He did it last year...
2017 Coaching Carousel
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He did it last year...
Last year was a totally different situation.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
I will use the vernacular that I believe fits the situation, thanks. Archie Miller is the best possible hire we can make, a GRAND SLAM hire. He is more proven now than Self was when we hired him, but given that we are just tossing around anecdotal evidence now, who really cares about their comparison. Self proved to be a fantastic hire, and I believe that Archie Miller is the best possible hire Illinois can make. Unlikely that we can, but within the realm of at least trying.
I don't know that we can pull Krystkowiak either, but since he has proven capable of winning without recruiting at an elite level, I sure am interested in finding out what he can do in a talent rich state like Illinois. A very good hire, using your opinionated scale of bad to grand slam.
Popovich sure would be a grand slam hire. He deserves as much mention as Billy Donovan, Brad Stevens, Sean Miller, Tom Izzo, Bill Self, and all the other grand slam hires worth bringing on to the scale!
I get that but media types will likely pick up and press him on it regardless of the differences between this year and last. Your point is well mad though I think. He shouldn't have commented on it last year until seasons end, and then this year he wouldn't be tasked with explaining why he hasn't affirmed support
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
I will use the vernacular that I believe fits the situation, thanks. Archie Miller is the best possible hire we can make, a GRAND SLAM hire. He is more proven now than Self was when we hired him, but given that we are just tossing around anecdotal evidence now, who really cares about their comparison. Self proved to be a fantastic hire, and I believe that Archie Miller is the best possible hire Illinois can make. Unlikely that we can, but within the realm of at least trying.
I don't know that we can pull Krystkowiak either, but since he has proven capable of winning without recruiting at an elite level, I sure am interested in finding out what he can do in a talent rich state like Illinois. A very good hire, using your opinionated scale of bad to grand slam.
Popovich sure would be a grand slam hire. He deserves as much mention as Billy Donovan, Brad Stevens, Sean Miller, Tom Izzo, Bill Self, and all the other grand slam hires worth bringing on to the scale!
I suppose semantics aside I don't see Archie Miller as having a resume that Illinois could only dream of having. Whether he would want the job, I don't know, but we have hired Final Four and Elite 8 coaches a few times before.
Transfers or decommits? If Walker stays, we keep everyone, if not we may lose Tilmon. As for transfers, I'm thinking 1 for sure and maybe 2. Ask me again when we find out who the coach is next year.
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
The talk about what happens if Groce comes back is depressing. If we get him back, we are just PSU with better recruiting, and a worse coach. After year five, I just don't think you should retain someone for the possibility one class may bail them out two years from now.
We need someone else, and, contrary to others, I don't think that has to be a sure thing or nothing. If you are willing to keep Groce on perceived potential, which has not been realized, why would you not take a chance on perceived potential that may be realized?
And, just my two cents, I think Martin would be little more than a lateral move, and we would be in just about the same place. Maybe a bit more consistently competitive, because his defense would keep us in games, but not to the upper echelon of the BIG.
We need someone else, and, contrary to others, I don't think that has to be a sure thing or nothing. If you are willing to keep Groce on perceived potential, which has not been realized, why would you not take a chance on perceived potential that may be realized?
And, just my two cents, I think Martin would be little more than a lateral move, and we would be in just about the same place. Maybe a bit more consistently competitive, because his defense would keep us in games, but not to the upper echelon of the BIG.
He's been down to Florida where Khan lives for "alumni events" when no alumni events were going on so that probably tells you something.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
While names continue to swirl, I don’t think this guy has been mentioned yet. I think a name worth noting is Keith Dambrot.
Currently coaches the Akron Zips, who have won 20+ games every season since 2005-2006. He’s been there since 2004-2005, where in that year he had 19 wins. He’s taken the Zips to the NCAA Tourney three times. He’s been consistent every year, and I think he’s a good coach.
Yet I think he’s content on staying in Akron though, since it is his alma mater.
Currently coaches the Akron Zips, who have won 20+ games every season since 2005-2006. He’s been there since 2004-2005, where in that year he had 19 wins. He’s taken the Zips to the NCAA Tourney three times. He’s been consistent every year, and I think he’s a good coach.
Yet I think he’s content on staying in Akron though, since it is his alma mater.
Like others, I like John Groce. But I admit to being astonished that he might yet be asked to return, or that other fans would welcome it.
It's not the horrible Big Ten record. It's not the PG recruiting failures. It's not a matter of statistical comparison to where Illinois traditionally ranks nationally.
It's because we can actually watch the games.
We're not evaluating statistics from a computer sim. We can actually see whether the team plays like one that is well-coached. They don't, and they haven't for five years. We can debate talent, recruiting, relative results vs. projection, etc., but it's point-missing, because we've been able to actually watch the games.
It's apparent: Frequent offensive malaise, lack of movement, apparent confusion on defense, lack of doing the little things, lack of team identity, strange personnel patterns... we've actually watched the games. People see this and think, "This coach is good?"
I really like the guy, but... really? From the last five years?
It's not the horrible Big Ten record. It's not the PG recruiting failures. It's not a matter of statistical comparison to where Illinois traditionally ranks nationally.
It's because we can actually watch the games.
We're not evaluating statistics from a computer sim. We can actually see whether the team plays like one that is well-coached. They don't, and they haven't for five years. We can debate talent, recruiting, relative results vs. projection, etc., but it's point-missing, because we've been able to actually watch the games.
It's apparent: Frequent offensive malaise, lack of movement, apparent confusion on defense, lack of doing the little things, lack of team identity, strange personnel patterns... we've actually watched the games. People see this and think, "This coach is good?"
I really like the guy, but... really? From the last five years?
IlliniTarHeel
- Topsail, NC
The word around Wilmington is that Keatts has already told administration that he will not
be back at UNCW next year. Don't know if that means he already knows where is going or that he will take whatever better job comes knocking.
be back at UNCW next year. Don't know if that means he already knows where is going or that he will take whatever better job comes knocking.
As much as I like Groce, and was hoping he could succeed, I am hoping Whitman moves on. I was leaning towards giving him another year with the class he has coming in, but if he could not make it to the NCAA this year, why would anyone think it will be easier next year, or the next, etc.
We have a down Big Ten, we have a very, very weak bubble team year, and Illinois had most of our experience returning this year (we lost Nunn - I'd not say losing Lewis was significant). I've not done my homework to determine actual returning minutes, but I have to think Illinois was at or near the top of the Big Ten with returning minutes. A down Big Ten, an extremely weak bubble, and we had an experienced team returning. How can anyone think our path to the NCAA will be any easier in the future.......my opinion is if Groce could not get us in this year, it is not reasonable to think he could get us in next year, or the next, etc. Not letting him go is postponing the inevitable. The new media deal kicks in next year - I hope Whitman opens the checkbook.
We have a down Big Ten, we have a very, very weak bubble team year, and Illinois had most of our experience returning this year (we lost Nunn - I'd not say losing Lewis was significant). I've not done my homework to determine actual returning minutes, but I have to think Illinois was at or near the top of the Big Ten with returning minutes. A down Big Ten, an extremely weak bubble, and we had an experienced team returning. How can anyone think our path to the NCAA will be any easier in the future.......my opinion is if Groce could not get us in this year, it is not reasonable to think he could get us in next year, or the next, etc. Not letting him go is postponing the inevitable. The new media deal kicks in next year - I hope Whitman opens the checkbook.
^^^^^
I don't need advanced metrics to tell me that other teams are frequently more prepared and better equipped to make in-game adjustments, either. The "eye test" has continued to fail as the quality of talent seems to be going up.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
4th post and you've nailed it better than all of the previous 296 pages put together. Exactly why I thought he should have been fired a year ago. This is a mess, folks. Baffles me how this is not obvious.
I honestly can't fathom what the rational would be for keeping Groce. Just amazing if it's even being considered.
Who are your latest guess' for coaching changes if they happen?
Cal Out Martin - Crean in
Mizzou Out Anderson - Martin in
NC State Out Gottfried - Marshall-Keatts in
Indiana Out Crean - Miller In
Illinois Out Groce - ????, would love McCall as a young coach, Howland or Williams as an experienced one....Howland just feels like a Kruger 2.0 to me for the ILLINI?
Article is more of a reason why this has to be a homerun hire for us...Groce will not be back, but whom do we get to choose from?
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/02/23/nc-state-indiana-coaching-carousel
Cal Out Martin - Crean in
Mizzou Out Anderson - Martin in
NC State Out Gottfried - Marshall-Keatts in
Indiana Out Crean - Miller In
Illinois Out Groce - ????, would love McCall as a young coach, Howland or Williams as an experienced one....Howland just feels like a Kruger 2.0 to me for the ILLINI?
Article is more of a reason why this has to be a homerun hire for us...Groce will not be back, but whom do we get to choose from?
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/02/23/nc-state-indiana-coaching-carousel
Totally random observation from your list.
Looking at the guys being fired, Gottfried and Crean are clearly better coaches than Groce, would be easily attainable, but won't sniff this position. Yet some want Groce to return. Unbelievable.
I actually don't think JW would want either Gottfried or Crean....not a splash enough in my opinion....name recognition will be paramount or a really good up and comer with an endorsement persay....like Self would do for Dooley from FGCU...not saying he would be a candidate, but he will be for someone and he will have that endorsement which will carry weight?
Agree that those 2 won't even be considered. Just saying there's coaches being fired this year that are clearly upgrades over Groce.
^^^^ This we agree on....lol almost all will be...sayin:thumb:
Deleted member 3875
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No more MAC coaches please.
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