That seems like an odd conversation to take place at this point in the season. I’m all for the conversation after the season but why would you bring it up now?
Duke 110, Illinois 67 Postgame
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This will be a bit long but I feel like it’s the decision we made to get OA back over retaining Chester and his guys. I’m not saying I don’t want Orlando back or that Chester leaving wasn't the right thing for everyone. I fully acknowledge I don’t know all the interpersonal dynamics between admin, coaches, and players.
As a passionate fan, it seems this is how things might’ve played out if we prioritized maintaining a critical mass of guys “raised” in our proven EDG culture instead of pushing them out for unproven talent.
Potential steps to maintain EDG culture and toughness for on court consistency.
1. You (over)pay/retain Coleman for leadership and cultural continuity. He’s a glue guy that does everything and makes winning plays. You promise him he only plays the 4 and keep that promise. CH mentoring Morez would’ve been huge. Imagine them together down low!
2. You retain Chester and make him D coordinator at the start of this season. Our D was terrible last year and that change should’ve been made going into this year.
3. I’m extending TA’s contract. Dude got you TSJ and Mayer…that’s the reason you made the tourney 2 years ago and what led to the E8 run last year. Also got you Morez; I’m just paying and retaining him no matter what.
4. You accept Jeremiah Fears as a reclass because relationships matter and it’s the right thing to do. See Bret’s staff and how they prioritize relationships.
Team could look like the below…with a focus on nonstop pressuring the rim on O, hard nose D across the boards, and intense rebounding on both ends.
Starters
Jeremiah Fears
Kylan Boswell
Ty Rodgers
Coleman Hawkins
Morez Johnson
Rotation
DGL
Sencire Harris (might’ve left regardless, if so replace in portal)
Amani Hansberry (same as above)
Portal 5
I assume Luke, Dain, and Nico still portal; might’ve been able to keep Luke and I would’ve tried. Also, assume no Will, KJ, Tomi, Jake, Ben, Tre, or Booth. We only take 2-3 guys out of the portal, and pay our guys and preserve our winning culture. Probably cost neutral or cheaper than the current roster.
Again, relational dynamics might’ve made this impossible, but at times, I can’t help but wonder if this would’ve been the better approach this year. How long will it take to rebuild our EDG culture and toughness?
As a passionate fan, it seems this is how things might’ve played out if we prioritized maintaining a critical mass of guys “raised” in our proven EDG culture instead of pushing them out for unproven talent.
Potential steps to maintain EDG culture and toughness for on court consistency.
1. You (over)pay/retain Coleman for leadership and cultural continuity. He’s a glue guy that does everything and makes winning plays. You promise him he only plays the 4 and keep that promise. CH mentoring Morez would’ve been huge. Imagine them together down low!
2. You retain Chester and make him D coordinator at the start of this season. Our D was terrible last year and that change should’ve been made going into this year.
3. I’m extending TA’s contract. Dude got you TSJ and Mayer…that’s the reason you made the tourney 2 years ago and what led to the E8 run last year. Also got you Morez; I’m just paying and retaining him no matter what.
4. You accept Jeremiah Fears as a reclass because relationships matter and it’s the right thing to do. See Bret’s staff and how they prioritize relationships.
Team could look like the below…with a focus on nonstop pressuring the rim on O, hard nose D across the boards, and intense rebounding on both ends.
Starters
Jeremiah Fears
Kylan Boswell
Ty Rodgers
Coleman Hawkins
Morez Johnson
Rotation
DGL
Sencire Harris (might’ve left regardless, if so replace in portal)
Amani Hansberry (same as above)
Portal 5
I assume Luke, Dain, and Nico still portal; might’ve been able to keep Luke and I would’ve tried. Also, assume no Will, KJ, Tomi, Jake, Ben, Tre, or Booth. We only take 2-3 guys out of the portal, and pay our guys and preserve our winning culture. Probably cost neutral or cheaper than the current roster.
Again, relational dynamics might’ve made this impossible, but at times, I can’t help but wonder if this would’ve been the better approach this year. How long will it take to rebuild our EDG culture and toughness?
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Coleman was never coming back. Don't know why fans have been saying this all year. He did not want to come back.
That’s fair and I acknowledge that in my post.
Best comment I've ever read on this forum. I totally agree with everything you said. If Brad would have done this we are easily in the tournament and Illinois basketball has a bright future . Instead Brad decided to do the opposite blow up the team. Get rid of players and assistant coaches and has set Illinois basketball back for Years. This is not just a this season things. Same issues from this season are going to remain next season. Time for Brad to go
Because if you're starting from a dead stop you're already way behind
My thoughts exactly. Not sure which team I like less. This one or 2023. I think 2023 since Skyy quit on the team, Epps couldn't handle the spotlight, Mayer was a head case, and Coleman was still not at his peak. We did get TSJ out of the deal, though.
This is generally ridiculous
I mean, we aren't hiring someone to be the deacon of a church. I think college basketball, and even more so this country in general, has proclaimed that stuff like this doesn't move the needle for the majority of people. I say that as I sit here and watch Rick Pitino and his #10 St. John's team beating the two time defending national champ lol.
Thank you, Jules. To your point, I am very concerned over how long will it take to rebuild our EDG culture and toughness…and if BU can do it.
Admittedly, I had my BU pitchfork out last night…we’ll get to the right place with Josh’s leadership whether that’s with BU at the helm or someone new. I trust his judgment.
A few things in response.
1. It isn't just that we're losing. It's the manner in which we're losing...in which we're looking completely unprepared for games on both ends of the floor. It's taking a world record spanking on national television.
2. Beyond the losing, there are a bunch of things that indicate that our coaching is broken. There are the substitution patterns and minutes distribution which don't make sense. There are reports of rifts developing between our coaching staff and key players like Tre White and Morez Johnson. This shows us that the wheels are coming off the bus. When the wheels are coming off the bus, you don't wait until the bus crashes and everybody's dead before you fix the bus.
3. This is Illinois. The expectation is that we'll compete for conference titles and make tournament runs "season after season." We aren't going to wait "season after season" if massive changes look necessary now.
This Illini team consistently loses ground in (1) points off turnovers and (2) points off fastbreak. This happened again last night:
Duke won:
Pts off turnovers: 20 – 8
Pts off fastbreak: 12 – 2
We also managed to lose ground on points off second chance: 27 – 8.
Duke won:
Pts off turnovers: 20 – 8
Pts off fastbreak: 12 – 2
We also managed to lose ground on points off second chance: 27 – 8.
Maybe, maybe not. Was an offer made to Coleman, which he turned down?
That starting 5 would be close to last in big ten. No shooters would be hard to win with.
Assistant coaches come and go What makes the program sustain success is THE HEAD Coach and his basketball philosophy and system. In Basketball and Football. The assistant coaches are just that assistant . The Assistant coaches are supposed to learn from the head coach not the other way around. WTH are you talking about. Real Head Coaches have a system and Coaching trees. Matt Painter, Bruce Weber basketball philosophy and system came from coaching and playing under Gene Keady at Purdue. Greg Gard system and philosophy came from being Bo Ryan’s Assistant coach at Wisconsin for years. Rick Pitino coaching tree Mark Pope ,Kevin Willard, Kevin Keats, Jon Scheyer, Chris Collins philosophy and system comes from Mike Kyzerzewski , Chris Beard, Dusty May philosophy and systems from Bobby Knight , Louisville coach Pat Kelsy Philosophy and system from being Skip Prosser’s assistant coach. Who is on Brad Underwood’s coaching tree of assistant coaches. Brad is a glorified AAU/Junior College Basketball coach that only with Generational talent can he compete and win in the Big Ten and upper echelons of NCAA Division I College basketball
Sounds to me like a good way to let Brad's representation know that his finding a new job is in everyone's best interest.
That team would shoot the 3 worse than the current team, but hopefully there would at least be some retained culture though.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
To add to this point: How can a team with two players that are arguably projected to get drafted in the first round, have a record breaking loss of 43 points? The Illini have lost by an average of 26 points the last 3 games! Granted all three of those teams were ranked, but still, this team should have been able to hang a little bit closer.
It is now 2 out of the last 3 seasons that the team has underperformed on the backend of the season. Brad has had a lot of success here, and I am greatly appreciative of the banners that have been raised over the last few years. However, it is valid to question if we are trending downward with respects to roster construction and coaching up the talent. We all know changes to the staff must come, but even the coaching staff has been a revolving door.
Brad is a top 10 paid coach, so the pressure from donors will become very pronounced. I am not advocating for a head coaching change at the moment, but I will not shed tears if he moves on. There are plenty of coaches that will perform well with the resources that Brad has been provided here.
PizzaHutParkingLot
- Vodice, Croatia
I'm a huge fan of Coach Underwood (see username), but your post overlooks some important context. While he's done a lot for the program, his in-game adjustments and stubbornness with ineffective strategies are holding us back. It’s not just about a 'hiccup' season—it’s about maximizing our postseason potential.
I believe he should get a chance to right the ship, but if, like the insiders suggest, he doesn’t see a problem and this season doesn’t lead to a staff shake-up, he might be the 'Doug Collins' of the rebuild—and hopefully, Josh Whitman can land our 'Phil Jackson.'
What shooters do Illinois have now . I’ll wait
As opposed to the great shooters on the current team. LOL
LouHenson
- Naples Florida
He is right, even if there is zero chance this will happen. In the day of NIL holding in to a losing coach even on second too long is so much worse than firing too early before.
Do you think any top level coach cares that Brad was fired after an E8 year? Not a chance, NIL is the equalizer get him out now so next year can start to rebuild back.
rmlsr
- El Paso,IL
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