Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
Get Bryce Drew he can bring Roger Powell Jr. with him add Dee to the staff and find a good X'S and O'S coach and I think that would be a great mix here.
John Groce at Illinois
- Status
Amaker B1G winning % after 6 years = .448
Groce B1G winning % after 3.33 years = .417
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Has Roger Powell Jr. come out and said he will only coach under Bryce Drew? Your the second person on here who has brought up Drew so Powell can come along with.
Get out of my head.
I know he wasn't a Groce recruit, I was just saying how he could help next year. In addition to the lack of vocal leaders, I think a big weakness has been the lack of athleticism. Kipper helps, but we just aren't intimidating right now. We have a decent ceiling with this team, but our floor is so low due to the injuries, and snowball effect we're currently experiencing. Everything in the past couple of years have just seemed to happen at the worst time.
I think Illinois could rebound after this low point we're in right now. It won't help much but beating Minnesota should temporarily stop the bleeding. If Groce gets another year, the team is going to need some serious work in the offseason to improve their TNT. I feel bad for the guys, so many players would fold under this much pressure to succeed despite so much bad luck.
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It's relatively common for assistants to come along with the head coach particularly if the assistant has an attachment to the institution. I think having an illini guy, from the chicagoland area that played in the NBA (albeit briefly) carries some value. Plus I'm a fan of big men that were mildly undersized as coaches of big men because they usually had to be more technical and learn the subtleties associated with playing the 4/5.
No, I doubt he has, BUT it seems rather likely that Powell would come along. It is his alma mater, he likely isn't getting head coaching looks, and it would be a major step up from Valpo. Also, most coaches want "their guys" with them on staff at new jobs, hence why Ford is with Groce still.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Well I asked because RP can come coach at Illinois right now if he was asked. If a change is made, I want the best coach that UI is able to get. Not a good one who will bring alumni with him. I know that's not what you were saying specifically, but if we want Powel to work here, go get him on his own.
And that's despite the crazy injury bug. No thanks on Amaker.
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
Roger is listed as the top assistant as well.
IllinoisFan733
- Chicago
Also, this season is half-over. I contend this team would be much better than 1-6 in the conference if they had played Indiana's first half B10 schedule.
It's unfair to comment on this season until it's over. Thorne is back, and looked good the second half against IU. Let's see where things stand at the end of the year once we get the chance to play PSU, Rutgers, Minnesota.
UncleBob
- San Clemente, CA
This was posted by HOC in the Postgame thread.........
With MT unavailable next year, we will most likely be a bubble team with a major weakness in the middle and at the 1 again. TJL will not come in and be an all-frosh wunderkind. If he can give us 15 mpg I'd be happy, and if TA can even play after sitting out for 2 full years it's hard to imagine he'll be close to 100 percent, and even when healthy and strong TA was a mediocre PG. We'll need all-B1G type play from MH and KN, MF and MM to improve significantly as defenders and rebounders, a healthy and improved LB and JCL to make the sophomore leap. If fully healthy, we should compete for a bid, but it won't be easy.
I agree with this summary and based on that I don't see how a new AD can do anything but let Groce go after the season....we need to get this turned around asap.
With MT unavailable next year, we will most likely be a bubble team with a major weakness in the middle and at the 1 again. TJL will not come in and be an all-frosh wunderkind. If he can give us 15 mpg I'd be happy, and if TA can even play after sitting out for 2 full years it's hard to imagine he'll be close to 100 percent, and even when healthy and strong TA was a mediocre PG. We'll need all-B1G type play from MH and KN, MF and MM to improve significantly as defenders and rebounders, a healthy and improved LB and JCL to make the sophomore leap. If fully healthy, we should compete for a bid, but it won't be easy.
I agree with this summary and based on that I don't see how a new AD can do anything but let Groce go after the season....we need to get this turned around asap.
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Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Yes, the only reason I even bring up Scott is because people seem to be pinning his alleged shady tactics on Bryce.
Because after all of the injuries and bad luck, most people determined that this season was not going to affect his job outlook unless there was a complete meltdown. So what's changed? It's possible that this is the start of the meltdown, but I think it's a bit too early to determine. The team isn't going to recover to the point of making the tourney, but it's possible that they'll end on a stronger note. There's plenty of season left. I'm not saying that Groce is the right man for the job, just that it's too early to determine that. FWIW my opinion on Groce has shifted a bit. If he can show hope that this team can be good next year, then I'm fine with giving him another year. If the team doesn't recover mentally and falls apart, I think it would be time to move on, for recruiting sake and to salvage next season.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Even if some of you got your wish and Groce was fired today, there is no AD to hire a new coach. That is the reality, and no amount of complaining will change it.
PaytonHighstep
- Downers Grove, IL
The Admin hired a football coach, why not a basketball coach too? I'm not saying I want this to happen at all, but they set an example they will hire a coach without an AD.
For the folks saying that Groce needs another year or two - What (if anything) would need to happen the rest of this season to change your mind, and move you to the "he needs to go" side of things?
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
The admin stuck with the guy that was around to avoid going out and getting a new coach.
Unless the Drews have another family member to hire, I suspect Powell might be up for the top job there.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
You expect a decent coach would want to accept the job without knowing who his boss was going to be?
I have been a big Groce fan, but games like last night (and Mich St.) are moving me to the "he needs to go" side.
Losing is okay (due to the injuries), but not being competitive and looking dysfunctional is not okay.
The point is that Powell is Drew's top assistant, and his presence is another positive factor when considering Drew.
For those of you talking about getting rid of Groce "now"...you do realize that someone currently on the staff would be taking over! That would put one of the assistant coaches in charge from a staff many are saying Groce should have made changes to at the end of last season. What about this makes sense?
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
The move you're referencing was maybe the most indefensible in the last 30 years of major college football, so hopefully we're not going back to the well on that one.
- Status