I would also argue that our football program was in a way worse place than our basketball program pre Underwood and Bielema. Not that the basketball peogram was anything to write home about before Underwood and I do commend Underwood for bringing the floor for the team up in his time here. I also am not calling for Underwood's removal, but I agree some assistant coaching changes need to be made. The nepotism is what concerns me, that rarely works out well. Just look at Lovie, or Ferentz.
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
Do you have any idea where TA goes? Is he trying to be a high level assistant or find a head coaching job?
Bigtex
- DFW
Barnes has been a little better in NCAA tourney recently but the worst 2 NCAA coaches in NCAA tourney history have been:
1. meaning worst Barnes
2 Henson
This is comparing coaches to their seed and results.
This … I am getting Ace Miller vibes … Which is causing me to be less optimistic …
I am assuming part of the pitch to stay would be to say look at the others who have left the program. They all go to schools that don’t have as much success and haven’t gone on to be drafted/find success in pro leagues….plus if he stays he will be one of the only ones which will allow Illinois to put pieces around him to succeed. I always hear about NIL money for transfers, but is it safe to say that his NIL offer would go up significantly next year if he stays?
Underwood's ability to have the Illini competing for B1G season championships is great, but it's also just a stepping stone toward being a national powerhouse. The national audience doesn't focus on conference championships, but on the tourney that pits those teams against each other. BU has the Illini in the national mindset, but to be a top team in the nation, that next step of being dangerous most years in the NCAAs is the next step. An aside on Jeremiah Fears - he was lightning in a bottle early in the season, and considered a lottery pick in the draft. His stock has taken a substantial hit in the SEC season, as his performance has dropped noticeably. Recent articles I've read have listed him as being someone whose NBA stock has now fallen to mid first round. JMHO that he will need substantial G League play to get to NBA quality, and as a lottery pick would be a bust.
Yes! Do not want to overbeat this drum but losing Gentry's X' and O's knowledge to try and replace that with just talent alone is not how/nor should a top tier program operate.I don’t think anyone’s giving up on the players …
But in the words of Shauna Green “no one gives aif you’re sick or hurt” … Figure it out …
Fact of the matter is this … Brad screwed up in recruiting so we have ZERO front court depth … Booth, Tre, Ben all missed evals … DGL should be playing over Kylan … Period … Jakstys belongs at EIU … Nothing personal against the kid but we’re at a different level as a program at this point …
And he told the Fears we don’t want you not ONCE but TWICE … I’d take both of them right now …
He let Chester and TA walk out the door and only replaced one of them … How many “top 10” programs would try and steal our assistants if they had an opening outside of Antigua ?
And let’s just call it what it is … His in game coaching is not good … It’s not been good since the mastermind that is Stephen Gentry left …
Brad said last year about a million times how much he enjoyed coaching an old team … Get old … Stay old … And he goes out and went young AGAIN …
It’s not just our guys being sick … There is a multitude of things here that are simply not good enough if we are truly a “top 10 program” IMO …
This team desperately needs someone other than TU and Hamer gameplanning and making adjustments.
Generally agree with the overlying sentiment that if the staff looks the same next year we are in bigger trouble than we think. We desperately need someone who can elevate the talent by supplementing the (very obviously missing) X's and O's for in game strategy.
How many SLOB, BLOB, OOTO situations have they not only just given away points but not made adjustments?
If Minnesota gets rid of Ben Johnson I would sprint to make him an assistant.
100% This is the correct answer... They thought Kylan coming in as the secondary ball handler and top tier defender would help lift us and he just flat out has not been what he was at AZ.
His 3pt% going from 38% --> 29% was someone not a single person on this thread would have predicted considering he shot 39% as a freshman too.
However Jeremiah's playmaking is exactly what this team would need allowing Will to play more off the ball.
Unfortunate the way it worked out but Jeremiah over Kylan has been sorely overlooked.
I can't imagine that he's going to get looks for a HC job at a D1 school outside of a very small school hoping to get lucky. I also have to think that taking this year off and the way it transpired would not be looked at favorably by anyone. Definitely in line for coach/recruiter at a mid to top tier school.
Surely they will look at how that situation turned out and be hesitant with making a similar decision.
You give camps and "people" a little too much credit. Even if they do look at other situations, everyone thinks it won't happen to them.
It’s not like that’s a one off lesson to be learned situation. Plenty of guys get awful advice from their inner circle.
I think in the age of NIL, if you want someone bad enough, showing them a large enough dollar amount probably trumps most whispers.
I think in the age of NIL, if you want someone bad enough, showing them a large enough dollar amount probably trumps most whispers.
I know there’s some interest between him and some big time programs …
Sounds like Brad will have some staff shakeup. Now, all of you fans can't complain about continuity when we have 2 or maybe 3 new assistants in this offseason.
DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Who we shaking up?
Morez and Ivisic need to be back. I'm okay with going talent > continuity sometimes, but that's literally your top two best players (next year). There is your talent.
Everyone agrees with that. But just Morez and Tomi isn't going to do the trick. They'll be fine.
I suppose that will depend on what part of the staff gets shaken up.
No one is asking for continuity to outweigh coaching competence. No one.
Honestly Tomi and Morez is actually a pretty solid foundation to build a competitive roster around. It's not like returning the best perimeter player in the country like Shannon but pretty good.
There's some other guys I'd like to keep like DGL and
MTy but there really isn't much else imo outside of KJ and Riley which would be awesome but both should go pro. Davis is fine if he's like your 8th/9th guy.
Personally would like to just see them going after more athleticism and age. Obviously last year had the 5th year Domask as the key but I think people underestimate how important Guerrier and Harmon(despite his struggles) were to that team and in the locker room. All three of those guys shared being veterans and they were all tough basketball players that were bought into winning.
drsmitty74
- Rochester
To be fair, I don't expect 0440 to say much when 80% of the talk is badmouthing he and his Hammer friend.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
As far as I'm concerned, Antigua is the only one who absolutely should stay. Everyone else could or can be a part of the staff shakeup. Hamer needs to go. Nothing personal, it's just business. I'd really like to see Tyler get a position somewhere else so he can spread his wings on his own. GA is a harder call for me. I'd really like to see at least one assistant come in that's at a higher level. If that means Geoff moves on for a better opportunity for him, then I'll accept that and move on.
So for me, I'd like to see us return to a full five-person assistant staff. Antigua stays, Hamer moves on for sure. A full-fledged TA replacement. GA either gets a promotion out or sticks around, then the fifth spot is either TU, KJ, or another entry-level assistant with some promise. Now I fully realize budget will play a role in all of this.
Not talking is.... Being quiet
- Status