Welp. That's the first coach mentioned who's younger than me.
2017 Coaching Carousel
- Status
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
Need to use the Not sure if serious meme again.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I can say with 100% certainty that I would lose all respect for Josh Whitman if he offered it to Frank Martin.
Deleted member 590820
D
Guest
Please, please ! Don't make me quote that tired line from Airplane !
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
NCAA Sweet 16 & Elite 8 rounds-- March 23-26th
NIT Final Four -- March 29th
I agree with you about the 2nd part. Whitman wants to fire and hire in a short time frame. Best case scenario Groce is fired after they lose in the NIT next Wednesday or Friday. Whitmans man gets bounced in the 1st weekend and everything comes together on that Monday or Tuesday (March 20-21)
Right, but the four teams will be set by the 22nd if last year's schedule holds.
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
That would be correct. Last quarterfinals for NIT will be March 22nd. And my NIT Final 4 dates were from last year. It's March 28,30th this year. Stupid me.
Today is a symbolically perfect end of an era. I have an Illini cup I have drank out of for years during every game dating back to the self days. The writing has faded for a long time but today it began leaking. The cup of the self, weber, and groce era has been retired. Tonight I am drinking out of a new Illini cup. I hope my drinking cup signifies the beginning of a new, better era of Illini hoops.......is it wrong to have a funeral for something you cocktail out of?
For real, though. Apparently that school seriously expects to be a peer of UNC and Duke. I wouldn't blame coaches for trying to stay clear. I know we have ideas about where Illinois should be as a program, but I don't think we expect to be a perennial contender and bonafide blueblood (though I wouldn't mind being that!).
Also, S&C, your gif game is on point tonight!
Whitman strikes me as smart enough to know a rising star when he sees one.
I would probably be more skeptical of the translatability of having been a high school/prep school coach of high major recruits and having been an assistant at an elite recruiting program than most, but it's not nothing. It's not hiring a Ben Jacobson type who has never been around high major talent in his life.
Your point is valid, but you have to remember that this is Whitman's first hire for basketball since he's stepped foot on campus. What do you think are the qualifications that he'll be looking for?
1. Experience?
2. Chicago Ties?
3. Midwest Ties?
4. A name that will keep the recruiting class in tact??
He might hire Keatts, but I'd be shocked. I never said I disagree with the hire, just don't think it'll take place all things considered. He needs to hire somebody that has a big enough name not to disrupt the recruiting class.
No he doesn't.
He needs to get it right.
Plus, the assumption that "name size" is the determining factor in retaining the recruits is specious and unsupported.
Not to be glib, but "good-ness". That's it. That should be it anyway.
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
I don't either. It's partly why he's not on my top 10 list. I don't think he'd want the job and I don't think JW would want him.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
"Ties" are overrated, at least as you're describing them here. In my mind, the biggest value they bring is a candidate would have additional reasons to say yes.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
I would submit that the biggest common sense qualification is having a track record that consists of winning lots of basketball games.
The more I think about this, the more I think Whitman will grab an NBA guy or isn't coaching right now. I don't think we could even get most of the college coaches on that list (the high ones, not the Cuonzo's or Keatt's), and nothing speaks to recruits more than an NBA guy in your living room telling them "I know what it takes to get paid and I think you have it. 1-2 years with me and you're set for life."
Monty Williams really intrigues me.
Monty Williams really intrigues me.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
Hey, if experience and Midwest ties are your thing, Bruce Weber was your ubercandidate.
Good choice.:thumb:
The whole notion that Groce will be negotiating with candidates before he fires Groce, and he will only fire Groce if he succeeds, remains laughable.
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
- Status