I heard from someone in the know that not only are back channels a real thing, that they have already occurred early this December with Cuonzo Martin who reciprocated interest. I don't expect much of a search. He's going to get the job barring a wildcard throwing his name in.
2017 Coaching Carousel
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haasi
- New York
The one thing groce/staff have shown themselves good at doing is identifying talent early. Evans Frazier and several others who rose precipitously after we got in on them.
Reasonable conversion rate on 4 star recruits. Some flashes of late season turn around after terrible januaries. Aside from that, it's been bad.
Quick no on Brunson. Not qualified and all kinds of baggage. Same for Hardaway. I don't know much about Eisley. Grant would be a very fine choice. My recollection though is that he had interest expressed from UI in the past and did not reciprocate. He may be headed for an NBA job at some point too.
Basically a no on assistants unless they have head coaching experience or have been given such responsibility that they are prepared to head coach (basically only a Duke assistant like a Dawkins, Wojo, Collins who have been there a long time preparing). I would be ok with a Jeff Capel who has coached at significant programs already. Other than that, assistants looking for a first top job are generally not good to train as a Big 10 coach.
Joking, right?
bigchief65
- Germany
Sorry, must be one of those jokes that only the others get. But now you made me curious to do a little background check on Brunson.
Have to reach out to some of my old military clearance connections. Just Kidding1 But I will check.
Sorry, must be one of those jokes that only the others get. But now you made me curious to do a little background check on Brunson.
Have to reach out to some of my old military clearance connections. Just Kidding1 But I will check.
You must have missed our recruitment of his son, too?
bigchief65
- Germany
Sorry, must be one of those jokes that only the others get. But now you made me curious to do a little background check on Brunson.
Have to reach out to some of my old military clearance connections. Just Kidding1 But I will check.
Okay I found the connection. Stupid me.
Sorry about that.
Deleted member 173571
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Guest
I hope this is true. Cuonzo Martin would be a homerun hire (secondary concern of keeping Tilmon also alleviated)
People should pay attention to this post.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
bigchief65
- Germany
No, just didnt make the connection right away.
:thumb:
bigchief65
- Germany
Cuonzo Martin has all the right connections and experience needed. He probably hates Bruce Pearl as much as many Illini fans do, but just for different reasons. lol
Not just the son's recruitment but there was that whole thing with the masseuse that he was stalking or sexually harassing or whatever.
IlliniInOK
- no longer in OK! Centralia, IL
I consider that a plus
I find it hard to believe that discussions with an existing coach at another P5 university have advanced to the point that there is reciprocated interest to the point that he will get the job, yet without an opening at UI, without permission from his University... and yet this info is already on Illini message boards.
Cuonzo Martin would be a good choice, but I am highly hesitant getting excited about it yet.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
You seem to be overlooking the words "back channel" in that post.
LincolnIlliniFan
- Lincoln, IL
Well that really would be a home run hire. Guy hits all the hot buttons as far what you'd want in the next coach and if he leaves Cal for Illinois, that makes me think we'd have him for a long while. He can obviously recruit, runs an up tempo offense which is what we all thought we'd be getting with JG, would be a HUGE hire. I've said since JW hired Lovie that if we had to hire a new basketball coach, I wasn't concerned about taking a step back like most programs do when a coaching change happens. Whitman does what anyone of us would do when looking for a new job. You don't quite your current job without having a new one lined up. He isn't going to fire Groce and hire an outside firm for a coaching search. He's going to use his connections and get the job done himself. He might be the best closer we have in Champaign. We are in good hands. Whether is Martin or Hoiberg or somebody else, he's going to get the best person for the job.
LincolnIlliniFan
- Lincoln, IL
Not at all, I just think "back channel" talk is overrated and schools with larger networks, connections, and budgets (e.g., UCLA, Oregon, OK. State) would lave avoided embarrassing searches if that "back channel" talk was not overrated.
If that post was in another message board for some other team, we would think that fanbase was delusional for believing it.
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
Please look at my original post that simply said I share the concern over a short tenured coach, it never says I wouldn't want one. I said later that both Kruger and Self were great for the program.
At any rate, I don't want to get stuck on defending one simple statement. I absolutely agree with you that hiring a coach simply because you want someone who will stay is a bad plan. I like Hoiberg, but he could jump right back to the NBA. As for Miller, I would love to have him for however long. Would I rather have a Lou Henson, that only a lying Bruce Pearl derailed? Yes, but I am not stuck on simple longevity.
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I wouldn't be certain about that. Moore would be sitting for a year . I think it would certainly depend on who Cal would hire as a replacement. And again...we are out a little far ahead of ourselves on the Cuonzo replacement. If Illinois looks as bad as they did yesterday throughout the Big 10 season, then I would understand. At this point, it's a bit early to speculate. I would guess that Whitman would prefer to give Groce another year at least if it can be justified.
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