What do you think Underwood is paid to accomplish? Perhaps it is, in his words, "winning championships." I agree with him, in regard to his goal. How is that "strange?"
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
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People who know stuff do consider Illinois one of the best programs historically. They also consider Indiana one.
Why are so many people concerned about what other people think? I enjoyed the Arkansas game this year, did you?
Player turnover and youth ... I wonder how any other coach has managed to overcome these dasterdly confounds?
Yes, I very much enjoyed that game. And like Underwood, I felt it was a step towards greatness. Turned out that was not to be.
Why am I not fixated on whether we live up to message board people's expectations? I enjoy the games and the progress over the last 5 years and the highlights and national exposure and being back "in the game" as it were.
I try not to let things that are, by any measure, going well overall and over which I have no control to make me angry.
Every single coach in America says that's their goal. Vanishingly few have accomplished it. So fans insisting on it aggressively is strange to me.
I absolutely enjoyed that game because we played well and won. Too often this year, however, we did not despite having as much talent as anyone in the league. I care what others think about the program because I am damn tired of hearing commentators and pundits, and college fans in general, disrespect something that I have always been very proud of having spent some of the best years of my life at the University following the programs and enjoying both my kids do the same. The University and programs are part of who I am. Why would I NOT care what others think of them? Very strange question.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
A lot of the gripe has to deal with the extent of under performance in the tourney. In the 5 tourney appearances, the Illini have been seeded 1, 4, 9, 3, and 6. As a higher seeded team, the Illini's record is 5-2 (all 5 wins to teams with double-digit seeds). As the lower seeded team, the Illini are 1-3. Put it together, and you have a program that has only one tourney victory over a team with a single-digit ranking over the last 5 years. That is severe under performance, and for some, it does put a taint on the regular season success.
When you add in the severe ups and downs in two out of the last three seasons, there is justifiable angst. Add in the staff turnover (and lack thereof as well), and you can slowly see a coach whose seat is slowly getting warm.
When you add in the severe ups and downs in two out of the last three seasons, there is justifiable angst. Add in the staff turnover (and lack thereof as well), and you can slowly see a coach whose seat is slowly getting warm.
You think Brad is not serious when he says he wants to win a national championship? You think Josh Whitman is ok with blowing hot air and not following through? You know, because "every coach in American says that." How about this: every coach in America does not coach at Illinois.
College fans in general (strangers, presumably) disrespect Illinois hoops? Commentators and pundits, too?
Yes. No question. I could give you hundreds of examples. But I wouldn't expect that to change your mind. Each fan is invested at different levels and has varying judgements of expectations and success. Just because some are different from yours does not make them fantastical or to be dismissed or ridiculed.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I couldn't care less what other fans and pundits think of Illini hoops.
Since the 2005 Championship Game loss, the Illini have only made the second weekend one time. 1 time in 20 years! I get frustrated watching schools like Gonzaga, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue playing multiple times in second weekend of tourney while we sit at home over this timeframe and begrudgingly watch them.
Are you aware of how many players are in the Portal or will be soon?
Well to be fair…(apples to oranges)
Shauna has been at it just 3 years. She’s in the middle of a rebuild…and already competitive. It’s not really fair to compare that to Brad’s 8 years…is it?( Just for giggles…let’s put Shauna’s first 3 years here up against Brad’s first 3 years…)
He inherited a program that had very very low status. She inherited a program that had almost zero status. She made us competitive almost immediately. Brad took a couple years…give or take…something more akin to a common rebuild…(which is totally cool/legit)
If you recall, Brad also built this thing up, initially with upper classmen who bought …that’s kinda what it took for BOTH Brad and Shauna to create their culture.
The fact that she was able to retain players should be considered a feather in her cap? IMO…
Speaking of doing less with more:
Who do you suppose has had more talent? Brad or Shauna in the last 3 years? Who do you suppose has more available NIL?
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Add Rutgers M basketball to your list for a little perspective on your expectations, little b or capital B, your choice
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
The season before this one, which not coincidentally was when our defense started to regress as the statistics referenced numerous times have shown.
Not discussing Rutgers basketball or Rutgers as a university.. I'm not sure how that's relevant to the discussion of our basketball program to our other programs?
MadtownIllin
- Madison, WI
How'd you like the Duke game?
Fine let’s give you your win…. YES!!!
Now, if I am Brad, getting these results with the absolute cluster %+^# of management of staff and players, he should be willing to army crawl through broken glass to change his staff.
Or the 1st NW game, or the USC game, or Nebraska, or Rutgers???
Coach vs coach Shauna has destroyed Underwood. Simple as that. She done more with less, no question about it. Not even close.
Add Maryland twice as well... Many duds this year
Kentucky too- I never thought we'd win that game about 2 minutes in
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
How kind of you to stop your list. There were quite a few other games that were not enjoyable this season (both Maryland games, MSU, and at Wisconsin to name a few).
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Strongly believe it’s better to let go of a coach too early then too late.
We’ve been seeing some red flags from his nepo hire for awhile and now they are boiling over.
We’ve been seeing some red flags from his nepo hire for awhile and now they are boiling over.
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