I find myself looking at this thread in particular with a feeling of uneasiness. I feel sick "hoping" for the Illini to lose and bring in a new coach, because I'm just a fan. I'm not a donor, hell, I'm not even an Alum, but I've been a fan since I was a kid. An ideal world for me right now is we make a run and somehow make the tournament so Malcolm and the rest of the seniors get to experience the tournament. Whitman knows Groce isn't the answer no matter the miracle run, and gives him to option to do resign because its a result oriented position and he knows he hasn't gotten it done to save face and the already lined up home run hire replacement is announced the next day. The recruiting class is wowed, if it hasn't already been communicated to them, they stay in tact, and Mark Smith announces within the week.
I'm fortunate to say that I'm a former D1, Mid Major baseball player whose team as a senior got to a winner goes to the tournament game and we lost. My class has the 2nd most wins as a class in my school history, but making the tournament would have meant everything to us and our legacy...and believe me, those things matter to the kids on the team.
Unfortunately, Malcolm should have had a Roger Powell type of career. Been on a team with a couple guys who were more talented, more athletic....it wouldn't change who he was. He'd still be a fringe NBA guy, long time Euro guy if he chose, loved by the fans, and most importantly, been on teams which made the tournament comfortably his entire career. Sure, he wouldn't be as high on the career scoring list, but we wouldn't be thinking of way to get him his only NCAA appearance and having most of us wish it didn't happen because then Groce is retained.