Groce/Whitman Press Conference

#101      
This is going to shut some of the more inane chatter up, which is good. But I still can't help but be a little disappointed that it's only a vote of confidence (as opposed to something with more... substance).

More substance would be a contract extension, which would be a terrible decision that everyone would rightly hate.
 
#102      
This is going to shut some of the more inane chatter up, which is good. But I still can't help but be a little disappointed that it's only a vote of confidence (as opposed to something with more... substance).

Just curious--what more did you hope to hear?
 
#103      
This is going to shut some of the more inane chatter up, which is good. But I still can't help but be a little disappointed that it's only a vote of confidence (as opposed to something with more... substance).

Would you want that substance being an extension? If he's fired next season, wouldn't that only increase the buy-out? Not sure we could get more substance out of this ordeal.
 
#104      
This is going to shut some of the more inane chatter up, which is good. But I still can't help but be a little disappointed that it's only a vote of confidence (as opposed to something with more... substance).

The actual words were much more than 'vote of confidence'
 
#105      
Would you want that substance being an extension? If he's fired next season, wouldn't that only increase the buy-out? Not sure we could get more substance out of this ordeal.
I was hoping to hear something of substance about the off-court player issues, whether it's Black, Tate, or Nunn.
 
#107      
RE: #2: Not saying you specifically, but this fan base consistently overvalues the state/desirability of this program. Is this a coveted destination by "big name coaches"? IT kills me, but no it's not. See our last b ball coaching search.

I think part of that reason is that we're still in disbelief of how far we've fallen so quickly. 5-10 years ago you could argue we were a top 15 program. Obviously that's not the case anymore and the fact that we never got that championship ('89 or '05) prevents us from separating ourselves from about 50 other schools.
 
#109      
Two questions absolutely must be asked by the media here:

1. Flat out: is there a world in which Illinois misses the tournament next year and Groce remains the head coach.

2. What is it about Groce's leadership that gives you confidence that Bill Cubit's leadership lacked.

Whitman is a skilled guy and will be able to dodge both, but those are the appropriate inquiries.

1. Yes. Lets say he gets the 2017 top 5 class we all want signed and then god forbid Malcolm misses a big chunk of the season and we fall short by a game of getting in. That is why you never say never.

2. I think Cubit being second in charge when the whole Beckman injury thing was a big part of letting him go. I just don't think he wouldn't know anything unless the players in question didn't think enough of him to go to him for help.
 
#110      
I was hoping to hear something of substance about the off-court player issues, whether it's Black, Tate, or Nunn.

Were you were hoping for speculation? That wouldn't be ethical at all at this stage.
 
#111      
1. Yes. Lets say he gets the 2017 top 5 class we all want signed and then god forbid Malcolm misses a big chunk of the season and we fall short by a game of getting in. That is why you never say never.

2. I think Cubit being second in charge when the whole Beckman injury thing was a big part of letting him go. I just don't think he wouldn't know anything unless the players in question didn't think enough of him to go to him for help.

That's fine, make Whitman answer those questions.

Werner is saying on twitter that he doesn't think today is about on-court stuff. That's a total abdication of his journalistic responsibility here, IMO.
 
#114      
Two questions absolutely must be asked by the media here:

1. Flat out: is there a world in which Illinois misses the tournament next year and Groce remains the head coach.

2. What is it about Groce's leadership that gives you confidence that Bill Cubit's leadership lacked.

Whitman is a skilled guy and will be able to dodge both, but those are the appropriate inquiries.

How does us knowing the answers to either of these help the state of the Illinois Basketball? I the answer to the first one is "no", recruiting is shot.
 
#115      
It's all about the 2017 class.

I would think this is spot on. Didn't someone say Tilmon's mom was put off by the arrests? I think the bigger question is how much of JW's confidence in Groce is related to silent verbals in the 2017 class?
 
#117      
Screw me...

I guess Tom thibodeau didn't answer his phone when josh called. Ugh why can't we be rid of this disaster?
 
#123      
This is your only chance. This is the public air clearing. Ask the real questions.

Yea because his answer to that will matter at all. Do you really think he will say anything of consequence there?? He will dodge both, give answers that would say we back coach for xyz and will continue to do so. It holds him to nothing and backs a coach in the meantime rather than putting us in a spot worse than just firing him (having a lame duck that can't recruit as a result). We would have gotten 0 information out of those.

Sure would be great to get some substance but honestly there is more chance to harm our program than otherwise.
 
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