Obelix, I appreciate a lot of your takes on this site but if you really think McLaurin had any effect on Brandon Paul's perimeter shooting, maybe I should rethink my attitude towards your posts. BP had space to shoot because DJ and Tyler could also knock down shots, not because Sam had a respectable post game.
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Obelix, I appreciate a lot of your takes on this site but if you really think McLaurin had any effect on Brandon Paul's perimeter shooting, maybe I should rethink my attitude towards your posts. BP had space to shoot because DJ and Tyler could also knock down shots, not because Sam had a respectable post game.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I don't know if this is what Obelix meant, but Sam was excellent at getting the ball OUT of the post as soon as the defense started coming down on him. Often got us some great perimeter looks.
Yes, and that is why in my post I said independent of stats. There is a reason SM played in all games and averaged 21 mpg, it was not his offensive production. He was undersized, but provided valuable post presence, and could hold his ground and pass, something that Nnanna was never able to do.
Actually, one of our biggest problems in Groce's tenure has been exactly that, post presence. We have heard the premise of many shooters, yada, yada... but without post presence, combined with lack of PG who can push tempo and penetrate, opposing defenses had always been able to cheat and extend to the perimeter.
That is why I believe Tilmon could help greatly. I have seen him many times and do not expect him to average greats stats early on as a freshman, but his inside presence could make a difference in our game flow and perimeter game, even as a freshman. JMO.
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Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Whitman gave Lovie 6 years to show progress. While I'd say that the basketball program is in better shape right now, it would take an obvious lack of progress from the new coach for Whitman to fire him after 3 years, crazy fanbase be damned.
OrangeAndBlues
- Indianapolis
To be fair, it takes a lot longer to turn around a whole football program than it does a basketball program.
I don't know if I agree with should be back, but I feel it is likely he will be.
Tend to agree. I think now he has a decent argument with how the team has looked over last few games and the growth of TJL and Nichols to go with Black, JCL, Finke and recruiting class. He has a much better argument than he did a month ago.
I still think it is a mistake to keep him
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I think he is earning the right for the opportunity. He still has to close out the season and the BTT but, barring some crazy collapse, i think he will be back. The win tonight was Huge. He knew it, the fans knew it. Josh Whitman Knew it.
No. There is still a very good chance we end up in NIT with a team that should have comfortably been in NCAAs.
If this run continues then yes the conversation is over
I like how Groce has lowered expectations for this program so much that it is somehow helping him.
He should not be back period.
He should not be back period.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Get.
To.
The.
Tournament.
Then we can debate the "should" part.
To.
The.
Tournament.
Then we can debate the "should" part.
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
Those last 6 include a home loss to Penn State. A Penn State team that isn't good and beat us twice. I'm resigning myself to Groce being back but I'm not happy about it.
Trakis
- Chicago, IL
Literally for Malcolm. Get to the dance for Malcolm.
Then yeah... we can all regroup in April.
the national
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I dont agree with you. I think Weber did that. Weber left Groce nothing in the cupboard, and it took a few years for it to rear its ugly head. The job was too big for John early on. I think he is learning on the job.
It's been hard to endure, for the fans but even moreso on Groce himself. However, I do think he is pointed in the right direction. The upcoming class plus how he pulled this team together gives me some confidence. The defensive turnaround gives me hope.
This was Weber's doing.
All of those arguments have been put to rest already in this thread so not much point in revisiting them, but it is hard to take seriously the Weber left the cupboard bare part on a night after a night like Malcolm had tonight. Weber significantly lowered the expectations for this program, but Groce has completely cratered them having somehow convinced this fanbase that making the tournament is somehow an accomplishment and not an expectation.
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Weber was/is a titanic buffoon and program destroyer. However, it is hard to argue that 5 years is not enough to turn a program around
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Is that what we should do?
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I dont think he's convinced the fan base that barely making the tournament is something to be celebrated. You prove that by holding your position. Alot of fans agree with you. I didnt think he was right guy for the job when hired but he is learning how to be the right guy. Its taking him longer to figure it out than i would have hoped but there is progress. Next year is it, imo.
After going through this thread, it seems the goal was NCAA tournament or bust. Just curious if this was based on actual projection of this team? In other words was this through orange nd blue kool-aid colored glasses. Just did a quick Google search and the "experts" had us as follows. It doesn't look like many of the experts had us dancing.
Athlon picked Illinois 11th in BIG 10.
Lindy's picked Illinois 8th in BIG 10.
Sporting News picked Illinois 6th in BIG 10.
CBS picked Illinois 65th in the nation.
USA Today: Illinois was not in Other Receiving votes, (32 teams, 7 BIG 10 teams in top 57).
A/P: Illinois was not in Other Receiving votes, (32 teams, 7 BIG 10 teams in top 57).
Athlon picked Illinois 11th in BIG 10.
Lindy's picked Illinois 8th in BIG 10.
Sporting News picked Illinois 6th in BIG 10.
CBS picked Illinois 65th in the nation.
USA Today: Illinois was not in Other Receiving votes, (32 teams, 7 BIG 10 teams in top 57).
A/P: Illinois was not in Other Receiving votes, (32 teams, 7 BIG 10 teams in top 57).
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Doesn't matter what the experts predicted, you should be making a tournament with your players by year 5 to measure progress.
sacraig
- The desert
I'd call him a program strangler. His means of destroying a program. Is to kill it so slowly that it goes under the radar for a few too many years.
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