2017 Coaching Carousel

[EyeoftheIllini]

I'm a Keatts fan myself.

+1

Though my preference if they let Groce go is for someone from a bigger school who has had success, the fact is right now Illinois is no where near a destination job. Keatts has done very well at UNC-Wilmington. For other good candidates, don't have to look much further than the Illini's schedule the past two years -- Pat Kelsey from Winthrop and Matt McCall from Chattanooga.

If they decide to go with a top recruiter from a power conference, at the top of my list might be Dennis Gates at Florida St. He's a great recruiter, works with FSU's guards, and is in the Chicago Public League Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame. He also spent a couple of years at Northern Illinois.

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

Yep. Pimple Pitino is making fools out of all of us. Pretty amazing really.

Obviously.

 

[Obelix]

Yep. Pimple Pitino is making fools out of all of us. Pretty amazing really.

Just because a coach can have a good (half) season, that does not eliminate his past performances or make him a good coach. Shows you how easy it is to change perception of fans.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Just because a coach can have a good (half) season, that does not eliminate his past performances or make him a good coach.

Very true, and if they fall apart Pitino could still probably get fired.

But they pass the eye test right now and have basically everyone returning next year.

Pitino is still probably last on the list of Big Ten coaches I'd want, but we're getting to the point where that may need to be reassessed.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Just because a coach can have a good (half) season, that does not eliminate his past performances or make him a good coach. Shows you how easy it is to change perception of fans.

I think the inverse of this is that it's possible even for a not-great coach to get the arrow pointing up, something that continues to elude us.

Like us, Minnesota's last tournament appearance was 2013. Who do you think is getting back first?

 

[MadSeason]

The coaching change after Weber and this thread has reinforced by belief that as a collective fanbase we criminally underrated and under appreciated Lou Henson during his tenure.

 

[zpfled]

I think the inverse of this is that it's possible even for a not-great coach to get the arrow pointing up, something that continues to elude us.

Like us, Minnesota's last tournament appearance was 2013. Who do you think is getting back first?

Us. I predict we'll squeak in to the tourney today, but we'll get a play-in game, thus making us the first to get back into the tourney, even though both teams make the tourney this year.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I think the inverse of this is that it's possible even for a not-great coach to get the arrow pointing up, something that continues to elude us.

We were ranked at this point in 2014 (Groce's 2nd year) and I thought Ray Rice was a superstar and was 1000% in on the John Groce era.

To say nothing of being 13-3 (3-0) and #16 in 2011 and 15-3 (4-1) and #22 in 2012.

So it hasn't exactly eluded us. The next step has.

 

[UrbanaIsTheShiz]

This is probably the appropriate place to point out that The Pitino Child has the Gophers ranked.

Even a blind squirrel finds a broken clock twice a day.

 

[coryfor3]

Well, it kind of depends. What do you see as the problem in that story?

Because there's the pearl-clutching morality piece and the NCAA compliance piece.

If it's the former, get over it, every recruit Illinois has ever gotten got laid in some form or fashion on their visit. If it's the latter, there's no evidence and no compelling reason to believe Keatts had anything to do with it.

I get that recruiting visits are not necessarily tales of morality. That's not the issue.
I object to a program arranging for or turning a blind eye to illegal activities and potential NCAA violations. I get that underage drinking takes place but what happened at Louisville was beyond anything a coach who is responsible for young men should allow to happen. And even if there is no reason to believe that Keatts had anything to do with it, he isn't such a great coach that it is worth risking the reputation of our program. There's plenty of better or equally promising candidates.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Jan 10, 2011: Illinois ranked #16 at 13-3 (3-0)
Finished 7-11, 9 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 11, 2012: Illinois ranked #22 at 15-3 (4-1)
Finished 2-12, no postseason, Weber fired

Jan 8, 2013: Illinois ranked #12 at 14-2 (1-1)
Finished 9-11, 7 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 7, 2014: Illinois ranked #23 at 13-2 (2-0)
Finished 7-13, missed NCAA's, Second Round NIT loss


Is it any wonder we're all so insane?

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I get that underage drinking takes place but what happened at Louisville was beyond anything a coach who is responsible for young men should allow to happen.

Have you been here for the last three years?

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Jan 10, 2011: Illinois ranked #16 at 13-3 (3-0)
Finished 7-11, 9 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 11, 2012: Illinois ranked #22 at 15-3 (4-1)
Finished 2-12, no postseason, Weber fired

Jan 8, 2013: Illinois ranked #12 at 14-2 (1-1)
Finished 9-11, 7 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 7, 2014: Illinois ranked #23 at 13-2 (2-0)
Finished 7-13, missed NCAA's, Second Round NIT loss


Is it any wonder we're all so insane?

Fun fact. The University President, Chancellor, AD, Basketball head coach, full assistant staff, and every single player but one changed over that span.

The lone holdover will do nicely as a metaphor for that whole era, though I hate to say it because I always liked the guy.

Illinois Basketball 2011-14: #JoeTales

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I get that recruiting visits are not necessarily tales of morality. That's not the issue.
I object to a program arranging for or turning a blind eye to illegal activities and potential NCAA violations. I get that underage drinking takes place but what happened at Louisville was beyond anything a coach who is responsible for young men should allow to happen. And even if there is no reason to believe that Keatts had anything to do with it, he isn't such a great coach that it is worth risking the reputation of our program. There's plenty of better or equally promising candidates.

I will say this: Andre McGee clammed up about the situation, potentially saving Pitino's skin. There are potentially legal ramifications for McGee, which could change his mind about his silence in the future. So in terms of having his name dragged into this, Keatts may not be out of the woods yet, and if McGee is singing on everybody in order to stay out of jail, a head coach at Illinois would make an appealing target.

On the other hand, your bolded sentence isn't true. Keatts has among the most appealing resumes of potential Power Five candidates out there. And not in a way that just suggests he's out there cheating to get recruits. He is a gifted, gifted basketball coach.

If you're Josh Whitman, I think it's pretty simple. You need Keatts to be honest with you about how much he knew and when. If it later comes out that he lied to you, then you have grounds to fire him. But if he was just generally aware of McGee taking recruits out to party the same way every school does, I would agree that it's ridiculous to hold that against him.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Jan 10, 2011: Illinois ranked #16 at 13-3 (3-0)
Finished 7-11, 9 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 11, 2012: Illinois ranked #22 at 15-3 (4-1)
Finished 2-12, no postseason, Weber fired

Jan 8, 2013: Illinois ranked #12 at 14-2 (1-1)
Finished 9-11, 7 seed, Second Round NCAA loss

Jan 7, 2014: Illinois ranked #23 at 13-2 (2-0)
Finished 7-13, missed NCAA's, Second Round NIT loss




Is it any wonder we're all so insane?

Groce's first year and actually in December we were ranked #10 and had just won Maui Invitational. The board was all worried at that time about losing Groce to a blue blood if we didn't give him a raise and contract extension.

 

[LincolnIlliniFan]

Groce's first year and actually in December we were ranked #10 and had just won Maui Invitational. The board was all worried at that time about losing Groce to a blue blood if we didn't give him a raise and contract extension.

L O L

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Groce's first year and actually in December we were ranked #10 and had just won Maui Invitational.

No matter how this all shakes out, we'll always have Maui. And the IU game.

 

[Ga65]

I appreciate your perspective, even if I disagree with it. My only question to you would be: what has Groce done that leads you to believe he is or can be a successful coach here?

I think he can recruit, coach offense, and be a good representive of our school to our players and the public. Almost all candidates for the UI job will have warts. We know where his are and they are curable IM unpopular O. Bring in a defensive assistant. I do not pretend to know how to solve the problem but I know enough to seek help. If JG is not smart enough to recognize that then I change my position and say fire him.

Also if you can hire Izzo. Need to know who you are able to replace him. Would not pull the trigger until I know improvement is guaranteed if I am AD.

 

[brillinian]

I think the inverse of this is that it's possible even for a not-great coach to get the arrow pointing up, something that continues to elude us.

Like us, Minnesota's last tournament appearance was 2013. Who do you think is getting back first?

Us. I predict we'll squeak in to the tourney today, but we'll get a play-in game, thus making us the first to get back into the tourney, even though both teams make the tourney this year.

Actually in your scenario, Minnesota would get back in first. Because if we are in the play in game, odds are great that they were picked ahead of us. Granted we would be playing first in that scenario, but not "in" first.

 

[ChiefIllini]

I think he can recruit, coach offense, and be a good representive of our school to our players and the public. Almost all candidates for the UI job will have warts. We know where his are and they are curable IM unpopular O. Bring in a defensive assistant. I do not pretend to know how to solve the problem but I know enough to seek help. If JG is not smart enough to recognize that then I change my position and say fire him.

Also if you can hire Izzo. Need to know who you are able to replace him. Would not pull the trigger until I know improvement is guaranteed if I am AD.

Ah yes, the sure thing. If this wasn't the thought of your AD, major sports GM, or otherwise coach hirer, I would like to question how your organization is run.

There is no such thing as a sure thing. There is not such thing as guaranteed improvement. Its an asymptotic effort. No matter how hard you try, how much money, or how much time you spend trying to find it, it doesnt and will never exist. If we were to hire [INSERT NAME OF YOUR FAVORITE COACH EVER] tomorrow, theres always a chance they wont turn us into a better product then we currently have.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I think he can recruit, coach offense, and be a good representive of our school to our players and the public. Almost all candidates for the UI job will have warts. We know where his are and they are curable IM unpopular O.

We've officially entered the Zook Zone.

When this board went from "Petrino good, Koenning bad" to "Fire Petrino, Koenning for Head Coach" in the span of 18 months, that was the moment I knew I had to start using larger grains of salt for what I read on here.

We were 14th in the nation in defensive efficiency in Groce's second year. This is the first year of Groce's tenure where the offense has been better than the defense per KenPom, and even now it's close.

You know "keep the good, fix the bad" arguments are weak when what's good and bad keeps changing.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

We've officially entered the Zook Zone.

When this board went from "Petrino good, Koenning bad" to "Fire Petrino, Koenning for Head Coach" in the span of 18 months, that was the moment I knew I had to start using larger grains of salt for what I read on here.

Yeah, Koenning Trutherism was really something to behold.

 

[coryfor3]

Have you been here for the last three years?

What exactly is going on with our program that is on par with arranging prostitutes for recruits?

 

[TCTORNADO]

What exactly is going on with our program that is on par with arranging prostitutes for recruits?

One uses poles and the other is no where to be found in the polls.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

What exactly is going on with our program that is on par with arranging prostitutes for recruits?

Our program has had a really disconcerting run of violence, among other misdeeds (extra credit to Darius Paul for taking the show overseas).

You're painting with an exceptionally broad outrage brush when you say "beyond anything a coach who is responsible for young men should allow to happen." John Groce - who is by any definition responsible for young men - is failing this test, as well.