Rumblings among some boosters is Groce is going to be back. Most disagree but Whitman is willing to let Groce go 1 more year because of his recruiting class. Really hope this doesn't cause a rift between boosters and Illinois.
2017 Coaching Carousel
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Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
He's not coming back.
Illini1221
Peru,IL
Maybe Nebraska, but Steve Pikiell is better than Groce I think. I'd take him over Groce.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
I will put my head in the proverbial lion's mouth and raise this as I know the tenor of this board is to move on. Please note the record of the following coach, who at this time last year was absolutely getting killed and ridiculed by this board and every other news outlet that you could find. Despite that the university, kept him.
2013-2014 25-13 & 8-10 in conference-won NIT
2014-2015 18-15 & 6-12 in conference- no postseason bid
2015-2016 8-23 & 2-16 in conference-no postseason
2016-2017 23-8 & 11-7 Will hear name announced on Sunday
Let me introduce you all to Richard Pitino. I should point out he was named coach after Minnesota "moved on" from Tubby so the cupboard was not bare. I have serious doubts about his ability to coach in the long run, but he pulled off an amazing turn around with a strong-not great-recruiting class. They were ranked 31st in nation by 247 and 19th by Scout. If you put anything into rankings and I think there is some merit to them, that might give folks food for thought. If Whitman decides not to pull the trigger, we have to hang our hats on this. And to the obvious question, do I trust Groce as a coach more than Pitino, even after all of this the answer is still yes. If someone brought this up previously in the 332 pages and I missed it I apologize
Again, if a change is made, I go all in for Marshall and pay him whatever he wants to get him to leave.
2013-2014 25-13 & 8-10 in conference-won NIT
2014-2015 18-15 & 6-12 in conference- no postseason bid
2015-2016 8-23 & 2-16 in conference-no postseason
2016-2017 23-8 & 11-7 Will hear name announced on Sunday
Let me introduce you all to Richard Pitino. I should point out he was named coach after Minnesota "moved on" from Tubby so the cupboard was not bare. I have serious doubts about his ability to coach in the long run, but he pulled off an amazing turn around with a strong-not great-recruiting class. They were ranked 31st in nation by 247 and 19th by Scout. If you put anything into rankings and I think there is some merit to them, that might give folks food for thought. If Whitman decides not to pull the trigger, we have to hang our hats on this. And to the obvious question, do I trust Groce as a coach more than Pitino, even after all of this the answer is still yes. If someone brought this up previously in the 332 pages and I missed it I apologize
Again, if a change is made, I go all in for Marshall and pay him whatever he wants to get him to leave.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Not what I'm hearing.
Definitely false.
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Maybe, but it doesn't jibe with what I've heard. I feel about 95% certain he's done and he already knows it.
I will be appalled if we retain Groce. It truly has become my worst nightmare for Illinois basketball. I can't possibly see retaining him as a solution that leads to good things for our beloved university. I keep have this feeling that Groce won't be fired... Please say it isn't so
In many ways, this decision will be a big litmus test for our AD. Many posters have already cited that he and Groce are nice guys of good integrity. OK, we've got that. But as I said once before, a program like the Illini should not be an on-the-job training program for the head coach. It's all about results. In any job review, isn't that what matters most to your superior who is evaluating you? Groce just can't seem to get the most out of his players. Our AD could stick with him, but in doing so he would seem to be putting his faith in this one man above the entire future of the program. There has to be one or more men (or women) out there who would accept the Illini job and get better results. Being mediocre mediocre is not acceptable. Being UPPER mediocre is not acceptable either. There is no Holy Book that says that Kansas, NC, Duke, and Kentucky have to soak up all the talent and national attention. The Illini have a place at that table if the Powers That Be have the guts to sit down and grab it.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Exactly. Getting rid of Groce is getting it right, and if none of the names mentioned (Miller, Keatts, Bennett) impress you, then you must be completely, disgustingly, offended by what Groce has done in five years.
sacraig
- The desert
opcorn:This is good fun. Almost as fun as having a stake in the selection show (for now I have to put on this new Arizona hat since I live here now).
I'm willing to bet plenty he gets fired tomorrow.
Scheyer needing to be interviewed for this "opening" is as likely as Weber being rehired....that is the worst possibility suggested so far imo. A Collins type coach coming into his own in such a short time is not the norm...Scheyer would be a foolish choice to hire, let alone interview.
Sacrilege!
Not sure how to respond to that. Different resumes are different. I prefer Keatts but I am also very interested in Jeff Capel, and Monty Williams (though it seems like that ship has sailed). I'm not trying to fit everyone into a one-size-fits-all box by any means.
And I don't even remember what board was the "it" board back then, but you can probably scour the internet to look it up. My big three when we fired Weber were Collins, Shaka, and Tim Miles in that order. And just to prove I'm not giving myself some favorable revisionist history, I was also one of the Reggie Theus people :tsk:
sacraig
- The desert
Right? I mean, I still don't have to like Lute Olson, but while I am here I might as well enjoy some good basketball until the Illini get it together.
If I remember correctly the only currency that is acceptable to bet around here is beach houses.
Deleted member 8632
D
Guest
You are either hammering the cool-aid, snorting cheeto dust or both. We are not, nor is it likely that we will ever be, in that "Holy Book".
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Keatts is rumored to be the lock if he wants it, solely based on what I have read and his background...
Miller again from reading online, seems to be all but locked in...not at NC State, but Indiana and Ohio State....I would be shocked if he is not coaching Indiana next year after Crean goes to Cal, and Martin goes to Mizzou...
Probably true, but it refutes that poster's statement that it would be somehow irresponsible not to consider the entire season of data before making a decision.
When you know, you know. Teams delay firings until after the season for reasons that have nothing to do with "gathering more information". There is no similar justification for delaying retention announcements and/or contract extensions.
Well played.:thumb:
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
TODAY
I lol'ed :thumb:
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