Pregame: Illinois vs Ohio State, Sunday, January 1st, 6:00pm CT, BTN

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#53      
peace davids
jrichisamazing said:
And I now the counter-argument to this post is we've seen this story for the past 4 years...but that isn't true. This is a different team so we have no idea how they will play the rest of the year. The past few years Groce has had excuses and has had very little flexibility. This year there are no excuses and plenty of flexibility. Let the team progress and see how far we go.
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But the counter argument is still valid. This is the same coaching staff and is producing very similar results year after year. The fans expectations (realistic or not) are set by history and leadership. We have a winning history and an AD that has made #wewillwin his motto. JG said it himself that he expects to contend on the national stage.

We are not unrealistic when we hold our teams and coaches to the expectations that they have set for themselves.
 
#54      
GameOfThrows
Like most fans, I am willing to wait and see how this season plays out. There is plenty of season left, and we need to remain patient and see if Coach Groce can get this ship pointed in the right direction.

At some point, he's gonna realize which players improve our chances of winning, and those guys will earn more minutes which will improve our chances of winning. It will also improve the quality of basketball which would be a welcome sight around these parts!
 
#55      
Konnie
IlliniBacker said:
The WORST! So unfair!! This failing tv station is disgusting!!
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As a fan I liked Bret’s question and thought it was fair but as a fan I will also continue to support the team in whatever way I can and I will be at the game Sunday.
 
#57      
Poe's Law
coryfor3 said:
I think he needs to chill a little and expect those questions. His team plays deplorably and those questions come. Answer politely and move on. He isn't helping himself with a little mini-tantrum. Coaches that win a lot can get away with objecting to critical questions. Not coaches of teams that get embarrassed by every competitive team.
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Couldn't agree more
 
#58      
Joel Goodson
One would think Groce is acutely aware of the importance of this game. The players too. And yet, I have no earthly idea of how we'll play. Will be interesting to see what buttons Groce presses as the game transpires.
 
#59      
jrichisamazing
peace davids said:
But the counter argument is still valid. This is the same coaching staff and is producing very similar results year after year. The fans expectations (realistic or not) are set by history and leadership. We have a winning history and an AD that has made #wewillwin his motto. JG said it himself that he expects to contend on the national stage.

We are not unrealistic when we hold our teams and coaches to the expectations that they have set for themselves.
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My point is this season is just getting started. It's too early to group this team with the past few dissapointments. Remember Groce's first year where we couldn't looked terrible to start the B1G season? IIRC, we got blown out at home by Northwestern and still ended up making the tournament.

At this point I think nearly every fan is on the same page. If Groce doesn't make the tournament he should be gone. Let's see how it plays.
 
#60      
westms77
Dan said:
[YOUTUBE]F0tNoiX8aSo[/YOUTUBE]
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Great question...,horrible reaction. He gets paid a lot of money to lead this program. Show some accountability and don't dismiss the fact that your time here has been a utter failure on the court.
 
#61      
SescIllini
It was a fair question by the reporter, the limited times I have seen this guy on tv he is all about the sports and no agenda.

As an alumni and supporter of the university and sports program, It was not cool to see Groce lose his composure. I'm a fan of Groce the person although I don't subscribe to many of his bb strategies. The season is not over, and I hope that this team and coaches can find consistency.

Yes this team lacks elite athletes, but I have seen enough of Illini bb that is a well rounded bunch with enough athleticism and talent to get more wins and more competitive losses.

I'm not yet at the point where we go for full change (coaches, players, recruits). I do think some coaches need to be changed, probably half of them.
 
#64      
Deleted member 16068
Good Question. I was wondering that myself.
I like JG and root for him and the of course the ILLINI but you can tell that's a man that is fully aware his seat his hot!!

Let's get a win Sunday:chief:
 
#65      
DoctorOrange
jrichisamazing said:
My point is this season is just getting started. It's too early to group this team with the past few dissapointments. Remember Groce's first year where we couldn't looked terrible to start the B1G season? IIRC, we got blown out at home by Northwestern and still ended up making the tournament.

At this point I think nearly every fan is on the same page. If Groce doesn't make the tournament he should be gone. Let's see how it plays.
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We are pretty much at the half way mark. Game 15/31 is on Sunday. This is no longer a season that is getting started. AND, to top it off, we have one of the most experienced rosters in the country. Yes, they haven't played together as much as their age suggests, but all the players who play over 20mpg have at least 2 full years in Groce's system with the exception of Thorne and JCL. They shouldn't need half a season to "get it".

Look, it's not that we lost. It's HOW we lost. Could Maryland be anomaly? Sure, only if you forget about the WVU game or the other games where we've been blown out by good competition in the last few years. I'll be rooting for Groce, truly. But let's not pretend that him making the tournament this year shows us anything about who he is as a coach. We're in year 5 with arguably our best team on paper during Groce's tenure and we've looked like hot garbage in at least 3 games this year where we should have at least been competitive.
 
#66      
Joel Goodson
DoctorOrange said:
We are pretty much at the half way mark. Game 15/31 is on Sunday. This is no longer a season that is getting started. AND, to top it off, we have one of the most experienced rosters in the country. Yes, they haven't played together as much as their age suggests, but all the players who play over 20mpg have at least 2 full years in Groce's system with the exception of Thorne and JCL. They shouldn't need half a season to "get it".

Look, it's not that we lost. It's HOW we lost. Could Maryland be anomaly? Sure, only if you forget about the WVU game or the other games where we've been blown out by good competition in the last few years. I'll be rooting for Groce, truly. But let's not pretend that him making the tournament this year shows us anything about who he is as a coach. We're in year 5 with arguably our best team on paper during Groce's tenure and we've looked like hot garbage in at least 3 games this year where we should have at least been competitive.
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Spot on. Excellent post.
 
#67      
westms77
DoctorOrange said:
We are pretty much at the half way mark. Game 15/31 is on Sunday. This is no longer a season that is getting started. AND, to top it off, we have one of the most experienced rosters in the country. Yes, they haven't played together as much as their age suggests, but all the players who play over 20mpg have at least 2 full years in Groce's system with the exception of Thorne and JCL. They shouldn't need half a season to "get it".

Look, it's not that we lost. It's HOW we lost. Could Maryland be anomaly? Sure, only if you forget about the WVU game or the other games where we've been blown out by good competition in the last few years. I'll be rooting for Groce, truly. But let's not pretend that him making the tournament this year shows us anything about who he is as a coach. We're in year 5 with arguably our best team on paper during Groce's tenure and we've looked like hot garbage in at least 3 games this year where we should have at least been competitive.
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Exactly!
 
#68      
Illini1221
I do not think Groce is a good coach at all but he has had some of the worst luck I've ever seen. (Yes I know we say this every year) If Kendrick Nunn kept his nose clean and wasnt an idiot, I believe we would be a top 25 team this year. Obviously (;), Groce cannot make any excuses at this point, but besides his 1st and 2nd year, he has yet to have a full roster. One of the things we forget to point out is the fact that we had to find a player to replace 15 ppg, and that is hard to do, which is why I thought some of these expectations were a bit lofty at the beginning of the season. It is not Groce's fault that arguably his best player couldnt stay out of trouble. If we have Nunn this year, we are a top 25 team, if not, a border line one.
 
#69      
Bailey
jrichisamazing said:
Or maybe the fanbase needs to chill a little and let Groce and the team bounce back and prove that they can get to the tournament.
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That's where I'm at. Beherns' cited "numerous Illini fans", but most decent journalists aren't going to step up as a representative of this type of reactionary:

I don't blame Groce for his frustration - and he gave a pretty decent answer (as Werner pointed out). The team showed marked improvement leading up to Maryland. Is a blowout loss ever good? Of course not. Does a loss on the road to a quality B1G team the day after Christmas warrant the burn-it-down, season ending overreaction that Behrens' wants to lend credence to with his question? Nope.
 
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#72      
homesickalien
"Groce: All freshmen, the starting point is they've got to defend and know what they're doing defensively in our system. #Illini

Groce: Defensively (Te'Jon Lucas) has gotten better. ... I like the progress that he's making. #Illini"

So let me get this straight. All freshman must know your defensive system to play. Makes sense right? Except for the fact that you have one of the worst defensive teams in the country so this doesn't hold water. Get your young guys especially Lucas some more time. He couldn't play much worse defense then we're already trotting out there and he brings way more offensively then what we've had. I don't get it. Just stubborn.
 
#73      
HC Illini
TriCityBurbs said:
Had a feeling we would get killed today. Maybe we just cant play during holiday time LOL. After having time to think it over, this was NOT our best game, not who we are, we have beaten some decent teams for a reason. IF we play to our potential we still can make the tournament. There is still life in our team, its a longgg conference season. I don't have faith in Groce anymore, but theseguys will bounce back. Maybe we lose this game too, and even if we play bad, I still love the Orange and Blue. LETS GO ILLINI. We cant just give up on them as fans, this is our team, our state school, and we need SFC packed and we need to be loud, and we need to get through these tough times together. This is who we are right now and we need to accept it for the time being. Groce isn't going to get fired this season, Jaylon Tate is going to play, JCL is going to make bone headed plays, Leron will foul, Malclom will play hero ball, that's just who we areright now. Its disappointing sure, but we cant just give up on them. THIS IS WHEN THEY NEED THE MOST SUPPORT.
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I like this one! Preach my man, preach!
 
#74      
HC Illini
Does anyone know what amenities the traditions club offers? More specifically, are food and adult beverages free? Or just the food? Or neither?
 
#75      
Bear8287
homesickalien said:
"Groce: All freshmen, the starting point is they've got to defend and know what they're doing defensively in our system. #Illini
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Wow, that must be one heck of a system. I mean, how much time did the 3 starting freshmen for Maryland have to learn Turgeon's system? Clearly Groce's "system" must be far superior.

If we have players that have been with the team as long as the Illini players have and they still can't or don't play the system, I don't think we're going to find a way to convince the NCAA to allow players to hang around for 7 years.

I say give the freshmen their capes, teach them to shout olé as their man drives by them towards the rim and they're good to go in the Groce defensive "system".
 
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