Recent content by rcataldo

I think it is natural for people to rationalize Tilmon's departure by calling him overrated. I don't think anyone on this board would say they don't want Tilmon or wouldn't welcome him back with open arms. We are UNDOUBTEDLY better with him than without him. The reality is though, we have...

I agree with that. I think Tilmon's commitment was big for our program, and keeping him is a HUGE step towards the rebuild. All of that said, and I said this before, I am not convinced he is the player that we all want him to be. He will probably be a good player at some point in his career...

That is a fair point. My point is, there isn't a perfect hire. People can learn to recruit, very few can learn to coach. There are a lot of good coaches that are potentially available us, each with pros and cons. Everyone has the right to their opinions, but how many people have watched a...

It's amazing how fickle the board is. Majority says they want a guy, then as soon as smoke picks up around that candidate, it's all second guessing. People were disappointed when Monty apparently backed out, now rumors picking up again and people are coming out of the woodwork to say no good...

Cuonzo might very well steal Walker and our recruits, but lets face it, no one in our class is a program changer. There are some really good players, but even Tilmon isn't going to lead us to a final four. Perhaps Cuonzo's strategy of hiring kids fathers and stealing assistants will mask his...

This forum is a thing of beauty sometimes. With all the inside informants and detailed analysis here, I don't even know why we need JW. We can just have the board hire the coach... It's amazing how the sentiment in some cases has gone from how Groce has to go and how anyone can do better, to...

Yeah. Never said he wasn't capable of making good plays. I have unreasonable expectations of him playing well for more than a few plays a game. I want to see him take over a game against a GOOD team. The only decent team where he put over 20 was NC State (debateable how GOOD they are). Even...

I know it's not going to be a popular opinion, but Malcolm has not played that well this year. He disappears too much against stronger competition and hangs 30+ on the bums. He is way too timid, and doesn't seem to be the strong senior leader the team needs. Despite a less advanced skillset...

I'm sure Groce doesn't enjoy losing. He is a "positive guy" which is good in measured stretches and in the right situation. But he has no bark and no bite. Guys like Izzo and Bo Ryan get/got the most from their teams because they know when to apply the pressure to their players. I didn't...

I agree. I'm so tired of Groce trying to put a positive spin on it all the time. It's OK to say "we didn't play well". He seems like a guy who charmed his way into a job. and a few big recruits, but is in way over his head. Maybe if he had just a bit more edge or grit our team would reflect...

While it does appear that sentiment has shifted quite a bit here, I still find it very surprising that people are defending Groce. Is the talent as strong as some of us would like to think it is? Probably not. However FOR YEARS we have never had a team that has been better than the sum of its...

Problem with that logic is, while most teams we play won't have a PG go 15/21, we are going to see A LOT of teams that are much stronger and deeper than Winthrop. Keon Johnson is far from the best player we will see this year, and his supporting cast pales in comparison to other B10 teams we...

I've been a long time lurker on this forum, and I have been an Illini fan for about 20 years now. I often just sit back and read, but I can't help but post today.... Groce is easily the worst X and Os coach I can remember at our school. I really don't understand the unbridled optimism by some...