rmlsr
- El Paso,IL
Yeah Underwood has had 2 bad seasons in the last 3 years. Not good
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
I think this is the correct take. You make changes to staff and get actual assistant coaches but you don't move on from Brad unless he desperately wants out or you know you have a proven better option in place on a handshake deal.
The simple truth is that there isn't many clear upgrades available and Brad is still a better coach than a lot programs which is why he keeps getting other schools sniffing around.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Macro point of view, I don’t see a lot of coaching movement. Retirements, coaches with low buyout numbers or salaried replaced for similar.
Reason: payment of players. Supposed to start this fall right? Schools don’t know the exact numbers yet. If number is higher than expected, need that extra money around.
This could also be a good opportunity for some schools, a la cycle after Covid with BB/leipold/freeman.
Reason: payment of players. Supposed to start this fall right? Schools don’t know the exact numbers yet. If number is higher than expected, need that extra money around.
This could also be a good opportunity for some schools, a la cycle after Covid with BB/leipold/freeman.
Define generational. Seems like a lot of generational talent in a very short span there.
sacraig
- The desert
KJ is like to be a first round one and done. I think that qualifies as generational in the same sense as multi-year Ayo, Kofi, and TSJ for us at this point. You could make the case for Ivisic and Riley as well.
Talent isn't the issue, aside from a few players who really haven't been good this year. Usage and game plan are the issues. Coaching is the issue.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
I would compare Brad to Lou. He took a dead in the water program and completely turned it around.
Very interesting point about Weber. I’m not a Weber fan but I’ll never say that the guy couldn’t coach. Where are we if NIL and the current facilities were available to him in 2005?
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
not sure those were his issues. just seemed like he had more difficulty connecting with recruits
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I imagine his 3 point accuracy was somewhat better than 30% as well
Weber was a good coach. Recruiting was Weber's downfall...but not sure "connecting with recruits" was the issue. I always felt like he was simply an honest man trying to operate within a dishonest system. Maybe I'm way off but it always seemed like he wasn't paying players when the big programs were. So I guess he wasn't connecting with their wallets?
I think we all agree BU needs to bring in at least one good x&o guy. Will he listen to him? I suspect the reason Gentry is back at Gonzaga is 71-58 Loyola. When you won't listen to someone who knows what to do and insist on doing the same thing repeatedly it's not going to help much to have a high paid guy on the bench next to you.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
To be fair, Self inherited Kruger's players, who won a conference championship with and had three tourney appearances in Kruger's four years. Brad inherited a flaming pile of horsesh*t that took two years to turn around. After those two years he is 134-59 overall (.694), and 68-39 (.635) in the B1G. And while Weber had a better overall record at Illinois (.675), his B1G record was worse at .576 (BU's overall B1G is still better even if you include those first two years at .580). But don't let those facts interrupt your rant. No one is happy with the last two months of play, and given the fact that Illinois has reached only two Final Fours in the last 80 years, it really is almost Indiana-like expecting that we reach the FF with any coach. FYI, I'm not a Brad cult member, but I do recognize that he's the best coach we've had since Henson that has stayed for more than just a few years. If he leaves, on to the next coach candidate. But to push him out? Not today.
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
He was also loyal to a fault with assistants.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Sounds familiar related to the present situation, at least with two in particular.
The more I think about this, the more I am relating this to what Nick Sirianni was facing with the Eagles the year before the most recently concluded one (the year the Eagles lost to the Buccaneers in the wild card playoff). I see a lot of similarities between Sirianni and Underwood. Both are fiery, both have a pretty strong stubborn streak, both have a clearly defined vision of what they want to accomplish. The Eagles flamed out that season much like the Illini have done this season. Sirianni took a long look at himself and made a lot of changes. For example, he gave up play-calling duties to Kellen Moore when he brought Moore in as offensive coordinator.
I don't know how easy it is for these coaches to connect, but I think Underwood would be well-served to talk with Sirianni. Seems like Sirianni was able to reflect and make some very important changes. I know one of the things many of us (myself included) have seemed to value in Brad is his ability to change and adapt. I think the parallels between Sirianni and Underwood are close enough that Nick could provide some good advice if Underwood is willing to listen.
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USAFILLINI
- Florida
BU’s tournament record leaves a lot to be desired. There’s no doubt he can deliver regular-season wins, which was something we desperately needed. However, to take the team to the next level in the tournament, we may need to look for a different coach.
2014: Lost Second Round
2015: Lost First Round
2016: Lost Second Round
2017: Lost First Round
2018: Missed Tournament
2019: Missed Tournament
2020: Covid
2021: Lost second Round as a one seed
2022: Lost Second Round
2023: Lost First Round
2024: Lost Sweet 16 to eventual NC
2014: Lost Second Round
2015: Lost First Round
2016: Lost Second Round
2017: Lost First Round
2018: Missed Tournament
2019: Missed Tournament
2020: Covid
2021: Lost second Round as a one seed
2022: Lost Second Round
2023: Lost First Round
2024: Lost Sweet 16 to eventual NC
So, you're saying we may not even make the basement this year? 17 wins to date with no guarantee of 3 more. Looking at the schedule, I wouldn't bet on 3 more.
Kofi, Ayo, Trent, and TSJ pulled the program up. I'm not sure how much Brad had to do with it other than recruiting. It certainly wasn't Xs and Os.
This.
Without the 2 players you mentioned along with Ayo what would Brad's record be?
Im not the biggest fan of Brad not even close. But he had to quite literally bring the program back. And his first two years represent that. Self inherited and successful program. Bruce Weber inherited the most talented group in the nation.
Is it possible we promoted Hamer and Tyler because Underwood is having trouble finding more qualified assistants that want to work for him? His history with assistant coaches hasn't been the best as evidenced by the Chester and TA situations. Is his reputation preceding him? NO gaslighting, just an honest question.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
This is the right take, assuming that Brad is willing to make the hard choices with respect to his coaching staff (any appearance of nepotism has to go away). Either way, the basketball program is set up for success, which is something that was not the case when Brad was brought in.
I have doubts that Brad can get us over the hump, but the Illini team has had some great talent during his tenure. If he can finally get a good x's and o's assistant (and listen to them) to get a better gameplan and in-game adjustments, then maybe we can get there. I am skeptical that Brad will get us to the F4, but he deserves the chance. However, I do not think there are any mulligans left...donor money will dry up, so next year will be critically important (assuming that this year continues in the direction of the last 2 weeks).
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- Status