Question for Team Cuonzo: Everything else equal, would you still support his hire if he had not landed Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb? Same record, same tourney results etc.
Which begs the questions doesn't it? If Groce is finally going to have the type of players to run his system, wouldn't it make sense to let it play out one more year? I am as frustrated as anyone, but this curren recruiting class has more promise and more apparently good quality kids who play hard and have the skill to compete in the new athletic focused world of college basketball than any in many years. I just hate to tear it down when he Groce is finally getting the players he needs for team to excel. Not sold on his coaching prowess on defensive end yet. Needs to hire a veteran coach who knows how to coach defense and more importantly team defense. Also needs new strength coach so guys are able to play tough defense for 40 minutes. Just afraid that another change in coaches just sets team's redevelopment further back. I just want to win and winning starts with players. And winning big starts with getting excellent players and that appears to be our recruiting class and Smith would get us that much closer.
I don't entirely agree with this sentiment, but I'm not entirely sold on it. What specifically are your concerns with him?
This year will be the third time (9 seasons) that Cuonzo has made it to the dance, FWIW
On the other hand, it will be the third time in the last 6 seasons. His team did win the MVC regular season championship but did not get a tournament berth.
MVC is a one or two bid league.
With this in mind, is there anything legitimately out there that says Monty is interested in the Illini job or that Whitman is interested in him? It's clear Colangelo is pushing for him to GET the job. (Otherwise, I doubt Loren Tate would mention it in a column as that's not his style.) But does Whitman WANT Monty, and just as importantly, does Monty WANT Illinois?
Question for Team Cuonzo: Everything else equal, would you still support his hire if he had not landed Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb? Same record, same tourney results etc.
Which begs the questions doesn't it? If Groce is finally going to have the type of players to run his system, wouldn't it make sense to let it play out one more year?
Which begs the questions doesn't it? If Groce is finally going to have the type of players to run his system, wouldn't it make sense to let it play out one more year? I am as frustrated as anyone, but this curren recruiting class has more promise and more apparently good quality kids who play hard and have the skill to compete in the new athletic focused world of college basketball than any in many years. I just hate to tear it down when he Groce is finally getting the players he needs for team to excel. Not sold on his coaching prowess on defensive end yet. Needs to hire a veteran coach who knows how to coach defense and more importantly team defense. Also needs new strength coach so guys are able to play tough defense for 40 minutes. Just afraid that another change in coaches just sets team's redevelopment further back. I just want to win and winning starts with players. And winning big starts with getting excellent players and that appears to be our recruiting class and Smith would get us that much closer.
Which begs the questions doesn't it? If Groce is finally going to have the type of players to run his system, wouldn't it make sense to let it play out one more year? I am as frustrated as anyone, but this curren recruiting class has more promise and more apparently good quality kids who play hard and have the skill to compete in the new athletic focused world of college basketball than any in many years. I just hate to tear it down when he Groce is finally getting the players he needs for team to excel. Not sold on his coaching prowess on defensive end yet. Needs to hire a veteran coach who knows how to coach defense and more importantly team defense. Also needs new strength coach so guys are able to play tough defense for 40 minutes. Just afraid that another change in coaches just sets team's redevelopment further back. I just want to win and winning starts with players. And winning big starts with getting excellent players and that appears to be our recruiting class and Smith would get us that much closer.
Bingo. He landed them. In my mind, that's what counts.
With this in mind, is there anything legitimately out there that says Monty is interested in the Illini job or that Whitman is interested in him? It's clear Colangelo is pushing for him to GET the job. (Otherwise, I doubt Loren Tate would mention it in a column as that's not his style.) But does Whitman WANT Monty, and just as importantly, does Monty WANT Illinois?
Cal likely makes the tournament this year which would give Martin his 3rd tournament appearance in 9 seasons, the same as Groce.
NCAA tourney appearances are more of the same?
He landed them and then didn't win a tournament game with them.
This season has made me much more intolerant of excuses for why a team hasn't won or reached their full potential. I'm much more interested in results. Yes, it is impressive that Martin landed two MCDAA, but this resulted in a first round exit against HAWAII which isn't exactly a basketball powerhouse.
He landed them and then didn't win a tournament game with them.
This season has made me much more intolerant of excuses for why a team hasn't won or reached their full potential. I'm much more interested in results. Yes, it is impressive that Martin landed two MCDAA, but this resulted in a first round exit against HAWAII which isn't exactly a basketball powerhouse.
You want results? How about 262-17 over 10 years and 2 national HS championships? How about 65-27 (and counting) over 3 years following his predecessors 29-63 prior 3 years? 37-13 in conference, 2 time (and counting) conference champions?
If its results you want to get, Keatts is the bet!
KEATTS HYPE TRAIN
For the record, I think he's in the second tier of candidates. The guys who I will embrace but who are not the home run hires. Keatts is there too. Monty is probably in that group also.
Does Whitman pull the plug after the Rutgers game or does he wait until after the B1G tournament? I think the right move is to pull the plug after the Rutgers game. Reason why is because you have a senior class that has not made the tournament in their careers. It looks like there is no way they can win the B1G tournament with Groce on the sidelines so why not pull the plug after the Rutgers game. Maybe light enough of a fire under everyone's butt to inspire them to play really well and maybe make a run in the B1G tournament.
I agree, but I also don't anticipate any of the perceived tier 1 guys jumping out of their boots to come here. I know Hoiberg has been mentioned as a tier 1, and to clarify, he is FIRMLY tier 2 for me.
He landed them and then didn't win a tournament game with them.
This season has made me much more intolerant of excuses for why a team hasn't won or reached their full potential. I'm much more interested in results. Yes, it is impressive that Martin landed two MCDAA, but this resulted in a first round exit against HAWAII which isn't exactly a basketball powerhouse.
I agree with all of this. I prefer the guys I listed to Hoiberg. My tier 1 is really limited to guys who you ask just to ask. The guys we laugh about when people bring them up. Bennet, Donovan, and other guys who have had high-level success at major programs.
Below is the link to that game and interesting excerpt below...
http://www.espn.com/ncb/recap?gameId=400871271&redirected=true
Jordan Mathews led California with 23 points, but the loss ended a week the Bears would rather forget. The Golden Bears' played without popular assistant coach Yann Hufnagel, dismissed amid allegations of sexual harassment, and leading scorer Tyrone Wallace, who broke his hand Wednesday in practice. As if the Bears (23-11) needed more obstacles, guard Jabari Bird had back spasms during warmups and never played.
Coach Cuonzo Martin said it was about 2 minutes before tip that he found out Bird was unavailable.
Considering the absences, California needed its healthy stars to be at their best and they failed. Jaylen Brown was a miserable 1-of-6 shooting, committed seven turnovers and fouled out with 6:22 left and the Bears trailing by eight. Ivan Rabb had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, but was hounded on the interior all game. The Bears were just 3 of 19 on 3-pointers, all coming from Mathews.
It could be the final game for Brown and Rabb if they decide to jump to the NBA and may bring more scrutiny to Martin's status considering the school is already reviewing his response to Hufnagel's situation.
"It was one thing to have Tyrone out, but we expected that, because he was injured," Martin said. "But two minutes before a game start time, it's tough. But you still have enough to win the game, so there's no excuses."
If it takes the firing of Groce to light a fire under these guys, then the failure of the past few years is just as much on them as it is on Groce.Does Whitman pull the plug after the Rutgers game or does he wait until after the B1G tournament? I think the right move is to pull the plug after the Rutgers game. Reason why is because you have a senior class that has not made the tournament in their careers. It looks like there is no way they can win the B1G tournament with Groce on the sidelines so why not pull the plug after the Rutgers game. Maybe light enough of a fire under everyone's butt to inspire them to play really well and maybe make a run in the B1G tournament.
Trent Frazier liked this tweet. No clue how valid it is..
mrmusicman @SURFACEMUSICINC
Source close to colangelo is saying Monty Williams has been talking with JW. Probable Done Deal @jeremiahtilmon_ @_Trentfrazier1 #illini
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