: 158	It is on the record that I said these very same things before the hire. I actually knew he was going to be interviewed when I was in STL for the sweet 16 and I was one of the few that saw him as a steal.

Sep 11, 2012, 04:26 PM	#7
MTILLINOIS Location: Chicago Posts: 4,201	Did Klee just give the kiss of death to Groce with that compliment? I hope not.

Sep 11, 2012, 07:22 PM	#9
whatahack Posts: 14	I'm okay with 'His teams weren’t that good in Nov – Dec' as long as that does not include a certain game around Christmas in StL. I can't take another loss......

Sep 16, 2012, 07:10 PM	#11
PeoriaSteve Posts: 1,874	John Groce will be a great Illini coach...maybe legendary.

Sep 16, 2012, 10:47 PM	#16
OrangeandBlue89 Location: Harrisburg, Illinois Posts: 293	+1 Thank you for saying that. I couldn't agree more. Let's wait on this kind of talk geez.

Sep 18, 2012, 09:44 AM	#19
CHI 1086 Location: Merced CA Posts: 186	This season is kinda like the wedding night of a second marriage...You kinda know what to expect, but you hope like heck that after a full day of celebration, that it's better than you remembered (from the last marriage!)