I agree. And throw in that Gentry had been with BU previously. If the problem was BU, would Gentry have worked under him again? I guess anything is possible and BU is the problem, but I highly doubt it. And unless you believe BU’s overall success is because of assistants and not him, BU ain’t going anywhere. Just a perfect (or imperfect from Illini’s perspective) storm that Illinois has to overcome.Does BU have a history of asst. coaches departing suddenly? I don't believe that he does. The fact he changed his whole defensive philosophy after input from his coaches says to me that he values the input of his fellow coaches and that he isn't a "my way or the highway" type. I think this is a perfect storm of OA getting a chance back at UK and bringing Chin with him as well as Gentry potentially getting an asst. coaching position at his alma mater where he is familiar with Few and spent a few years prior.
I am surprised no one has mentioned Nick Irvin since he is now at WIU
Do you believe he’s the problem?This board ought to consider that given the sudden exodus of the entire coaching staff, the problem just might be Brad Underwood.
Worst case scenario you dump him after a year when the carousel spins again.
I don't think we have to "win" Chicago. But we certainly have to get our fair share from Chicago. A lot of great prep basketball players in Chicago, and it's geographically close, we can't just ignore it. Especially now that OA's Caribbean pipeline has relocated. And I can't think of a time we've done very well without any Chicago kids, to be honest.Am I the only one that when I hear "we have to win Chicago, or get someone with Chicago ties." my blood pressure rises? Dating back to Jimmy Collins, how many Chicago kids have we gotten? We have done very well without Chicago kids and NEARLY everyone of them expected us to turn the program over to their family control because we owed them. We don't owe anybody anything. We owe the kids that want to come to the U of I something and that is an opportunity. You either take it, or you don't.
This board ought to consider that given the sudden exodus of the entire coaching staff, the problem just might be Brad Underwood.
This board ought to consider that given the sudden exodus of the entire coaching staff, the problem just might be Brad Underwood.
Or the problem might be that these were 2 high-caliber assistants who got a lot of national exposure because of the season we just had.This board ought to consider that given the sudden exodus of the entire coaching staff, the problem just might be Brad Underwood.
I'd like to think that my feelings about Kentucky would be the same whether I was an Illini fan or not. And those feelings are not positive.Is there anyone on this forum who, if they were not an Illini fan, not take a job at Kentucky over Illinois if the pay was somewhat equal?
Yes, in a second. The coaches and players are treated like royalty as long as they are winning.Is there anyone on this forum who, if they were not an Illini fan, not take a job at Kentucky over Illinois if the pay was somewhat equal?
There's a lot of teams who had even better seasons who aren't losing most of their staff.Or the problem might be that these were 2 high-caliber assistants who got a lot of national exposure because of the season we just had.
Let's take this one step further......Illini beat the Wildcats in the ncaa championship game.....think they're be some motivated Illini players and staffWouldn't it be karma for Illini to win NC and Kentucky to miss dance second year in a row.
Not sure what you mean? UK has been going after OA for more than a year. (According to UK fans I work with). That’s the unique nature of this particular move. Really bad luck that OA wanted to take Chin with him.There's a lot of teams who had even better seasons who aren't losing most of their staff.
Your point is reasonable...that's how I rationalize Chin...he is chasing his future and connections...at a "Google" vs at "Yahoo"Is there anyone on this forum who, if they were not an Illini fan, not take a job at Kentucky over Illinois if the pay was somewhat equal?
I'm kind of with you, but in all honesty, I am also a little annoyed with OA only because he is recruiting Chin with him. If he was a head coach, I would get it, but the Assistant Coach recruiting another assistant to tag along with you is weird. Either way, best of luck to them and thanks for their contributions.I can’t blame OA really - I’m sure he’s got a deep love for Kentucky. Not thrilled with him that he recruited Chin to go with him, but that is what he does- recruit. I’ve unfortunately lost a little respect for Chin. Chicago guy, was literally hardly a college coach when brought on to Illini program. For both guys to go to the same program at the same time after such a great season with a heart breaking ending is just really kinda low. I know it’s a business and I’m a salty fan. But it’s just my feelings about it.
With that being said, as long as we don’t lose recruits over this, I still think we will make great hires and be in great shape for the future.
I agree it just seems weird. Assistants leave from time to time and I can get over that but 2 at the same time sort has me thrown off. I can't recall 2 assistants leaving one program for the same other program ever. It just feels odd.I'm kind of with you, but in all honesty, I am also a little annoyed with OA only because he is recruiting Chin with him. If he was a head coach, I would get it, but the Assistant Coach recruiting another assistant to tag along with you is weird. Either way, best of luck to them and thanks for their contributions.
My guess is Cal either asked about Chin, or asked O for any names, and O simply vouched for him.I'm kind of with you, but in all honesty, I am also a little annoyed with OA only because he is recruiting Chin with him. If he was a head coach, I would get it, but the Assistant Coach recruiting another assistant to tag along with you is weird. Either way, best of luck to them and thanks for their contributions.
Orlando Antigua... Also, how many top-30 recruits have we gotten since recruiting rankings started? Argument doesn't seem valid.
Yes, those teams staff members were not targeted by Kentucky. There’s a reason these two coaches and the Illini were targeted by probably the biggest program in the country. We had and built something very big. Now, we get to see what Underwood’s program is made of.There's a lot of teams who had even better seasons who aren't losing most of their staff.