2017 Coaching Carousel

89illinigrad said:

Compared to Henson (1 final 4, 1 EE, 1 Sweet 16 and only 1 BIG championship), that's pretty impressive and we named our court after Henson.

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Those are from 3 different stops for Barnes. Add in Henson's New Mexico St accomplishments and it matches up well. I would argue that Henson had to build up the Illinois program during a time when the Big 10 was stocked with legendary coaches. Knight, Keady, Heathcote, Lute Olson, Clem Haskins, Bill Frieder.

Big 10 was loaded year in year out

FiveStar said:

Man, I don't know where all the Rick Barnes hate comes from, but I'd take a guy with his potential without blinking right now.

Head coaching record
Overall 633–343 (.649)
Accomplishments and honors Championships
NCAA Regional Championship - Final Four (2003)
3× Big 12 regular season championship (1999, 2006, 2008)
Big East Tournament championship (1994)
NCAA Tournament Achievements
3× Elite Eights (2003, 2006, 2008)
6× Sweet Sixteens (1997, 2002–2004, 2006, 2008)
22× NCAA Tournament Bids (1989, 1990, 1994, 1996–2012, 2014, 2015)

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This was my point from the start...talent trumps coaching. When I sit down and I watch Rick Barnes or Roy Williams make adjustments, run plays, sub players, etc. I'm constantly scratching my head. These guys win a lot of games, but that's more due to the talent on their roster IMO.

Granted I am biased, but I think this program has a HUGE attraction for the right guy. If you are the kind of guy that wants to build a program and have your statue, we are your best shot. If you want to follow a legacy, there are other "Ferrari" programs for sure that would be a bit easier for a great coach to maintain. I really thought Bill Self was a build your own kind of guy, but I guess I was wrong about that. Brad Stevens seems like he could be as well.

This program enjoyed three excellent coaches back to back in Lou, Lon and Bill. Bruce benefited from the momentum, but after those three the fans expected a solid upward trend, and not a steady state drifting around the NCAA bubble. We have had three great coaches in a row, followed by a good coach, and then a below average coach.

My dream, and probably every other Illini fan's dream is for JW to pull out another rabbit. If he has that up his sleeve, I'm good - no great - with that. If we are just trading Groce in for another up and coming guy with a decent resume at a lower level, I'm frankly OK with giving Groce another year. I am no John Groce fan. the best thing folks say about him is his recruiting, but frankly I think he is a poor overall recruiter as well. How in the world can we have point guard issues year after year if he is such a great recruiter. How could we have had years when we are so thin inside (this year is better for sure) Seems to be like post depth and point guard are the easiest positions to recruit. He might be a "great recruiter of "stars", but not of teams.

If JW does not have an ace up his sleeve, I'd prefer to give Groce a year with his new class and a new bunch of assistants. The Ron Zook option. Not because Groce deserves it, but because I don't want to spend another 5 years figuring out what we have with another John Groce. This next hire is super important. There are enough people around that can remember the good old days an know they can be repeated and even taken to a higher level, but waste another 5 years and we will be starting over.

drwillini said:

My dream, and probably every other Illini fan's dream is for JW to pull out another rabbit. If he has that up his sleeve, I'm good - no great - with that. If we are just trading Groce in for another up and coming guy with a decent resume at a lower level, I'm frankly OK with giving Groce another year. I am no John Groce fan. the best thing folks say about him is his recruiting, but frankly I think he is a poor overall recruiter as well. How in the world can we have point guard issues year after year if he is such a great recruiter. How could we have had years when we are so thin inside (this year is better for sure) Seems to be like post depth and point guard are the easiest positions to recruit. He might be a "great recruiter of "stars", but not of teams.

If JW does not have an ace up his sleeve, I'd prefer to give Groce a year with his new class and a new bunch of assistants. The Ron Zook option. Not because Groce deserves it, but because I don't want to spend another 5 years figuring out what we have with another John Groce. This next hire is super important. There are enough people around that can remember the good old days an know they can be repeated and even taken to a higher level, but waste another 5 years and we will be starting over.

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I have to disagree with you here. I'd rather try that up-and-coming guy than having another year of what we already know is bad. We had an up-and-coming guy from Tulsa once. I'd rather take a shot at getting that than continuing to wander in the basketball wilderness with Groce. THIS year was that "another year" for Groce, given because of the injury excuse, and we see where that's gotten us.

The Ron Zook option only served to ultimately set that program back even further. And sure, we remember the good old days, but those are getting farther and farther away. It's already completely out of the consciousness of any recruits and most of the current students, and if nothing else, we can't keep hemorrhaging season ticket holders and recent/future alumni interest.

There's "good old days" for lots of programs that have NEVER recovered. We're outside of the range of being able to build just on the past. Keeping Groce only makes the recovery that much more difficult, and makes success that much further away.

So I guess nothing new? Is Kevin Keatts, Cuonzo Martin and Monty Williams still the top 3 candidates to replace John Groce if Whitman can't get Archie Miller or Tony Bennett?

Believe JG's recruiting ability is overrated and his coaching ability may be under rated. When we had Egwu our defense was not bad. Offense is looking much better with TJL at the point. We have two four stars with very little playing time. He was unable to recruit a point guard or a rim protector in four years and his systems depend on those positions. Getting four stars but not covering the positions is not good recruiting. Emphasis on the MAY on the coaching.

gottaluvillini said:

So I guess nothing new? Is Kevin Keatts, Cuonzo Martin and Monty Williams still the top 3 candidates to replace John Groce if Whitman can't get Archie Miller or Tony Bennett?

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It's looking like the NC State job is going to be open. Either Archie will take it, or it will be obvious he wants a blue blood or Ohio State. Can't see Illinois getting him. But I hope there are other candidates in that tier (CRONIN) that are still in play. (Actually, UC is doing a $60M+ renovation to their facilities. May not be a politically correct time for Cronin to leave his alma mater.)

Ga65 said:

Believe JG's recruiting ability is overrated and his coaching ability may be under rated. When we had Egwu our defense was not bad. Offense is looking much better with TJL at the point. We have two four stars with very little playing time. He was unable to recruit a point guard or a rim protector in four years and his systems depend on those positions. Getting four stars but not covering the positions is not good recruiting. Emphasis on the MAY on the coaching.

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Expectations for this year were unrealistically high. Same team minus Nunn plus a loved but over hyped TA. We added two quality freshman. Groce may have made a tactical error not getting TJL ready for the BIG. On the other hand, TJL might be right on schedule.

Groce has a good class coming. Too little to late in the modern era. Earlier I wanted to keep Groce in order to deliver the next coach two classes to start with. I don't see that happening.

Ga65 said:

Believe JG's recruiting ability is overrated and his coaching ability may be under rated. When we had Egwu our defense was not bad. Offense is looking much better with TJL at the point. We have two four stars with very little playing time. He was unable to recruit a point guard or a rim protector in four years and his systems depend on those positions. Getting four stars but not covering the positions is not good recruiting. Emphasis on the MAY on the coaching.

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Any quality defending we have had was enhanced by Weber, not Groce.

CAHALL15 said:

I think the consensus is that the entire staff besides Walker is going to be let go. I think I speak for many others when I say that I'll be thoroughly disappointed if Groce is back on the sidelines next year for our team. I personally don't care for Ford and his invisible Canada pipeline or whatever Parham is supposed to be bringing to the table.

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That's reassuring and I hope that's the case. I'd love love love Malcolm to get his tourney trip this year, and us move on to the next staff on a relative high note. It looks like this PSU game is ending that possibility though.

I think this thread is going to be getting busy(ier) soon. Yikes. Gonna be watching more of the potential coaching candidates than I will watch of the Illini moving forward.

illininks said:

I think this thread is going to be getting busy(ier) soon. Yikes. Gonna be watching more of the potential coaching candidates than I will watch of the Illini moving forward.

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Kevin Keatts and UNCW play Elon (4th in CAA) today at 3CT: Watch

Cuonzo Martin and Cal play Arizona tonight at 9 CT on ESPN2

LurkLongandProsper said:

Kevin Keatts and UNCW play Elon (4th in CAA) today at 3CT: Watch

Cuonzo Martin and Cal play Arizona tonight at 9 CT on ESPN2

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Thanks! I was actually thinking we need to see these posts with any of the commonly thought names and their game times/where we can watch. May even be worthy of its own thread!

I was hoping somebody had a link to UNCW games so thanks!

Cuonzo and Keatts watch just went into overdrive

I think if anyone suggests Groce should stick around for next year after today, they should get a temporary ban from the site

illininks said:

I think this thread is going to be getting busy(ier) soon. Yikes. Gonna be watching more of the potential coaching candidates than I will watch of the Illini moving forward.

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Serenity now...

I have moved past being upset with this season because it seems certain now that Groce will be gone. Losing to Penn State once in a season is bad enough, let alone twice.

Optimistic about next season with a new coach. I've got faith in Whitman. :thumb:

chrisRunner7 said:

Optimistic about next season with a new coach. I've got faith in Whitman. :thumb:

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I think that this is one thing we can all agree on, regardless of what coach you're hoping gets the job.

Illini B-Ball Fan said:

CAHALL15, do you think Fletch stays or has a choice in the matter if it comes to that?

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I'd hope he stays and one would hope that someone would speak up and vouch for him especially since he's done his job in keeping our players injury free and improving their bodies. Ultimately, I would think that it would be the choice of the next head coach whether or not he is retained.

CAHALL15 said:

I'd hope he stays and one would hope that someone would speak up and vouch for him especially since he's done his job in keeping our players injury free and improving their bodies. Ultimately, I would think that it would be the choice of the next head coach whether or not he is retained.

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Agree, same here regarding Fletch.

Smacko said:

Any chance we can get Lovie to coach the bball team too? Seems like exactly the type of guy Whitman likes to hire.

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Nicely done

Our coach has decided to be a friend. I've learned that in management you should care about your staff/employees and at times be personable. But never be their friend. The more I see of Martin the more I like. Just like Lovie he will have their respect as soon as he walks in the room.

Golden boy Bryce Drew just got blown out by Miznoz, strike his name off the list.

Who are our likely competitors in the carousel?

Mizzou, NC State, Clemson, LSU, Georgetown, Washington. Any others?

MadSeason said:

Who are our likely competitors in the carousel?

Mizzou, NC State, Clemson, LSU, Georgetown, Washington. Any others?

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The major wild cards are Ohio State and IU, both of which could go either way. Most of your list doesn't impact us in any major way besides NC St and Archie, of course.