2017 Coaching Carousel

UpstateRusty · Dec 27, 2016

Sir Dunk A Lot said:
People aren't really over reacting.. it's built up over the last 2 coaching staffs and people are tired and frustrated with the product put on the floor. Our defense is bad and we have several players that shoot almost every time they touch the ball for fear that they won't get it passed to them again. I am done watching Groce led teams, it's just not fun anymore. We should never, I repeat, NEVER get beaten by 20-30 points. Talent is wasted on this coach, and the fact that Tate still sees any minutes is proof enough that we need a new coach.

If we got Lovie in football, I'm excited to see what Whitman can do with basketball. It's time to open your eyes and realize that we are spinning our tires and sinking further into the mud. Anyways, I'm done ranting, but people need to wake up and stop blindly supporting bad basketball. I feel bad for the kids and want to support them, but the madness needs to stop.

X2 This program is toast. Groce cannot coach, he has the talent but doesnt seem to develop it. It is maddening to be an Illini basketball fan, I want to keep my sanity and I will stop being a fan until the University itself proves it cares. From my perspective being a bottom feeder in the B1G doesnt seem to bother enough people.

Smacko · Dec 27, 2016

PhillyIllini said:
The fact that not one of the 3 bench assistants have been changed over the past 5 years is mind boggling given this teams diminishing returns over the past three seasons. Groce just seems to be too loyal to a fault. Someone please tell me what Dustin has done for this program? Why is he still here? Honestly asking.

He has been busy setting up the pipeline of Canadian talent.

GortTheRobot · Dec 27, 2016

Serious Late said:
Every coach is going to do what is best for their career long term. There is no difference between Hoiberg and Miller in that regard. In fact, Hoiberg left his Alma mater for another gig. Miller has remained pretty loyal to Dayton while having several High Major programs come after him. I could care less if either left us after proving successful here, but I see little to no reason to think that more likely of Miller than Hoiberg.

Not to prolong an argument where there is none, that is not what I said. I simply said I prefer Holberg. Whether or not he is more inclined to leave was never a part of my stance.

I understand your points, and actually agree with them, I just want to reiterate my point, which is that I understand that some might be wary, which may or may not be justified, and that I prefer Holberg.

I am sure that we all just want to see Illinois return to the program that we remember, which for me goes back to my college days of "80 to "84.

I appreciate the commentary.

IlliniReb · Dec 27, 2016

Another name for consideration, although not as much experience as others previously mentioned:Bobby Hurley.

Ransom Stoddard · Dec 27, 2016

IlliniReb said:
Another name for consideration, although not as much experience as others previously mentioned:Bobby Hurley.

Please no. Just no. The fact that ASU took a flyer on him after 2 mostly mediocre years at Buffalo is flabbergasting. There's nothing that says "Power 5 HC" there other than his K connection.

kcib8130 · Dec 27, 2016

GortTheRobot said:
I share the reluctance over Miller...see Kruger and Self. However, I love the idea of Hoiberg re-establishing himself in college. It would be a splash hire, since no one really blames a college coach for not adjusting and succeeding in pros.

Ron Guenther, is that you?

That line of thinking is what got us the Bruce Weber years.

IlliniInOK · Dec 27, 2016

I just want to see someone come in who has won consistently wherever he has been.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

westms77 · Dec 27, 2016

Ransom Stoddard said:
Please no. Just no. The fact that ASU took a flyer on him after 2 mostly mediocre years at Buffalo is flabbergasting. There's nothing that says "Power 5 HC" there other than his K connection.

Sounds familiar

GortTheRobot · Dec 27, 2016

When you look back at the first few years of a lot of successful coaches, you definitely see some bumps in the road. However, it's usually just two or three seasons. I think Dean Smith and Lou are the only big names I can recall who had about five shaky years before turning it around.

Grace doesn't instill that kind of confidence. And if I sounded like Ron Guenther for a minute, (much to my dismay) let me state firmly, that I do not want to see Groce stay on for nine years just because he will. My sincere apologies for raising the specter of any Ron...Guenther or Zook...Swanson is acceptable.

Sal Iacuzzo · Dec 27, 2016

Ransom Stoddard said:
Please no. Just no. The fact that ASU took a flyer on him after 2 mostly mediocre years at Buffalo is flabbergasting. There's nothing that says "Power 5 HC" there other than his K connection.

His father is also the greatest HS coach of all time.

kcib8130 · Dec 27, 2016

GortTheRobot said:
When you look back at the first few years of a lot of successful coaches, you definitely see some bumps in the road. However, it's usually just two or three seasons. I think Dean Smith and Lou are the only big names I can recall who had about five shaky years before turning it around.

Grace doesn't instill that kind of confidence. And if I sounded like Ron Guenther for a minute, (much to my dismay) let me state firmly, that I do not want to see Groce stay on for nine years just because he will. My sincere apologies for raising the specter of any Ron...Guenther or Zook...Swanson is acceptable.

It's not that you stated you wanted Groce here for nine years, its that you said you wanted the next coach to be someone who will stay for a long time. That is the exact line of thinking that RG had when he hired BW, someone who wouldnt leave for another job right away.

BillyBob1 · Dec 27, 2016

Shaka might be available. Texas lost to Kent State today.

jmwillini · Dec 27, 2016

The main problem I see is that Groce's teams don't have an identity. Love home or hate home, you knew that Weber's teams had an identity offensively or defensively. He couldn't judge/recruit talent, but you knew what you were going to get on the floor.

I dvred tonight's game and deleted it, which happens too often. I think that short of a major run in the big ten, the only way Groce saves his job is replacing MULTIPLE assistants. Loyalty is nice, but...

MadSeason · Dec 27, 2016

Groce is going to have to pull something out of nowhere here.

I could excuse the 3 game losing streak earlier due to a team still finding an identity after not playing much together. There is no excuse however for a pathetic Big 10 opener like that. A veteran team getting their doors blown off by a team missing two interior players. Just pathetic.

I have lost any hope for Groce at this point

ole 99 · Dec 28, 2016

PhillyIllini said:
The fact that not one of the 3 bench assistants have been changed over the past 5 years is mind boggling given this teams diminishing returns over the past three seasons. Groce just seems to be too loyal to a fault. Someone please tell me what Dustin has done for this program? Why is he still here? Honestly asking.

I don't think loyalty is his primary fault. The guy just can't coach.

I also don't know why anyone cares about who the assistants are when the guy leading them can't do the job.

Dbell1981 · Dec 28, 2016

Walker goes nowhere if we want to retain tilmon. I've been a Groce supporter and I'm willing to turn the page. This sucks!

IlliniBacker · Dec 28, 2016

MakesNoSense said:
Illinois is a stepping stone so I hope Whittman gets the best available coach thathe can.

Maybe, but there are not tons of schools above Illinois to step to.

If Whitman resources the basketball program in a similar fashion as he has with football (I fully expect him to), Illinois WILL WIN (with a competent coach) and moves up the food chain to more of a destination school - for coaches and players.

mattcoldagelli · Dec 28, 2016

GortTheRobot said:
What I meant was that both were lured away, so I understand some reluctance over hiring someone who may use Illinois as a stepping stone.

Um, if I could sign an agreement to officially become Steppingstone U, where coaches are so impressive they take bigger jobs every 3-5 years, I would do it and do it yesterday.

You would think the last ten years would've taught Illinois fans what a high-class problem that is.

foby · Dec 28, 2016

Stealing Collins away from NU would not be a bad move. Would be very good for the rivalry for sure. But seriously, he has done a great job at their progression, and most likely leads them to their first NCAA bid this season.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Dec 28, 2016

jmwillini said:
I dvred tonight's game and deleted it, which happens too often. I think that short of a major run in the big ten, the only way Groce saves his job is replacing MULTIPLE assistants. Loyalty is nice, but...

I don't get the fascination some have with replacing assistants. It might make a difference in football, where a coordinator has a significant area of responsibility, but in hoops? That's not something that's going to fix your problems. You might get a guy that can bring in a specific recruit or two, but that's very short term.

2005ILLINIWHITESOX · Dec 28, 2016

So is it safe to say tourny bid or JG is history?

RickBB · Dec 28, 2016

MadSeason said:
Groce is going to have to pull something out of nowhere here.

I could excuse the 3 game losing streak earlier due to a team still finding an identity after not playing much together. There is no excuse however for a pathetic Big 10 opener like that. A veteran team getting their doors blown off by a team missing two interior players. Just pathetic.

I have lost any hope for Groce at this point

Agree with all of this. I was talking with a buddy of mine who was at the WVU beatdown. He said towards the end of the game that one of their players stood in front of the UI bench and was woofing "This is what happens when you don't show up."

At this point, I'll take that guy as coach.

bigchief65 · Dec 28, 2016

What about Assistant Coaches who are top recruiters or NBA assistants?

Kyle Neptune - Villanova
Kenny Payne- Kentucky
Lamont Paris - Wisconsin

NBA
Tim Hardaway
Rick Brunson
Anthony Grant
Howard Eisley

Deleted member 173571 · Dec 28, 2016

Fire Groce

All discussion should just focus on targeting realistic coach options not on whether Groce will be back if X, Y or Z happens. He lost this team 3 years ago. I think off-the-record one would come to that conclusion talking to the players or others well-connected to the program. Our ineptness...lack of competitiveness despite solid talent speaks to that.

My realistic but still reaching top three:

1. Cuonzo Martin
2. Ben Jacobson
3. Archie Miller

coryfor3 · Dec 28, 2016

WestIllini said:
Lon Kruger, Fred Hoiberg, Cuonzo Martin, Archie Miller. Focus on these four. I doubt Kruger would leave OU unless fired which is not very likely. If Hoiberg becomes available I think the chances of getting him would be pretty good. I don't know much about Martin but I can't imagine he'd want to leave Cal for Illinois. Who knows though. Miller would be a good hire and I'm sure we could get him, but he also seems like the kind to leave after getting a better offer.

I suspect that OU is Kruger's last job. He's 64 and probably not looking for a job where he would need to actually ramp up his commitment, time, energy, etc. He's got a good thing going there.

As far as the other three, I would say yes please on any of them. Martin might have the best possibility of keeping some of the positive gains in the ESL/SL area with recruits.

2017 Coaching Carousel

UpstateRusty

Smacko

GortTheRobot

IlliniReb

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest

kcib8130

IlliniInOK

westms77

GortTheRobot

Sal Iacuzzo

kcib8130

BillyBob1

jmwillini

MadSeason

ole 99

Dbell1981

IlliniBacker

mattcoldagelli

foby

WesterveltVictoryCigar

2005ILLINIWHITESOX

RickBB

bigchief65

Deleted member 173571

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coryfor3