I took some time off from IL board (I know, heresy) after the UCONN game and have spent quite some time catching up, especially with this thread. From what I have read and giving the insiders' comments proper weight (read, more weight), I think I would rather have Yaklich (and I am probably in a party of one) and then Clark or maybe Cohen although I think an insider said that wasn't happening. I just feel his skills and abilities as a defense coach (defensive coach?, coach of defense?) are something Illinois sorely needs. Or, does OA also have those skills? On the other hand, there were insider comments about how badly BU wants OA back so I guess I am wrong. I thought of putting Boynton as my first as he is a defense guy and much more but I really don't think he is leaving Michigan now. Too late.
Also, I thought I read somewhere that Pope was not going to retain any of Calipari's Assistant coaches. I think some people were wondering about that.
Also, in the April 8-9 Coaches Carousel there were many, many (oh, man, so many) pages of the whole UK and Calipari mess and who would replace him and two people actually posited Pope as a possible candidate. On page 10 (and that thread is 25 pages, almost all of it about the UK situation) Oskeefan said, "Mark Pope from BYU could be a darkhorse candidate for the Kentucky job." And on pg. 14 BfosterL wrote, "Pope would get a look I would think". Absolute silence was the reaction. Eventually toward the end of that thread Pope's name was raised again and a few people reacted with dismissive replies, which is understandable. Still seems like a not-so-good decision. But anyway, shout out to Oskeefan and BfosterL. for their prescience.