2017 Coaching Carousel
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Perhaps JW has been coachin him up...
The decision is still very simple IMO. Go dancing and he stays. The only way I see this changing is if
1) We barely miss the tourney but Whitman sees no good coaching options out there, so Groce stays. Extremely unlikely that there isn't 1 good option out there that wants to come here.
2.) We make the tourney but Whitman already has a home run hire (like Lovie) lined up. Also extremely unlikely.
I think this photo along with a similar one @ NW after the win there only indicates that Groce's fate has not yet been decided.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
I don't think Whitman wants to fire Groce, as it seems he has a good relationship with him, and considering how great of a guy Groce is, I wouldn't blame him. If Illinois is able to make the tournament, then great for the team. However, going only 9-9 in a year when the Big Ten is mediocre with one of the more experienced/deeper teams in the conference is still disappointing, especially considering health wasn't really an issue this season. I apologize that my pessimistic side is taking this potential tourney appearance with a grain of salt. Maybe he will prove me wrong, but if Groce is retained (and making the tournament is perfect justification for retaining him), then I just don't see him doing any better than .500 in the conference in the future.
I agree with the majority of this, .500 may be too tight but I don't see us being at the top of the conference. I do think Whitman would love to retain JG if possible and JG is situating himself well to be retained (pending remaining games of course), even if many fans won't be in favor of that sort of decision.
I disagree. Easy decision if we go dancing. And if we finish 9-9 in the conference without dancing it is still an easy decision.
If we finish 8-10 and win 1-2 in the BTT tourney, he still stays.
Only way it gets hard is if we lose to a suddenly good Sparty and we lay an egg in the tourney.
I love the way the guys are playing for Groce and that will play heavy into the decision.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
I agree, but if the team makes the tournament, and Groce is still fired, what message does that send to other potential coaches? I'm finding this situation similar to the 3rd season of Tim Beckman's tenure. Beckman probably would not have won more than 6 games in his time here, but there was no reason to fire him after 2014 because one could argue that the team was making progress, and firing him might have indicated that expectations were unrealistic for Illinois football. Eventually, his idiocy bailed Illinois out. If Illinois makes the tourney, even though this is his 5th year, people could make the same assumptions about our expectations for the basketball program, as justified as they are.
PhillyIllini
- Los Angeles
No you're 100% right. Look at his Big Ten record. Numbers don't lie. Kudos on his nice little run here, but he's not cut to be a coach for a program that should demand excellence.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
The message would be "figure out how to win before mid-February."
ILLINI IN NE
- Omaha,Ne.
Just got back from the game. My son and I stood at the tunnel to congratulate the players after the game . We saw Whitman in the tunnel and after JG came by after a postgame interview he shook all our hands and I watched him walk down to Whitman who had a grin ear to ear and after that hug I told my son that at the very least JG is still fighting for his job.
I was kicking myself for not taking a pic, glad someone got it.
I have watched or listened to every game since about 1976. I don't miss any games
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
PhillyIllini
- Los Angeles
Then I'm absolutely shocked you're advocating for another year of this mediocrity. Our record the past 5 years, both in and out of conference, doesn't lie and illustrates a pretty clear trend. ILL basketball deserves and should demand better. No NCAAs in the past 3 years and no Sweet 16 in over 10 years. Absolutely unacceptable.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
That the Illinois head basketball job has expectations beyond making the NCAA tournament.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
When that happens, I'll be sure to bring my wife, Charlize.
Sure, but that isn't going to be the national story. The national story will say how Illinois fires Groce after taking Illinois back to the tournament for the first time in 4 years.
Could another coach have gotten us back to being a top 4 B1G team much quicker? Definitely, but it doesn't mean Groce can't get us there going forward. Maybe it just took him a little longer to put the pieces together. You can't fire a guy who made the tournament in the first year he's had a full team of his own players (outside of Abrams). Last year doesn't count because of all the injuries.
Oldman's statement isn't that crazy. Groce's conference record through five years isn't that much different than Henson's, even though Groce has suffered through rather bad luck with injuries, etc. IIRC the records were about identical through 4 years.
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