Luckily they’ve spent the last 20 years squandering their advantages, but they absolutely have the resources to be a force in the NIL era.
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I was four months old when Keith Smart hit that shot, and this is hate speech imho.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
UCLA still gets my vote.
Little known fact: Illinois's school color was just orange until this rule was established..
Coaches around the country will tell you this is a top 10 job ...
Resources, Facilities, Fan support, and an elite level AD who gets it (this matters so much more than people realize) ...
We are a high level program and we act like it ...
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
People really overreacted to the Groce hire, coming on the heels of the Beckman shambles.
That didn't reflect a job no one wanted, even with someone like Mike Thomas at the helm. Thomas just made a big, big mistake because he really seemed to lack a good grasp of what you should be looking for on the coaching market and how to go through the process.
All of that said, Illinois Basketball is also a much better job now than it was then for a variety of reasons.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Apparently so do we. Even Arkansas has more through Wal-Mart money or whatever, this is the real question, IMO.
Has Brad been financially hamstrung whatsoever here? Look at the talent he has on this roster. The tradition, facilities and fan support are at least as good here as Arkansas, and the recruiting footprint is much better.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It’s not a subjective ranking, it’s the extension of the formula over all seasons. It’s like how our 2021 team would have added a “#2 ranking” to our overall average but only a Second Round appearance, too.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
No one doubts Indiana has a great history … but outside of their relatively small state’s borders, people just simply aren’t in awe of it. It’s actually funny, even people who grow up in that state hating IU (like Purdue or Butler fans or whatever) drink the Kool-Aid and overrate IU’s “brand.” I promise you that your average high school kid in suburban Chicago does NOT view Indiana as anything special moving forward … on a scale of how relevant your historical success is today where Kentucky basketball is a 10 and 1920s Illini football is a 0, Indiana is closer to a 5 or a 6.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
But it's just kind of hard to understand given that Coach K did not by any means invent Duke Basketball, that has been a strong program forever, they just hadn't won a national title.
Duke is us but better, and I can't imagine what statistical formula would tell you otherwise in 2009. (Their fourth title that coming season surely resolved the question regardless)
Duke was in the shadow of their rivals for most of their existence. In no uncertain terms, it was K who made them what they are. Duke never even made the NCAA tournament until 1980. Things began to change when they hired K in 80. But it wasn’t immediate.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Duke had been to four Final Fours, been runner-up twice, and had won 10 ACC championships by 1980.
Coach K driving the narrative that Duke was his personal fiefdom that had no meaning beyond his person was one of the many things that sucked about him.
Last edited:
The History of the Blue Devils: Duke Basketball | sportsreviews.com
With a 107-year history of excellence, Duke basketball has exemplified the true meaning of greatness. Four national championships have been won. Read more.
sportsreviews.com
exactly, people nationally don’t think of IU like they do with Kentucky, unc, duke..etc
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Okay? I'm afraid sportsreviews.com is not correct.The History of the Blue Devils: Duke Basketball | sportsreviews.com
With a 107-year history of excellence, Duke basketball has exemplified the true meaning of greatness. Four national championships have been won. Read more.
1978 NCAA Division I basketball championship game - Wikipedia
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Oh, I definitely agree. I just remember people were always like bringing up reasons why the list was “crazy” back when it came out as if the final ranking was like refined or proofed, haha. It’s just a formula. Looking at those results, it appears Big Ten teams benefited disproportionately from whatever SOS metric they used?
How many people under the age of 50 would consider IU a blue blood. I would guess it’s not many
Yep, lazy journalism… you’re right. That’s what I get for quoting certain internet sources without double checking.Okay? I'm afraid sportsreviews.com is not correct.
1978 NCAA Division I basketball championship game - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
There’s a reason every conference team hates us. We are the sleeping giant.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Thanks to BU, we are now more like the giant who is still on his first cup of coffee! This is an essential March to prove we can win in the Tournament.
If ILL is considered a top 10 job would it be fair to say BU is thought of as a top 10 coach?
BU is paid like a top 10 coach
They haven’t won a title since 1987 and haven’t been to a final 4 in 22 years. That’s not recency bias.
Indiana shouldn’t even be mentioned with UCLA, Duke, UK, or KU. Honestly UConn is closer to a blue blood than they are if we talk about the last 30 years.
Which is why it’s a disgrace that the team hasn’t made it to the second weekend of the tournament since 2005 (a feat that half the current conference teams, and all of the incoming programs, have accomplished).
- Status