I think what many of these "apologists" are saying is that JW will have a coach verbally commit before he lets go of Groce. The way the Lovie hire went down was masterful (and also got him the job), so I'm sure he would want to have a bird in the hand vs. hoping for one of the 17 birds in a bush.
Personally I hope that JW has a short A-list of candidates and if none are giving him the bird in hand vibe he sticks with Groce for another season. Settling for a B or C-list guy doesn't seem to fit JW's MO.
If wanting to keep Groce due to striking out on the top 3-4 options makes me an "apologist" so be it. Also because I've only got a few posts doesn't make my opinion worse vs. someone with thousands (or any less of an Illini fan).
Go ILLINI
The inherent flaw in this thinking is that you can strike out on your A list guys, wait a year, and have a fresh crop of new A list guys.
There's not many A-List guys, and this isn't recruiting where you miss on top targets and then get a brand new class the next year with brand new top names and a fresh start.
The coaching pool doesn't really change (in terms of adding new names), existing names just add a year to their resume. (I don't want to hear that we'd all of a sudden be interested in a first year coach, i've read this entire thread to know that's a lie).
So if Miller, Marshall, etc say no, and they're your entire A list, go look at guys you feel could be the next A-listers or are one solid year away from being an A-lister in your mind. What would they have to achieve in 2017-2018 to make them an A-List candidate to you, and what are the odds of them achieving that in your mind? If Keatts just needs one more 22 win season to be an A-List guy to you, then there's no reason to tank another season just to play it safe, because odds are incredibly high he can do that. Same with Musselman, what does he need to do? And so on.
Miller and co aren't going to say no now and yes later unless their stock drops, for the record.
We have to start working to slow the descent of the program, and that's why a new coach should, and likely will, be found, even if it's not Miller, Marshall, etc. Groce is going to continue the freefall, starting with (further) killing fan support of the program AND spurring folks turning on Whitman, should he be retained.