No way I'm keeping up with all this... I'll wait for all the official announcements and then check the CliffsNotes.
If college athletics were logicalIt’s fun to get into these hypotheticals but I think there will be much less shake up than what everyone says.
Self is staying at KU, they would give him all the time in the world to heal. Even a season off.
Calipari probably gets at least another year at Kentucky, but if he underperforms again it might be off to the pros.
Arkansas will probably pay anything to keep musselman RN, as would Xavier with Miller
Doesn’t leave a lot of high profile jobs open, except Texas. I would guess they give it to Terry in the end.
My 2 cents
I saw an article yesterday — can’t remember where — on how Arizona State should let Hurley go. He hasn’t been terrible, but he hasn’t been very good either. Not unexpectedly, his first 2 seasons at ASU were bad, but I think he’s only like 5 games over .500 in conference since then. And all of their NCAA tourney bids have been First Fours, though he did win two of them.I’m surprised I don’t hear Bobby Hurley’s name thrown around for more jobs. Been at ASU for 8 years and has been pretty good. I think he was at Buffalo before and had them playing well. I don’t think ASU is his ceiling.
The reality of it is that Texas doesn't want to and doesn't intend to give the job to Terry. If they lose on Friday that will be the end of it and the search proceeds.It’s fun to get into these hypotheticals but I think there will be much less shake up than what everyone says.
Self is staying at KU, they would give him all the time in the world to heal. Even a season off.
Calipari probably gets at least another year at Kentucky, but if he underperforms again it might be off to the pros.
Arkansas will probably pay anything to keep musselman RN, as would Xavier with Miller
Doesn’t leave a lot of high profile jobs open, except Texas. I would guess they give it to Terry in the end.
My 2 cents
Yep, it's hard to overstate how BAD things were at Illinois when Whitman took this gig. We regularly appeared on "sleeping giant" lists, but it was all talk; Whitman showed that in a short time period we could catapult to being nationally relevant in both major sports (insanely more impressive in football), and he's not done. Not even close. Josh is a gem.As long as we maintain a minimum of this level of respectability then I am all in on Whitman and whatever hardball he decides to play and whatever hiring decisions he makes. He's earned a long leash. The last 5ish years have been a hell of a ride.
True, even if BU stays we are likely going to be having this discussion every offseason from now on, especially if no deeper runs in March ensue, will only be a matter of time....I'd be ecstatic with Miller (and especially that staff) and maybe this is just the new "Wild West" of college hoops in general, but ... would it not bother us inherently if Brad were "looking for a way out," regardless of whom we get to replace him? Unless we just chalk this up to a uniquely Brad Underwood issue, it's pretty alarming ... he has everything he needs to win, and more importantly/sobering - everything Illinois Basketball has to offer anyone. Facilities, fertile recruiting grounds, tradition of winning, large/passionate fan support, exposure in huge media markets, Big Ten security/TV money, etc.
Texas is one thing, as they are truly unique in college sports as far as money (literally 30 times the endowment of most schools, due to oil royalties, IIRC), but Arkansas?! What on Earth is there at Arkansas that there isn't here? A SLIGHTLY better tradition to a point where it doesn't move the needle whatsoever?? I have a hard time believing their facilities outclass ours to a point of wanting to move. Administrative support? I'd be shocked. Recruiting footprint? No comparison. Fan support? Looks to pretty much be a draw, as both are phenomenal. NIL money? That would be extremely sad on our part ... Illinois has more and wealthier alumni than Arkansas and larger metro areas from which to draw support.
Again, "bruised pride" is the only way I would feel even if Underwood is back but it's heavily rumored he wants out. This should be a job people rarely if ever leave, and a superb AD like Whitman is the icing on the cake.
Texas won’t even get to the Final Four. . . because I have them there in my bracket.But if they win the national championship, it will become very difficult not to retain Terry, not least of which because the job becomes less appealing if you're stepping into a situation in which the reigning national champion has just gotten fired.
I'd be ecstatic with Miller (and especially that staff) and maybe this is just the new "Wild West" of college hoops in general, but ... would it not bother us inherently if Brad were "looking for a way out," regardless of whom we get to replace him? Unless we just chalk this up to a uniquely Brad Underwood issue, it's pretty alarming ... he has everything he needs to win, and more importantly/sobering - everything Illinois Basketball has to offer anyone. Facilities, fertile recruiting grounds, tradition of winning, large/passionate fan support, exposure in huge media markets, Big Ten security/TV money, etc.
Texas is one thing, as they are truly unique in college sports as far as money (literally 30 times the endowment of most schools, due to oil royalties, IIRC), but Arkansas?! What on Earth is there at Arkansas that there isn't here? A SLIGHTLY better tradition to a point where it doesn't move the needle whatsoever?? I have a hard time believing their facilities outclass ours to a point of wanting to move. Administrative support? I'd be shocked. Recruiting footprint? No comparison. Fan support? Looks to pretty much be a draw, as both are phenomenal. NIL money? That would be extremely sad on our part ... Illinois has more and wealthier alumni than Arkansas and larger metro areas from which to draw support.
Again, "bruised pride" is the only way I would feel even if Underwood is back but it's heavily rumored he wants out. This should be a job people rarely if ever leave, and a superb AD like Whitman is the icing on the cake.
I’d say if they reach final four you’d have a very tough time not keeping him. It sucks there’s a bar in a single elimination random tournament but it exists.The reality of it is that Texas doesn't want to and doesn't intend to give the job to Terry. If they lose on Friday that will be the end of it and the search proceeds.
But if they win the national championship, it will become very difficult not to retain Terry, not least of which because the job becomes less appealing if you're stepping into a situation in which the reigning national champion has just gotten fired.
All of which is to say, the situation is unknowable to any actor right now, even those fully on the inside. So everyone, Chris Del Conte, BU, Whitman, Sean Miller, whoever, are just flapping their gums at this point as the tectonic plates upon which the coaching carousel will play out have not yet formed.
It would be a pretty big hit to the image of this program, IMO. Taking Kruger from Florida and Underwood from Oklahoma State is where we should be ... not taking Weber from SIU or Groce from Ohio. That all comes down to timing and the AD, but let's take our personal fan emotions/disappointments out of this one and look at it objectively ... Illinois should be a destination, and if it's not, the problem is both (A) us and (B) fixable!It all depends on who the replacement is. If it actually is a Sean Miller type, then fans will get over BU very very fast.
On the other hand, if we interview some big names and all of them turn us down, that's when we start to wonder how well our resources actually stack up to the rest.
It's always kinda flowed in the direction of the collective financial resources of those that passionately care about winning in basketball.Also, the narrative around Texas really shows the death of "traditional college sports" in favor of money rules all. Don't get me wrong, this has been primarily about money for decades ... but this is a whole new ballgame. Texas is not a traditional basketball power, and THAT is how you used to be able to attract big-time coaches.
A) the grass is always greener elsewhere; B) a lot of people get antsy or bored with their current jobs after 4 or 5 years or so; C) it's easier to find a job when you are viewed as up and coming than when you are a known entity. Let's face it, we underachieved this year and BU is developing a reputation for flaming out early in the tournament. If he goes say 9-11 in conference play next year, he will be a year away from potentially losing his job unless he turns things around.It would be a pretty big hit to the image of this program, IMO. Taking Kruger from Florida and Underwood from Oklahoma State is where we should be ... not taking Weber from SIU or Groce from Ohio. That all comes down to timing and the AD, but let's take our personal fan emotions/disappointments out of this one and look at it objectively ... Illinois should be a destination, and if it's not, the problem is both (A) us and (B) fixable!
I would question his judgement thinking it'd be easier to win at Arkansas than Illinois, but if we (very foolishly) couldn't counter that? I suppose making $6 million vs. $4.2 million is a pretty big bump, so yes - money always talks!A) the grass is always greener elsewhere; B) a lot of people get antsy or bored with their current jobs after 4 or 5 years or so; C) it's easier to find a job when you are viewed as up and coming than when you are a known entity. Let's face it, we underachieved this year and BU is developing a reputation for flaming out early in the tournament. If he goes say 9-11 in conference play next year, he will be a year away from potentially losing his job unless he turns things around.
Given those circumstances, if say Arkansas offered him $6M year for 5 years, would you blame him for thinking seriously about it?
I just took a read through the last few pages of the Texas message board's thread about their next coach. Some interesting tidbits, only of course applying to some fans' anecdotal attitudes:
(1) While I'm sure their boosters have inflated egos and demand some splash hire, that does not seem to apply to their fans. A lot of …
(3) Not one mention of Brad Underwood.
Legit question.....Has Terry even said he's interested in the Head coaching position if offered???The reality of it is that Texas doesn't want to and doesn't intend to give the job to Terry. If they lose on Friday that will be the end of it and the search proceeds.
But if they win the national championship, it will become very difficult not to retain Terry, not least of which because the job becomes less appealing if you're stepping into a situation in which the reigning national champion has just gotten fired.
All of which is to say, the situation is unknowable to any actor right now, even those fully on the inside. So everyone, Chris Del Conte, BU, Whitman, Sean Miller, whoever, are just flapping their gums at this point as the tectonic plates upon which the coaching carousel will play out have not yet formed.
YesLegit question.....Has Terry even said he's interested in the Head coaching position if offered???
(3) Not one mention of Brad Underwood.
Zero mention on the Texas side and this only coming from Illinois means he's more likely than not going to be the coach next yearI just took a read through the last few pages of the Texas message board's thread about their next coach. Some interesting tidbits, only of course applying to some fans' anecdotal attitudes:
(1) While I'm sure their boosters have inflated egos and demand some splash hire, that does not seem to apply to their fans. A lot of comments about "not being a basketball Blue Blood" and this being their first Sweet Sixteen since 2008. It's understandable for fans to have a different outlook than the boosters, but a lot of those posters seem to view Texas basketball as closer to "how it's always been" than "what it should be."
(2) Terry seems pretty damn popular. I saw quite a few posters stating it would actually be pretty crazy not to hire him.
(3) Not one mention of Brad Underwood.