The Illinois Coaching Search

[haasi]

You've struck out with Monty, you've struck out with Marshall, you've struck out with Bennett, the Cuonzo thing happens and Tilmon's Mom is on the phone with you saying if she doesn't have a promise that Jamall Walker is on the next staff, she and her son are walking.



Don't act like this stuff is easy. The degree of difficulty here is a 15 out of 10.

Agree but if Bennett says he'd take the job if walker isn't on board, you take that 10 times out of ten. I guess the challenge would be if Bennett is noncommittal and you don't want to risk walker/Tilmon walking when they catch wind and then Bennett doesn't come either

Not sure the Archie conflict makes a ton of sense

 

[Branson53]

You've struck out with Monty, you've struck out with Marshall, you've struck out with Bennett, the Cuonzo thing happens and Tilmon's Mom is on the phone with you saying if she doesn't have a promise that Jamall Walker is on the next staff, she and her son are walking.

Don't act like this stuff is easy. The degree of difficulty here is a 15 out of 10.

I suppose you're right that things can change, but did JW say in the press conference that the decision to keep any of the current assistants would be up to the new coach? If he said it then, I'd believe him. He knows this hire is bigger than one recruit (hopefully).

 

[Second and Chalmers]

It's by no means easy, but our AD isn't stupid enough to risk a home run hire like Bennett on 1 recruit.

I'd like to think he's not stupid enough to be Bennett's bait to get a huge raise out of Virginia.

Stupid is the wrong word. These are all smart people. But the fog of war undoes just about everybody.

 

[miggytorres]

You've struck out with Monty, you've struck out with Marshall, you've struck out with Bennett, the Cuonzo thing happens and Tilmon's Mom is on the phone with you saying if she doesn't have a promise that Jamall Walker is on the next staff, she and her son are walking.

Don't act like this stuff is easy. The degree of difficulty here is a 15 out of 10.

Despite what he says at a press conference, decisions aren't made by JW in a vacuum. $$$ talks and we are told what JW instructs us to hear

 

[illynifan34]

It's by no means easy, but our AD isn't stupid enough to risk a home run hire like Bennett on 1 recruit.

He is very smart, he's also very new at this. Smart people make mistakes under stress when working new problems often.

 

[dmac279]

he would seem to be the betting favorite right now, but we have seen things change often in the 24-48-72 hours before the supposed announcement.

There are many reasons why a guy with Monty's background is appealing. There are also reasons why guys like Bennett and Marshall are appealing. I'm just hoping they really try (tried) hard to gauge interest out of those two in whatever way you can while their teams are still playing.

To hire Monty without ever having a discussion with the agent of those two current college head coaches would be a mistake, imo. But I am 100% behind the hiring of Monty regardless.

I just don't think JW wants to wait until UVa or WSU is out before hiring Monty. If the Monty thing doesn't pan out, I would look to Bryce Drew as the fall back option.

Nothing wrong with any of them, we have very good choices, hope someone is the nterested

 

[Second and Chalmers]

JW has warring opinions from the boosters that he is accountable to regarding the search.

Yeah. People really need to contemplate the strings that come attached to the kind of money we're purportedly willing to throw around.

 

[illynifan34]

Yeah. People really need to contemplate the strings that come attached to the kind of money we're purportedly willing to throw around.

Yeah I was wondering if someone says to JW here's a million dollars a year as long as Tilmon is here next year.

Might be too basic.

 

[GBPillini]

He is very smart, he's also very new at this. Smart people make mistakes under stress when working new problems often.

There are mistakes and then there is flat out incompetence. If this is true it's incompetence, and I really don't think that fits JW.

 

[haasi]

I have to say, I myself wouldn't want Whitman's job right now. sounds extremely challenging.


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[illynifan34]

There are mistakes and then there is flat out incompetence. If this is true it's incompetence, and I really don't think that fits JW.

It's just very plausible that a guy who has never done this before doesn't know what he's doing the first time. If it isn't to you we won't agree.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Yeah I was wondering if someone says to JW here's a million dollars a year as long as Tilmon is here next year.

I don't know if it's that specific. Honestly I think the Tilmon thing is more public perception.

He has become the unofficial barometer of success or failure in this process among the huddled band of die-hards that are still day-to-day Illini fans. Dan Muller and Tilmon beats Eric Musselman and no Tilmon, in that view.

But of course, that's myopic and ridiculous. And the tiny band of recruitniks are not the audience. The audience is the millions of people who have just stopped caring or paying attention anymore. You don't reach them with a guy at a podium, I don't care who it is. You reach them with wins, and future wins (in the medium term) bear exceedingly little correlation with whether Jeremiah Tilmon is an Illini.

 

[haasi]

Right the way I now read miggys post above is that a precondition to considering the job on Bennett's end was bringing in his own staff, and Whitman didn't want to risk news getting out that walker wasn't necessarily on board because he didn't have enough confidence that bennett would actually take job once he took walker off table. If Bennett would have been ready to take job without Walker of course completely different story


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[Adnarel]

Rarely get inside information (feel free to dismiss) but do hear things through the grapevine at times:

Bennett, not Williams, was #1. Was lukewarm on the Illinois job but apparently Walker's position is a requirement due to recruiting retention. So Bennett is a hard and firm "no". No insights to Plans B or C but Miller and Marshall are preemptive "no's" due to Walker being a "must" on the coaching roster. Search moves down a tier in desired candidates. All I have, will likely hear more when the search is over.

This is terrifyingly plausible.

 

[GortTheRobot]

Tilmon is a huge get, but he is not Jabari Parker or Anthony Davis. At the end of the day, I don't think he, his handlers, or his Mom have the leverage to demand Walker or else from JW. This hire is bigger than one recruit.

To that end, I do not believe, even for a second, that JW would tell Bennet, Miller, or Marshall that he "must" keep Walker. Suggest it? Yes. But not demand. He could make it a condition for Bryce Drew however, if he is willing to ditch Vandy.

Prohm and Musselman are still out there, and, of course, we may all be spitting in the wind while JW and Monty are just waiting for Monday or Tuesday.

Getting long winded here, sorry, but if it is Monty, and Walker is staying, I don't think it would be a bad thing to announce him before the game. Bring him to the game! let the fans rejoice and welcome him! Get everyone hyped for next year and start by taking the NIT.

 

[haasi]

It seems to me that Bennett ought to be able to recognize that if he's serious about job, he'd be able to bring in his own staff. Also, not sure that walkers retention really ought to be a huge road block to these guys. If he's got great local recruiting connections, bringing in high quality recruits and is one assistant of three, seems like that shouldn't necessarily be deal breaker on their end anyway


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[dmac279]

Benefit of hindsight. Shakawatch was next level hype.

:thumb:

 

[Iloveorangekoolaid]

I love how people worshipped Whitman after the Lovie hire, and now after 2 other coaches being hired to P5 schools that everybody is losing their mind when the application hasn't even closed yet. We need some patience. Better to make the right decision, than the quick one.

 

[Adnarel]

Also, not sure that walkers retention really ought to be a huge road block to these guys. If he's got great local recruiting connections, bringing in high quality recruits and is one assistant of three, seems like that shouldn't necessarily be deal breaker on their end anyway

I can appreciate this hypothetical stipulation being awkward for candidates for the Illinois job.

It is not difficult for me to believe that a HC would have a preferred cadre of assistants (especially a well-regarded HC). An AD foisting a new member of staff on a coach could easily be construed as a substantial imposition. Doesn't invalidate your point, but we have egos and money and friendships amongst coaching circles to consider here.

 

[South Farms]

its still possible Tilmon never sees a minute of playing time in our uniform regardless of who is coaching. To say that he has anything at all to do with the selection of our next coach is ludicrous.

This is about getting the next coach of UI who will either rescue us from basketball hell or will put us there for the next 8-10 years. JW needs a home run hire here, and if he can get TB, GM, AM or Monty, he will. Recruits be damned.

 

[dmac279]

You've struck out with Monty, you've struck out with Marshall, you've struck out with Bennett, the Cuonzo thing happens and Tilmon's Mom is on the phone with you saying if she doesn't have a promise that Jamall Walker is on the next staff, she and her son are walking.

Don't act like this stuff is easy. The degree of difficulty here is a 15 out of 10.

Hmmm, bye bye Tilmon, I'd trade Tilmon for any of those coaches.

 

[illini80]

JW made clear in his press conference that the new hc would have the final say on his staff but that he would recommend keeping Walker. I can't imagine home saying that publicly and then taking a completely different approach.

 

[afpharmdawg]

here is the real scoop. Monty Williams to be hired as Head Coach and Archie Miller as an extremely highly paid assistant for the Women's B-Ball team.

Insert Mike Drop

 

[ChicagoIllini]

Hmmm, bye bye Tilmon, I'd trade our entire recruiting class for any of those coaches.

FIFY. :thumb:

 

[hooraybeer]

its still possible Tilmon never sees a minute of playing time in our uniform regardless of who is coaching. To say that he has anything at all to do with the selection of our next coach is ludicrous.

This is about getting the next coach of UI who will either rescue us from basketball hell or will put us there for the next 8-10 years. JW needs a home run hire here, and if he can get TB, GM, AM or Monty, he will. Recruits be damned.

you said what i was thinking better than I was thinking it