Definitely would've taken a good point guard over a center even though center was more of a need. A good point guard makes everyone better on offense. Let's just get a good transfer now for the PF/C that can defend the middle.
Probably won't get a good 4-year PF/C until next year at this stage in recruiting. Glad the Tilmon saga is finally over. Pretty much knew where he was going anyway. Let's just make him regret that decision at the Braggin Rights game.
One of the reasons I was ok with Martin early on was that I thought he would for sure land Mark Smith.
I wouldn't say "tremendous support." IIRC, initially, his recruiting chops and MW ties were certainly acknowledged to be a "natural fit" for the post. But soon after, a lot of critics surfaced pointing out his less-than-stellar record, given the high-caliber players he recruited. And the debate went back and forth. In the end, he wasn't the top choice of the board vs other potential candidates.
Cuonzo received the most support, and as I said at the time, people who wanted Cuonzo secretly dreamed of recruits coming his way. That is exactly what is happening at Mizzou. He is a recruiter, a definite upgrade from their previous staff, and we will continue to battle with him on the recruiting trail. That's the extent of impact on the Illini, all the other discussion, e.g., how he does in the SEC, is kind of irrelevant.
As far as question and comparisons, these polls will be extremely biased if not asked at the right time.Who do you want, Brad Underwood, the new coach at Illinois or the hated villain who ended up at Mizzou and just stole Tilmon from us? Duh...
IMO Cuonzo did have a lot of support as a candidate here, especially early in the year when Cal was doing well. However once their season started heading downhill and they missed the NCAAs, he became much less viable as a candidate. It was difficult to see Whitman bringing him on board with his poor record of making the NCAAs when you just fired a coach for that very reason.
Cuonzo Martin received tremendous support on this board as a perspective coach for the Illini throughout the entire season, the most out of any other candidate. Now, people are branding him as garbage, despite bringing in the #1 player in the country, Tilmon, Harris, etc. a very good class right from the get go. Martin has been a head coach for 9 years, so either people were totally premature in their admiration and evaluation of Martin, or they are totally biased against him because he ended up at Mizzou; or both.