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.
I certainly don't believe Groce should be fired without an AD. I believe he should be fired once an AD is hired.
There's nothing good that comes out of firing a coach in the middle of the season IMO.
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.
I for one am very pumped to see what a line up of Lucas, Nunn, Hill, Black, and Finke can do. We haven't had balanced scoring options like that across the board in a long time.
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.
I agree in principle with this...but what does "show hope that this team can be good next year" even mean for a team this lost? Maybe recovering to make the NIT?
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.
No, they just extended our interim coach for another year. Let's not tempt them to do further damage.
This is where I am right now. I really thought that there was nothing that would make me say the Groce needs to go at the end of this year. That mess of a basketball game last night has got me to thinking otherwise. I sincerely hope that this is the low point of this season. No excuses about injuries can explain away how this team is playing.
It would be pretty subjective. Showing that we can beat another top 100 team would be an example. Beating teams that we should beat, like Minny, close losses against teams that were expected to beat us, and even just looking at the body language they display the rest of the year. If they're consistently getting destroyed, barely beating teams that we're expected to beat, and displaying poor body language in the last few games that would tell me that the staff has lost control of the situation to the point that it would be difficult for them to mentally recover even in the offseason.
What is frustrating about this situation is that we won't be doing anything until we have a new AD in place. As much as I would like to see us move on from the Groce era, I'd much rather the new AD make the hire than the interim regime in place. Of course that assumes we can hire someone decent for that job...
Things to see by the end of the year-
1. See if last night was the "bottom"
2. See if the freshman continue to improve or hit the wall
3. See if the Leron Black comes back or redshirts
4. See if we use that atrocious zone that we used last night ever again.
5. See if somehow we determine to play Finke at the 4 with Thorne at the 5 and not rotate them.
6. See if we end the season on the uptick
7. See if we adjust the staff afterward
8. See us name Dee Brown an assistant after we adjust the staff
9. See if we get the 2017 family
10. See them start to work on finishing the SFC.
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.
Unfortunately, we were probably the only school to have repeated that same move within the last 30 years, when John Mackovic left for Texas and he was also the AD (another UI brilliant decision) - we were unable to conduct a search and named Lou Tepper the head football coach.
I agree in principle with this...but what does "show hope that this team can be good next year" even mean for a team this lost? Maybe recovering to make the NIT?
Part of my decision to attend U of I, other than the high academic rankings and being in-state, was to have a lifelong team to be a fan of. One that I would be proud of. This has gotten embarrassing. I realize there's certain uncontrollable variables (i.e. injuries, poor shooting for a game, etc.), but we're at a point where we can't even compete.
There's no offensive rebounding. Not even an attempt, especially with Finke playing on the perimeter. You'd think we never give up any fast breaks, but that's not the case either. It seems like all of our shots are contested when the other team's are wide open. We get a few "easy" baskets a game when the other team gets one every other possession. The freshman have not developed, at all. I blame that on coaching. They look timid, afraid to make a move to the basket. You got to give these guys confidence.
I keep reading about injuries, missed recruiting opportunities, defense... When does the time come when we realize it's not bad luck, but the norm. Black being injured a second time...Abrams being injured a second time...Are we attempting to bring these guys back too quick? Missed recruits happens all too often and it's not a coincidence anymore. It's bad recruiting. Defense? Ha.
A few years ago, I read Illinois was the best team to never win a NCAA basketball championship. It's not something to be incredibly proud of, but it's some kind of recognition at least. Things have to change. And it starts at the top. Like with any other failing company.
To put things in perspective, Illinois is outspending the field on developing their Computer Science program. So, ya know, where it matters...Illinois is doing well.
Assuming Groce is fired (seems more likely by the game), it won't be until the end of the season.
This board has spent thousands of posts lamenting how disappointing Groce's staff is...you really want one of those guys to be the interim HC to finish out the season? Groce may not be a good coach for Illinois or for anywhere, but I PROMISE you he's far and away the best coach on the current Illinois staff.