I just went back that far because it was interesting. I think post-modern era (which I defined as 1980) is all that's relevant, and we've been a top 3 program before John Groce, which is my entire point: John Groce has underperformed what we should expect out of Illinois basketball by an almost unbelievable amount, and - even if you're going to lower your expectations now that we've been dragged down this far - our expectations going forward should be closer to 1980-2012 than 2013-way to rationalize why we won't be that good or shouldn't expect to be, and that's mind boggling coming from a fan. Zero upside to doing it.
No, I have been a fan since the 60s, so my expectations reflect having been through a true rebuilding of the program. I am not rationalizing that we should be happy at the middle of the pack in the B1G. But I think your use of statistics from 80 years ago to describe where Illinois should be in the scheme of things at present is erroneous. I think fan expectations that Illinois is so superior that it is easier to win here than Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin, is unrealistic. Success is a spark in a bottle - it is a lot easier to maintain than to catch it again. Weber left our momentum in a downward spiral. That is not easy to change. Considering the rather enormous amount of bad luck Groce has had, I don't think you can say he has unbelievably underperformed - that is just wrong. He did not inherit a top 3 team. He inherited a dumpster fire. I think Groce has done his job, and I think the team is in a much better place today than it was when he took over. I know that is not saying much, but our underclassmen and recruits coming in are a very solid core of B1G capable talent that the next coach is going to have intact for two more years, and the momentum is on the way up. The new coach is going to have a much easier job than Groce did, but if he has some struggles and does not compete for the conference championship every year I will understand.
