The Illinois Coaching Search

[GoIllini40]

Jankovich is living off Larry Brown's recruits, he was a nothing at Illinois State

 

[foby]

151-127 at North Texas and Illinois State that's permanent mediocrity.

Yup, but I don't want him. I'm on the Keatts Train, don't you know, Holy Roller?

 

[foby]

Jankovich is living off Larry Brown's recruits, he was a nothing at Illinois State

Wow. It always fascinates me how we can say these things about human beings. Harsh.

 

[KrushCow31]

Nope. But I was being generous because S&C seems to highly regard him. And S&C is kind of the unofficial king of this thread.

Self appointmented. This is No Democracy

 

[MadSeason]

But Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Mich State, Maryland, presumably Indiana, North-freaking-western, and possibly Minnesota are ahead of us in coaches who win games.

Tom Izzo .713
Greg Gard .702
Matt Painter .652
Mark Turgeon .631
John Beilein .614
Cuonzo Martin .606
Chris Collins .553
Richard Pitino .551

You are partially right.

 

[MGR95]

Before Mizzou hired CM, the common opinion on this thread was "We don't want Cuanzo! Good recruiter, terrible coach. Mizzou can have him."

Now that Mizzou got him everybody is freaking out that we need a recruiter to compete with Cuanzo lol. We can't have it both ways.

I trust that JW could've had Martin if he wanted him (which I doubt) and that he will find a coach that we can all support.

I'm sure something like this has been said, but I felt the need to say it again anyways.

 

[Obelix]

But if both are mediocre coaches, how long will each coach last? I've never understood how players continue to commit to these coaches after it is well established that they are not the greatest at actually winning games. Get a coach who can win here and in a few years we probably won't have to worry about Martin and/or Ford.

Winning helps recruiting, but good recruiters continue to pull talent for some time, even in other jobs. Travis Ford was in the hot seat, yet he pulled Jawun Evans. He got fired, with all the bad reputation that you talk about, and he just landed Goodwin and Carte'Are Gordon. You say Cuonzo is mediocre, but he is likely to land the top recruit in the nation. Even Groce, who IMO did not get great recruiting results, still pulled his best recruiting class on his way out.

If your assumption is that we can consistently win in the B1G in the next 3-4 years without significantly upgrading our talent, and that both Cuonzo and Ford will do terribly at their schools, and their recruiting prowess will stop and recruits will just divert to our program, I think you are making too many assumptions that are highly suspect.

If a coach can win consistently and compete in the B1G in the next few years while losing recruiting battles, then there is no worry whatsoever, even if Cuonzo/Ford succeed and continue to get recruits. It would mean that we have discovered the secret recipe of winning consistently in the B1G without much dependency on recruiting. Personally, I do not think that is likely to happen. I think we need a serious upgrade in talent to achieve that outcome, and we need a dynamic recruiter at the helm. JMO.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Tom Izzo .713
Greg Gard .702
Matt Painter .652
Mark Turgeon .631
John Beilein .614
Cuonzo Martin .606
Chris Collins .553
Richard Pitino .551

You are partially right.

Finishing top six in the SEC is easier than the BIG in my opinion. I also think Collins is a sure bet to finish above Martin on this list for his career (though probably at Duke). Pitino was definitely an unsure bet on the future.

 

[illynifan34]

Yup, but I don't want him. I'm on the Keatts Train, don't you know, Holy Roller?

Make a signature I have a hard enough time remembering all the coaches that turned down Mike Thomas much less remembering which posters want which coach.

If anyone is wondering I'm on the too nervous to pick a train Train.

 

[MadSeason]

Finishing top six in the SEC is easier than the BIG in my opinion. I also think Collins is a sure bet to finish above Martin on this list for his career (though probably at Duke). Pitino was definitely an unsure bet on the future.

We don't know, Martin is in his home area now. May make a difference, may not. Whitman bet that it won't and I hope he is right.

I did not want to see Cuonzo's offense here, but every stud recruit he gets will hurt

 

[SycIllini]

Have a bet with a couple of IU fans. Have to give 3 names for UI job and 3 names for IU job over the weekend. Who would be in your top three most likely for each job?

My thought so far UI-BDrew, Keats, Capel. IU-Marshal, Alford, ?.

Any suggestions?

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Winning helps recruiting, but good recruiters continue to pull talent for some time, even in other jobs. Travis Ford was in the hot seat, yet he pulled Jawun Evans. He got fired, with all the bad reputation that you talk about, and he just landed Goodwin and Carte'Are Gordon. You say Cuonzo is mediocre, but he is likely to land the top recruit in the nation. Even Groce, who IMO did not get great recruiting results, still pulled his best recruiting class on his way out.

If your assumption is that we can consistently win in the B1G in the next 3-4 years without significantly upgrading our talent, and that both Cuonzo and Ford will do terribly at their schools, and their recruiting prowess will stop and recruits will just divert to our program, I think you are making too many assumptions that are highly suspect.

If a coach can win consistently and compete in the B1G in the next few years while losing recruiting battles, then there is no worry whatsoever, even if Cuonzo/Ford succeed and continue to get recruits. It would mean that we have discovered the secret recipe of winning consistently in the B1G without much dependency on recruiting. Personally, I do not think that is likely to happen. I think we need a serious upgrade in talent to achieve that outcome, and we need a dynamic recruiter at the helm. JMO.

Respect you and your posts, but I don't think anyone is saying "we don't need a coach who can recruit". It seems that one side is saying "Cuonzo was not and still is not a top choice for us (noting that Cuonzo likely wouldn't have pulled Porter to UI)". And somehow the other side is saying "now what - Cuonzo went to a nearby school, whatever shall we do???"

 

[Obelix]

My thing is, Mizzou hiring Martin changes nothing for Illinois. Regardless of who Mizzou hired, we were going to need to land a dynamic recruiter to achieve sustained success. Recruiting intensity has always been very high; Martin and Ford don't change that. If Martin and Ford aren't competing with Illinois for recruits in the area, at least 10 other coaches will be.

Sure, but your point on E. St. Louis that I responded is off the mark.

There will always be coaches/schools competing for recruits. That is the same everywhere, but to say that with Ford at SLU and Cuonzo at Mizzou,recruiting in our own backyard does not change the recruiting intensity or competition, is wrong. Goodwin is a classic example. You take Ford out, and he likely ends up at UI.

 

[Illinoy]

Winning helps recruiting, but good recruiters continue to pull talent for some time, even in other jobs. Travis Ford was in the hot seat, yet he pulled Jawun Evans. He got fired, with all the bad reputation that you talk about, and he just landed Goodwin and Carte'Are Gordon. You say Cuonzo is mediocre, but he is likely to land the top recruit in the nation. Even Groce, who IMO did not get great recruiting results, still pulled his best recruiting class on his way out.

If your assumption is that we can consistently win in the B1G in the next 3-4 years without significantly upgrading our talent, and that both Cuonzo and Ford will do terribly at their schools, and their recruiting prowess will stop and recruits will just divert to our program, I think you are making too many assumptions that are highly suspect.

If a coach can win consistently and compete in the B1G in the next few years while losing recruiting battles, then there is no worry whatsoever, even if Cuonzo/Ford succeed and continue to get recruits. It would mean that we have discovered the secret recipe of winning consistently in the B1G without much dependency on recruiting. Personally, I do not think that is likely to happen. I think we need a serious upgrade in talent to achieve that outcome, and we need a dynamic recruiter at the helm. JMO.

I've been trying to get this across for the past 5 days.

 

[Branson53]

Before Mizzou hired CM, the common opinion on this thread was "We don't want Cuanzo! Good recruiter, terrible coach. Mizzou can have him."

Now that Mizzou got him everybody is freaking out that we need a recruiter to compete with Cuanzo lol. We can't have it both ways.

I trust that JW could've had Martin if he wanted him (which I doubt) and that he will find a coach that we can all support.

I'm sure something like this has been said, but I felt the need to say it again anyways.

I think you're right. However, the masses will freak out because of the uncertainty. Mizzou knows they are getting a recruiter who was able to land (most likely) the number 1 recruit in the nation within 24 hours, while we still don't know our fate. It's understandable, it makes me uneasy too.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Have a bet with a couple of IU fans. Have to give 3 names for UI job and 3 names for IU job over the weekend. Who would be in your top three most likely for each job?

My thought so far UI-BDrew, Keats, Capel. IU-Marshal, Alford, ?.

Any suggestions?

IU - Alford, Marshall, Archie
UI - Drew, Keatts, Bennett-or-Archie (I'm not delusional, but I think they are as likely as any other individual name)

 

[KrushCow31]

Not that anyone cares, but I still am glad we didn't pick Martin And Missouri certainly doesn't change that.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

The discussion on Kendall Gill's mentioning of Sam Mitchell's interest in the job was fairly brief. Why is this board so opposed to Mitchell?

What is there to be in favor of?

 

[MadSeason]

Respect you and your posts, but I don't think anyone is saying "we don't need a coach who can recruit". It seems that one side is saying "Cuonzo was not and still is not a top choice for us (noting that Cuonzo likely wouldn't have pulled Porter to UI)". And somehow the other side is saying "now what - Cuonzo went to a nearby school, whatever shall we do???"

It isn't that at all. Cuonzo was the safe high floor guy. He would have recruited. We all trusted that. Now we are in the unknown. Not whatever shall we do without him, but what will we do if the hire is less than inspiring. Like last time.

We passed on safe, we better get really good

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

I still believe Cuonzo picked Mizzou because that choice came with the #1 recruit ... Not that Cuonzo picked MZ and then immediately "landed" the #1 recruit. The next MZ coach was going to hire Michael Sr to get Michael Jr. And if Michael Sr wasn't a fan of a candidate, I'm not sure said candidate gets the job. Perfect storm for CM - perhaps so perfect he spurned JW. But not an option that was available to UI.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

It isn't that at all. Cuonzo was the safe high floor guy. He would have recruited. We all trusted that.

With all due respect, that was not the narrative here. He was described as a low ceiling guy.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

It isn't that at all. Cuonzo was the safe high floor guy. He would have recruited. We all trusted that. Now we are in the unknown. Not whatever shall we do without him, but what will we do if the hire is less than inspiring. Like last time.

We passed on safe, we better get really good

See my post that followed. I don't think we passed on CM. I think CM chose $21m at mizzou plus the Porter family over CONSIDERATION for 20+m at UI and no porters

 

[MGR95]

It isn't that at all. Cuonzo was the safe high floor guy. He would have recruited. We all trusted that. Now we are in the unknown. Not whatever shall we do without him, but what will we do if the hire is less than inspiring. Like last time.

We passed on safe, we better get really good

And I think we have to trust JW to deliver. He is a better advocate and salesman for our University than anyone else I could think of, miles ahead of Mike Thomas.

Until he makes an uninspiring hire, I'm not going to have any doubt that he is capable of making the right moves for us (even if the hire is meh, I'll give that coach a chance to prove himself before righting off JW's abilities).

 

[Original jay z]

Looonnnggg time lurker...first post ever...I must say that this thread is super entertaining...here are my two cents...the various reports of offers to Monty or what's his name in Columbia are false...Whitman has been quiet and should be...he is not going to show his cards as he works behind the scenes...Illinois has other competition now for the headliners many of you have pointed out...but although we would like this coaching issue to be resolved now and not later, we all need to practice patience...my gut is telling me Whitman knows who he is pursuing...the pursuit of this coach will not get serious until that coach loses his tournament game...Will it be Bennett? Keats? Drew? Someone else? Who knows? Only Whitman knows...patience my brothers and sisters...my gut tells me we will be elated...very elated...and as my wife has told me..."you're gut instinct is rarely wrong"...however continue your debate, argument, and occasional meltdowns...have fun because in a few days Whitman in a bright orange tie will step to the podium and say "This is a great day to be an Illini as I introduce _______ as the new men's basketball coach...I-L-L

 

[illiniguy24]

Not that anyone cares, but I still am glad we didn't pick Martin And Missouri certainly doesn't change that.

I care, friend.


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