FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
Regarding the IU job if Crean gets fired at the end of the season... is IU expected to at least reach out to Brad Stevens to see if there's a chance he'd leave Boston? Or is that too far fetched for anyone at this point?
Unless you guys want the losing coaches to be mute they are going to state the obvious. If they have significant players missing what are they supposed to say? If they say that it doesn't matter if they lose their two best players then it sounds like "coach speak". Indiana is hurting, they are not the same team they were earlier.
Regarding coaches I would take Monty Williams. Thought he would of been a good choice if Groce was let go last year. Kind of leaning towards C Martin, our players need a boot in the arse and he will gladly provide it. Also I think he gets us to the tourney the fastest.
Regarding the IU job if Crean gets fired at the end of the season... is IU expected to at least reach out to Brad Stevens to see if there's a chance he'd leave Boston? Or is that too far fetched for anyone at this point?
This along with others may force Whitman's hand....do we really want to be searching for a "program changing hire" when the likes of NC State, Indiana (probably), Minnesota, Missouri, any others may be looking as well?
Before anyone jumps up and says ILLINOIS is so much better than all of these, exception Indiana of course, remember where we were 10 years ago or so and where we are now...one could argue ONLY Indiana would be viewed by coaches as being hands down better now...
NC State = Miller
Missouri = Martin
Indiana could = a "big Splash Name" who knows if we would be looking at same people or not...
Minny = ?
I think Whitman will take this week and use to his advantage the 7 day layoff to put more emphasis on securing the next coach for us...it would not surprise me to see the hook yanked prior to end of the season, if the NC State type of thing is real and more continue to crop up as well...
As long as we're looking at former NBA coaches, how about Don Nelson (winningest all-time in the NBA and from Illinois) or Lenny Wilkens (second winningest and played for the St. Louis Hawks - among others - who formerly called Moline home as the Tri-city Hawks).
There. Good coaches. Local ties. And I'm sure Jerry C. has connections with both.
The strength coach is needed in my opinion to increase their ability to come up with loose balls and play hard defense for 40 minutes. If you look at the size of our players i don't see a lot of progression in strength. Yeah Malcolm looks stronger this year and Morgan developed some decent strength. I don't want body builders. I want strong and tough kids who can dig out the loose ball or grab the rebound. As for the assistant coach, that would be Whitman telling him that is essential and non-negotiable.
As for Groce's ability to develop players, i see the younger guys being the best players we have on the floor-besides Malcolm and they clearly have more talent and more athletic ability than of the other seniors and have greater upside and I have seen improvement in their games this year-at least those who are seeing playing time lately. that being said, there is no one on this team who can create his own shot with any consistency. That is on the coach for recruiting, but he hasn't caught many breaks along the way either. ( losing Snider on recruiting day is the most glaring) I don't want to come out and criticize any of the kids by name as I truly believe they all are trying and if they aren't they deserve to be on the bench, but college sports is hard and being a 3/4/5 star in high school doesn't guarantee you anything when they get to college. Those that shoot the eyes out in high school may find that the defender's ability to close on that same outside shot they nailed in high school is a lot tougher to get off inn college. And many kids don't pan out in college-not just at Illinois.
i think many on this board were highly critical of the coach after "swinging for the fences" and coming up second a lot. There are a lot of talented kids we have lost out on that haven't prospered even under the tutelage of Bill Self, for example. Again, no names, but i think you know who i am referring to. Finally, the argument that we are not going to be better because we didn't out-recruit someone for the player does not make a lot of sense unless you are going to rely solely upon the ranking system.
I am not giving Groce a pass on his tenure. That being said, there have been many on this board who love coaches one minute (BAM, JFG, Zooker who can sell sand in a desert) who turn and want something better only to realize that what comes along is no better and potentially worse. The old adage, be careful what you ask for may apply. If they make a change I will support Illinois because they are my school, but there is no guarantee that Monty Williams or anyone else will be the next John Wooden, Coach K or even Sean Miller.
If we want a winning NBA coach, we should just go after Steve Kerr. He also has strong Chicago ties.
:thumb:
I am not giving Groce a pass on his tenure. That being said, there have been many on this board who love coaches one minute (BAM, JFG, Zooker who can sell sand in a desert) who turn and want something better only to realize that what comes along is no better and potentially worse. The old adage, be careful what you ask for may apply. If they make a change I will support Illinois because they are my school, but there is no guarantee that Monty Williams or anyone else will be the next John Wooden, Coach K or even Sean Miller.
This along with others may force Whitman's hand....do we really want to be searching for a "program changing hire" when the likes of NC State, Indiana (probably), Minnesota, Missouri, any others may be looking as well?
Before anyone jumps up and says ILLINOIS is so much better than all of these, exception Indiana of course, remember where we were 10 years ago or so and where we are now...one could argue ONLY Indiana would be viewed by coaches as being hands down better now...
NC State = Miller
Missouri = Martin
Indiana could = a "big Splash Name" who knows if we would be looking at same people or not...
Minny = ?
I think Whitman will take this week and use to his advantage the 7 day layoff to put more emphasis on securing the next coach for us...it would not surprise me to see the hook yanked prior to end of the season, if the NC State type of thing is real and more continue to crop up as well...
I don't mean to be a jerk, but, yes, you are giving an utter and complete pass. Perhaps the below will make my point more clear regarding the Groce era:
1) 1 out of 5 NCAA tourney (fireable for almost any P5 program)
2) losing record during Big Ten play (see above)
3) a winning percentage that rivals barely good baseball managers (see above)
4) lack of development of highly touted recruits (JCL, Black)
5) 4-9 (2016)
6 4-9 (2016) (oh, sorry did I repeat myself)
7) 4-9 (2016- NO INJURIES, NO OTHER ISSUES, 4-9!!!!)
8) in a year where the Big Ten currently claims no team with a top 4 seed John Groce cannot put together a team that wins 10 games in that league while having the oldest team in the Big 10 and a 1st team all Big Ten player contender on your team.
Sorry, ballgame. You ain't got the goods.
A new candidate has emerged!!
Yes, game over. And you were even being generous to Groce with this list. Five years in and he's never had a winning conference record? 9-9 one season and all others below .500. And yes... currently 4-9!I don't mean to be a jerk, but, yes, you are giving an utter and complete pass. Perhaps the below will make my point more clear regarding the Groce era:
1) 1 out of 5 NCAA tourney (fireable for almost any P5 program)
2) losing record during Big Ten play (see above)
3) a winning percentage that rivals barely good baseball managers (see above)
4) lack of development of highly touted recruits (JCL, Black)
5) 4-9 (2016)
6 4-9 (2016) (oh, sorry did I repeat myself)
7) 4-9 (2016- NO INJURIES, NO OTHER ISSUES, 4-9!!!!)
8) in a year where the Big Ten currently claims no team with a top 4 seed John Groce cannot put together a team that wins 10 games in that league while having the oldest team in the Big 10 and a 1st team all Big Ten player contender on your team.
Sorry, ballgame. You ain't got the goods.
A new candidate has emerged!!
I'm drawing a blank......who is this?
The famous Jay Price.
according to this it is a done deal for Gottfried
http://www.statefansnation.com/2017/02/mark-gottfried-fired/
Totally out of the box. What about Geno Auriamma? If he gets to 100 and a fifth title in a row, maybe he is looking for a new challenge.
Will Wade to NC State once Gottfried gets canned
Archie Miller to Indiana
Counzo Martin to Missouri, leaving Cal
Tom Crean to Cal
Monty Williams to Illinois
Steve Wojokowski to Ohio State
Kevin Keatts to Marquette
Did I miss anyone? LOL