Michigan 75, Illinois 55 POSTGAME

[Illiini]

Man, that picture of Malcolm in the locker room after the game. I wish so badly that he could have gone dancing.

Anyone who has played sports at any level beyond sandlot knows that feeling, though not as much as Malcolm is feeling right now. It's particularly sad after his knee problem, and knowing that he wasn't able to be his best, that feeling of having let the team down.

Malcolm, feel for you, buddy.

 

[PlayAZ]

They may. You have no idea.

New coach will have to re-recruit them. Easier than starting from scratch. If the right coach is hired and it is communicated properly, there is a good chance they commit to the new coach.

If either were to ask out...

Out of offers made to Tilmon, Kansas, MSU, St Louis would be his options I think...UNC, UCLA seem out of reach even with offers.

Frazier...Baylor might be the best landing spot, depending on coaches movement etc

 

[champaignchris]

I did at first but with the effort that the seniors put in today(except for TA) and some of the other games, I kinda don't feel bad for him.

People keep talking about Malcolm's effort...

You do realize he has an injured knee and was playing on one leg, right?

 

[HTT]

I won't care about Fraizer or Tilmon if Groce is not gone. Based on the potential upon time of recruiting, JCL should be one of the best players in the college and DJW should be a qualified big ten starter. But they show no signs of achieving those levels after their soph year. Groce cannot coach players to whatever potential they have. He has to be fired before it is relevant to talk about quality of recruiting class.

Under Groce, Tilmon will be mediocre; Trent and Damonte will be bad; JCL will get undrafted; DJW and Jordan will transfer to small schools; Tejon and KN will not ever learn how to score themselves.

 

[dmac279]

Oh well.

I would imagine, they would like another shot at committing after watching this mess.

 

[skyIdub]

How are people still rationally thinking we should not play in the NIT? Why is still an actual conversation? What is wrong with people?

FOR THE LOVE OF COMMON SENSE AND ALL THAT IS REASONABLE YOU ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY WITHOUT A SINGLE SHRED OF ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER ONE HUNDRED MILLION PERCENT TIMES INFINITY AND BEYOND NO QUESTIONS ASKED POSITIVELY CONCLUSIVELY UNQUESTIONABLY NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS DEFINITELY PLAY IN THE NIT!

END.
OF.
STORY.

Good grief.

 

[Ball Press]

Obviously

What is the Over/Under for how many times Groce will use the word "Obviously"

He wears that word out .... time for a change John

Time for a change Josh

Just listened to press conference and he used the word EIGHT Times. You would think the SID, his wife, ... someone would coach him up to not use the term all the time. "Obviously" it is time for a change. Need to make it quick so we can attempt to keep recruits.

Please DO NOT ago to NIT .... fans and players have suffered enough. What would it prove.

 

[danielb927]

Please DO NOT ago to NIT .... fans and players have suffered enough. What would it prove.

How about that the program cares about its players and wants to give them the opportunity to practice more, play more basketball games and compete for an NIT championship?

 

[rtrotter]

Maybe he's a vampire...

Groce can't motivate during the daylight hours.

He never seems to win day games. Does anyone else get scared when they see Rutgers scheduled on a Saturday or Sunday Mid-Day? I've noticed it over the past 3 or 4 years, but here is just a 2 year sample:

Including B10 Tourney play, when games against B10 opponents were before 5 PM:

Groce was 3-14

5PM and later:

Groce was 12-11.

He can't get his players up for the game.

 

[danielb927]

Agreed. This season should end with us being completely embarrassed on our home court.

I'm sure the players appreciate that so many fans know how the team's NIT run would turn out and want to protect them from their own instincts to try and win. We wouldn't want to encourage students to persevere in the face of difficulty, or anything.

 

[IlliniInTexas]

How are people still rationally thinking we should not play in the NIT? Why is still an actual conversation? What is wrong with people?

FOR THE LOVE OF COMMON SENSE AND ALL THAT IS REASONABLE YOU ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY WITHOUT A SINGLE SHRED OF ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER ONE HUNDRED MILLION PERCENT TIMES INFINITY AND BEYOND NO QUESTIONS ASKED POSITIVELY CONCLUSIVELY UNQUESTIONABLY NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS DEFINITELY PLAY IN THE NIT!

END.
OF.
STORY.

Good grief.

hahahaha. Have you not been around the last month? From GROCE IS WORST COACH IN THE BIG TEN after Minnesota to GROCE IS 100% SAFE after MSU, and now to FIRE GROCE AND SCREW THE NIT.

Yes, you play in the NIT. Heck, you probably wait until after that to fire the coach. If you're Whitman, you've been working behind the scenes since at least mid-season (if not before the season). Now that we've officially missed the tourney, you kick that plan into high gear.

Tough way to end Malcolm's career. The dude that would have been an incredible #2 scorer on any team, but had to carry this team in too many ways. Affected his shot selection and probably his chances of getting drafted. No doubt in my mind that with an effective lead guard, Malcolm could have been a 40+% 3 point shooter. Maybe he could have even been an effective defender if he didn't have to spend so much energy on offense.

So proud of Tracy today, even with the loss. That dude is just pure heart. If Groce doesn't take him out before the half, I think we could would been down just mid-singles at halftime.

Should be an eventful offseason at least....

 

[Elgin7680]

Groce, going going gone!

 

[ChampaignLou]

20+ Losses

Does anyone have a summary of 20+ point losses now under our guy Groce?

20 point or more losses in Groce Era:

2012-2013: 1
2013-2014: 2
2014-2015: 1
2015-2016: 5
2016-2017: 3

Entire Weber era had 3.

 

[dmac279]

Agreed. This season should end with us being completely embarrassed on our home court.

I would think it's up to the players if they want to play.

 

[LisaMarie]

I don't believe teams have the option of declining an NIT bid ever since the NCAA bought out the NIT back in 2005.

I thought the same thing, but LSU did last year (preemptively, I think). Perhaps an urban legend.

 

[GortTheRobot]

This is the logic that got us Groce in the first place

It was a joke, a play on words. I am just being facetious in the aftermath of a long series of disappointments. I am actually quite confident we will have a very good hire, contrary to many who are concerned about not getting someone great.

 

[NScale]

The real reason

Here is what you're all overlooking.
No Illinois men's basketball team has ever advanced to the NCAA tournament with a player sporting a man bun.
You have to recognize bad JuJu when you see it.
He shoulda snipped the damn thing off. Then we would have had a shot.

 

[FoxesFan]

Well Said, and this . . . .

Yep. Because a coach is a grown up professional with a seven-figure job. The players are kids in their teens and 20s who play the game in exchange for an education and a chance to represent the university. 100% totally different. Regardless of whether they've met our standards with their play, they have poured their hearts and souls into Illini basketball. They should (and will) get a chance to keep playing this season.

For Tracy Abrams, Mike Thorne, and Jaylon Tate, this stretch is likely the last time they'll get to play competitive basketball. For Malcolm and Mav, they'll catch on somewhere and play pro ball, but this is the end of a profoundly important period of their lives. They've all been good students and citizens. They shouldn't be denied the opportunity to go out on their own terms because some armchair coach decides they're not good enough.

Groce will be fired, as he should, because that's how these things work. The team will play in the NIT, as they should, because these student athletes deserve the opportunity. Quit being petulant.

As the others have indicated, well said FG. I'll add this as well, I've literally prayed for John Groce over the last few weeks. Not just that the team win, and he retain his job. But, if that isn't in his future, that he be able to land somewhere to continue to be a positive influence on those around him. I'd hire him in a minute to do a variety of things because I think that he has demonstrated that he is a dedicated, hard working, responsible man of integrity. He fell short in this assignment. Many great men have fallen, only to get back up and do great things. Thank you for pouring your heart into this mission JFG. God's Speed.

 

[miggytorres]

As the others have indicated, well said FG. I'll add this as well, I've literally prayed for John Groce over the last few weeks. Not just that the team win, and he retain his job. But, if that isn't in his future, that he be able to land somewhere to continue to be a positive influence on those around him. I'd hire him in a minute to do a variety of things because I think that he has demonstrated that he is a dedicated, hard working, responsible man of integrity. He fell short in this assignment. Many great men have fallen, only to get back up and do great things. Thank you for pouring your heart into this mission JFG. God's Speed.

Not worried for a minute about him landing on his feet. Groce could make half a mil being a top assistant/recruiter on a blue-blood staff. He could pick and choose anywhere in the midwest. He gets one Tilmon a year and he's gold. Just don't make him the CEO of a power-5 (or whatever it is these days) school. It's not his bag. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[illini8507]

So, was there anything in this game worth my time watching? Or should I just delete it from my DVR now and patiently wait for Whitman to announce Monty Williams as our new coach?

Completely forgot about the game today, btw. Had no idea until i got a text from an old pledge brother shortly after the game ended. says enough to me about the state of the program.

 

[Deleted member 11241]

So, was there anything in this game worth my time watching? Or should I just delete it from my DVR now and patiently wait for Whitman to announce Monty Williams as our new coach?

Completely forgot about the game today, btw. Had no idea until i got a text from an old pledge brother shortly after the game ended. says enough to me about the state of the program.

Delete it. Nothing worth seeing

 

[SescIllini]

We should look for a new coach, it is a high paying job but not a tenured position. But lets not be bullies or classless. JFG represented the University well. I do expect to see Groce is fired headline on this MB soon. Still think it will be Martin. Chance to turnaround program and win early.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

So, was there anything in this game worth my time watching? Or should I just delete it from my DVR now and patiently wait for Whitman to announce Monty Williams as our new coach?

Completely forgot about the game today, btw. Had no idea until i got a text from an old pledge brother shortly after the game ended. says enough to me about the state of the program.

Unless you're a really big Tracy Abrams fan, just delete it.

 

[bobbyjomaloney]

golf forever

When your in the business world you have a yearly performance appraisal...you can lose your job if you fail to perform. It's hard when someone is trying and failing but you have to move on. J.G. is 37-53 in the big Ten. That is a 5 year review of failure. Let's move on and not look back.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

So, was there anything in this game worth my time watching?

Tracy Abrams left us something to remember him by. Love that kid.