Coaching Carousel (Basketball)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,028      
@Illini_1105 - I agree with you that BU’s our coach through the end of the season and next season whether we make the NCAAT or not. Brad could be here next year and for years to come.

Based on his previous posts, I think what Indy is saying is that there are some significant changes that Josh will require of BU’s staff and that things might come to a crossroads. Brad might choose to leave. It’s also been reported that BU’s agent is actively reaching out to express interest in other head coaching positions and earlier in the season than he usually does, specifically for the Texas job which Brad apparently wanted 3 years ago when it last opened.

There’s a lot of things in the air but we’ll come out in a better spot regardless of BU staying or leaving thanks to Josh. 😎
Agreed. My sense is that there aren't THAT many Illini fans that are just outright calling for Brad to go at this point.

Most seem to be giving the caveat of something along the lines of "if no changes are made" with respect to the assistant coaching staff - meaning we really need to bring in some EXPERIENCED high-level college assistants that can help with Xs and Os, in-game adjustments, BLOBs, SLOB, and especially the defense.

I would put myself in this camp - I want to give Brad another year to right the ship with those changes.

I also like the general idea that @LvilleILL1 has indicated we might be focusing more on this offseason: trying to recruit some athletes/dogs/warriors with size, and at least enough shooting to keep defenses honest. I don't want to go all-in chasing shooting at the expense of almost everything else again. (I do also still think that if we are somehow able to land a legit star it would really up the odds that we are able to cover for some of our issues, though. I'd be aiming for a top-heavy team in terms of talent if it was up to me.)
 
#1,029      
Where did u ever say they were All Americans as freshmen? Seriously? Our best teams were when they were All Americans and we were a 1 seed yet didn't advance. TSJ played to that standard but it had 0 to do with his play as to why he wasn't. 18 and 19 years get better with experience. All three of those players did and so ...thats my point dawg
 
Last edited:
#1,032      
My fear with Brad, isn’t whether the fans want him back or gone, but how many donors have a bad taste in their mouths after watching baffling lineups, poor substitutions, and the lack of in-game adjustments. If he can amends with them and convince that he can keep the program near the top of the conference, then I’m Team Brad. As much as I’ve criticized Brad, I’ll always root for the team, and watch every game possible, regardless of who’s coach. You can criticize a coach, but still hope they succeed. It’s not like we’re booing Illinois off the court like the Indiana fans did when we played them. We’re not that toxic of a fanbase. And Brad has thicker skin than what message boards say about him.
 
#1,033      

WOAH! Very interesting comments by Painter. We make fun of IU fans a lot for how delusional they are. Do we need to look in the mirror and realize we might be similar?
I think Matt Painter is not the guy we want to listen to. He's a very good coach. But not a guy whose off-the-cuff thoughts in a post-game press conference will impact Josh Whitman's plans.

Matt's in a (brief, but painful) tailspin at the moment. Don't kid yourself: that fact strongly colors the thoughts he expressed in that press session.
 
#1,034      
I agree with every point you made, including the ones I deleted (for brevity) from the above.

But for context, and not criticism, I want to point out that:

Brad is 61 years old.

He has been coaching, at the college level, for 38 years.

So not only is he not at the intern learning stage, he is worryingly more likely at risk of being in the set-in-his-ways stage. ;)
 
#1,035      
My fear with Brad, isn’t whether the fans want him back or gone, but how many donors have a bad taste in their mouths after watching baffling lineups, poor substitutions, and the lack of in-game adjustments. If he can amends with them and convince that he can keep the program near the top of the conference, then I’m Team Brad. As much as I’ve criticized Brad, I’ll always root for the team, and watch every game possible, regardless of who’s coach. You can criticize a coach, but still hope they succeed. It’s not like we’re booing Illinois off the court like the Indiana fans did when we played them. We’re not that toxic of a fanbase. And Brad has thicker skin than what message boards say about him.
Sadly, there are two more home games. If we got the results like the last 3 games on Tuesday night (or even the last home game vs Purdue), there is likely a contigent of fans that will start booing.
 
#1,036      
Terrence Shannon was not an All-American his freshman year. Neither was Ayo. In fact, Brad didn’t win big with freshman Ayo. Or even junior Shannon. Under what coach did those players become All-American? I’ll hold for your answer.

If KJ or Will or Tomi stick around for four years — or even one more year — they may become All-Americans as well. But it’s disingenuous to hold Brad to the same standard playing essentially four raw freshmen to the standard where he had established veterans. Is the roster as it is his doing? Absolutely. But it’s still a roster of freshmen.
Great points. Key for me for young team is maximizing talent and improving team from start to finish of seasons. This has been shockingly bad year for that.

Bu has had success in past in uptrending through past seasons. I do believe gutting our coaching staff during off season didn't help in our ability to keep player and team development on an uptrend this year.
 
#1,037      
I’d love to have a coach like Gard, who seems to retain talented players and help non-star freshman eventually turn into great seniors. I always wonder why we lose so many players to the portal each year. And he has completely changed Wisconsin’s offense to match today’s players skills.
I think Wisky got lucky this year. Look at what they did not retain from last year teams
AJ Chucky and Connor Essegian

They gain Tonje who was not a top regraded transfer. Boswell was ranked higher

Yes there was a core left from last season but they lost their 3 best players to me that is not a recipe for success

BU constructed a roster that worked up to mid January. I do think if Ty and Goode were playing for us we could have retain some of our culture but I understand why they are not
 
#1,038      
Our roster was a concern on May 1 this past year. Many people were quietly concerned.

Until KJ, Tomi and Will were scooped up, in June (read: very late), we were in huge trouble.

And where are we now? Not huge trouble, having added those three really talented players. But we're solidly mediocre.

I have no idea how Greg Gard zeroed in on John Tonje, but for now, I am going to have to admit that Gard (once again) can get the job done.
 
#1,039      
Police reports are not convictions. I assume you think TSJ should have not played another game at Illinois after the police report came out.
 
#1,040      
Why keep him, he is most likely going to have 8-10 new players, it’s not like he will have a team returning?
 
#1,041      
@Illini_1105 - I agree with you that BU’s our coach through the end of the season and next season whether we make the NCAAT or not. Brad could be here next year and for years to come.
Ty
Based on his previous posts, I think what Indy is saying is that there are some significant changes that Josh will require of BU’s staff and that things might come to a crossroads. Brad might choose to leave. It’s also been reported that BU’s agent is actively reaching out to express interest in other head coaching positions and earlier in the season than he usually does, specifically for the Texas job which Brad apparently wanted 3 years ago when it last opened.

There’s a lot of things in the air but we’ll come out in a better spot regardless of BU staying or leaving thanks to Josh. 😎
It has not been reported. It’s been said by one person then processed repeatedly through the echo chamber of this message board.

I’m not saying it’s not true. I’m merely saying it hasn’t been verified at the level this board is assuming it has.
 
Last edited:
#1,042      
Are you suggesting Ayo or TJ would not have been All-Americans for any other coach? I don’t know if I agree with that.

Brad is paid to win every year, if he chose to load this team up with freshman he has to be accountable for that. Everyone knows, with the portal and NIL, that a lot of players are not hanging around for development purposes and hoping they will get their chance.
 
#1,044      
The good thing is Brad has shown that he is willing to adapt. Changes with the coaching staff will occur but will he also do something about Tyler that's another question. As for the team itself currently, well lets hope for a miracle to close the conference season strong.
Prideful people are blind to their personality traits. He’s already broken KJ, but doesn’t see it. That’s just the one we know about. And you wonder why few people enjoy playing for the guy? Would you want your son playing for him? No way I would.
 
#1,045      
It's just absolutely striking how quickly we went from the rise to Final four contender in December to trending in a direction that could cause us to miss the tournament in a little over a month. Absolutely astounding. That's not something that can be blamed solely on illness, but it also feels like a stretch to say it's purely on BU, either. After all, it's still the same players, staff, and approach that were absolutely blitzing high-level teams two months ago and drawing comparison to the '89 team. Recall, that actually was still this same season.

The more I think about it, the less I understand just what the heck is happening with our team and program. It defies all logic.

This season has very much pushed me into the "Brad skeptic" camp. I'd be fine with him staying if he can stop the bleeding and make some meaningful staff changes. But if not... oof.
This is where I'm at...the collapse of this team isn't just on Brad....yes he's the one ultimately the blame must fall upon...but the rest of the staff as well as the players themselves need to be held accountable....coaches can't make wide open 3's, nor can they make good passes or good in game decisions for the players. Don't see things improving until changes are made....and those changes will likely not occur until the season comes to an end
 
#1,047      
I think Matt Painter is not the guy we want to listen to. He's a very good coach. But not a guy whose off-the-cuff thoughts in a post-game press conference will impact Josh Whitman's plans.

Matt's in a (brief, but painful) tailspin at the moment. Don't kid yourself: that fact strongly colors the thoughts he expressed in that press session.
Painter has been at his alma mater for 19 seasons and just led them to the national title game a year ago as well as five S16's in the last seven tournaments. You really think he's worried about job security because of a four game losing streak?
 
#1,048      
He's 61 years old. I'm not sure how long it takes one to figure things out in coaching, but if he hasn't yet, I don't think he has much time left.

Almost like a lifelong politician that never accomplished anything but asking their voters for one more term.
 
#1,049      
If I already posted, sorry for duplicate.

Our coaches are analytics driven. 3 point shots worth more than 2 pointers.

Actuality, MADE 3 pointers are worth more... And we ain't making them.
Techbically, it's the expected value of points from three points shots versus two points shots. Probability of making the shot times number of shots.

You only need to make 33% of your threes to be the same as making 50% of your twos.

Of course, we aren't hitting threes even at 33%. But, to be fair, we also aren't making twos at 50% either.

The bottom line is that we just stink right now.
 
#1,050      
of course coaches are going to support other coaches, but these coaches make a crap ton of money. These programs are spending a crap ton of money. And guess what folks, when you let other people pay your employees, you have invited outside interests to have a large influence on your program. If the big money people say get rid of the coach or my donations end, which I guarantee happened with Woodson, then what are you going to do?

Different jobs have different expectations. Hubert Davis has a good chance of getting fired and in his first 3 full seasons he made a title game and a Sweet 16. But at UNC they're not going to stand for 2 down years in 4. Woodson is currently 38-38 in conference in 4 seasons, and it looks like a decent chance he's 40-40 at the end of the year. Pile that on top of 1 NCAA tournament win, 0 conference titles or tournament titles. People aren't going to pay what I'm sure they paid for their roster to end up 9th in conference.

Hell we laugh at Woodson and say I hope they sign him forever. When opposing fans are talking like that, it's probably a pretty good sign that a coach should be fired.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back