I am a huge fan of Brad … But what I’m not a fan of with Brad is the constant flirting with other programs … I got K State last year … He gets a pass for that … But he’s actively looking at every open job every year … After all we’ve done … That’s frustrating to hear
And as far as Sean goes … He’s a major upgrade … And while I’m a fan of Brad, I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t prefer Miller … I don’t think there’s a single thing Brad does that Miller doesn’t do better
I’m not saying by sharing all this today that Brad is gone and it’s a done deal … I’m just sharing what I’m hearing … Good and bad …
I mean I’m chill like pru.1906 ftw.If Mike Gundy is still the football coach at Oklahoma State, no amount of mutual enmity between a coach and his superiors and donors means they aren't a "long term option".
But more than that
I'll be extremely happy if BU stays AND the supposed rumors of him habitually trying to find another gig are overblown. I'll be mildly happy with a sense of pessimism if he stays because of logistics alone and we have no idea what next offseason will bring. I'll also be extremely happy if musical chairs lands us with a coach the caliber of Sean Miller.Really?
I would be completely happy with BU staying. He’s a good coach, guys.
Let's just say Underwood leaves (I would be shocked if he did), and Miller says no (I can't imagine he'd leave X for Illinois), who would the top candidates be? Paul Mills? Darian Devries? Would be tough to pry away someone good from a high major IMO.
Interesting. Didn't he turn down OSU when they hired Holtmann, or am I misremembering?
I am a huge fan of Brad … But what I’m not a fan of with Brad is the constant flirting with other programs … I got K State last year … He gets a pass for that … But he’s actively looking at every open job every year … After all we’ve done … That’s frustrating to hear
And as far as Sean goes … He’s a major upgrade … And while I’m a fan of Brad, I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t prefer Miller … I don’t think there’s a single thing Brad does that Miller doesn’t do better
I’m not saying by sharing all this today that Brad is gone and it’s a done deal … I’m just sharing what I’m hearing … Good and bad …
I mean I’m chill like pru.1906 ftw.
Well looking every chance you get and being nominated or pursued for a position are two different things. Especially given the fact JW has done so much to please Underwood. Personally I would not like what BU is doing if true if I were Whitman and it would make me question his commitment or gratitude to the Illini.Every year of his career, my husband has entertained headhunters to see if he can find a better gig. If he finds a better offer, he decides if it's worth asking his boss for a counter offer, knowing he's ready to bounce if that conversation doesn't go well. It happens in most fields if the employee wants to advance and make more money (which most of us do).
That's what's happening here. If we weren't attached to these teams, we wouldn't be buzzing about it at all.
Seriously? Whitman pulled Underwood from OK State after he was there one single season. You don't think he could land someone good from a high major again? The inferiority complex with some of our fans is pretty incredible sometimes.Let's just say Underwood leaves (I would be shocked if he did), and Miller says no (I can't imagine he'd leave X for Illinois), who would the top candidates be? Paul Mills? Darian Devries? Would be tough to pry away someone good from a high major IMO.
You have to do more than look at one year in a bubble. It was a down year to us because we had high expectations, and the potential was there if everything clicked. But in reality, we replaced 90% of our team and probably finished in line with what the national expectations were to start the season.Not trying to be argumentative, but what evidence do you have that makes you believe the Illini are on an upward trajectory after six years? To me it seems like we're going downhill after Ayo, Trent, and Kofi graduated. Are we closer to a FF now? I don't think so. Maybe I'm missing something.
Oof, sry. I just threw up in my mouth a little bitI’ve heard other schools besides Texas would be very interested …
One scenario … Muss goes to Texas .. Brad goes to Arkansas …
Interesting. Didn't he turn down OSU when they hired Holtmann, or am I misremembering?
Ok, I'll concede that "public" is a spectrum. And message board rumors are on the far left side of the spectrum compared to an official press release published on ESPN, for example.Is it becoming public? Where is the video or the quote from JW or BU? I haven't seen it. Not really directed at you. But all of this is about 10 pages of message board chatter. 10 pages I have enjoyed, by the way.
Wait ... I also don't think Underwood will leave, but why can't you even imagine that a coach would leave Xavier for Illinois?! Two of our most recent coaches left much better programs like Florida and Oklahoma State to come here...?Let's just say Underwood leaves (I would be shocked if he did), and Miller says no (I can't imagine he'd leave X for Illinois), who would the top candidates be? Paul Mills? Darian Devries? Would be tough to pry away someone good from a high major IMO.
Yeah, I mean if you have a billion bucks you can do a lot of things, but the Waltons have something like $300 billion between them. It's an unfathomable amount of money.that old money is musty and denominated in 100's.
the Walton money and Phil Knight money is crisp and clean and denominated in 1,000,000's
huge difference
Wait ... I also don't think Underwood will leave, but why can't you even imagine that a coach would leave Xavier for Illinois?! Two of our most recent coaches left much better programs like Florida and Oklahoma State to come here...?
Yeah, I'm not downplaying Xavier as a great job and I will die on the hill that Cincinnati is one of the most criminally underrated cities in America ... but Florida and Oklahoma State aren't exactly chopped liver! Self, while coming from a mid-major, was arguably also the hottest coach on the market when we snagged him. Other than Mike Thomas being a failure and a brief spat of insecurity by RG after Self bolted, Illinois Basketball has more than proven itself as a great destination job and has not had to settle on who we want.Xavier is a basketball school that pays A TON … They’re building a brand new practice facility and they’ve got rich boosters …
With that being said … They ain’t no Illinois
I think Miller probably holds out for something bigger. Decent chance Kentucky, Michigan, and Michigan State all open in the next few years. Self won't coach forever either. No inside info, just my hunch that he would hold out for something bigger.Wait ... I also don't think Underwood will leave, but why can't you even imagine that a coach would leave Xavier for Illinois?! Two of our most recent coaches left much better programs like Florida and Oklahoma State to come here...?
He needs either (a) better antiperspirant (b) undershirts, or (c) at least wear dark shirtsView attachment 24339 View attachment 24340
his sweat yells louder than BU does.......................
The fact that we're disappointed after a 20 win season and an NCAA Tournament appearance should be evidence enough. Do you realize the place this program was in prior to BU coming here? We've been to 4 tournaments (counting the Covid year), we have a Big Ten regular season championships(if Kevin Warren had any backbone, it would have been two) and a Big Ten Tournament championship. He lost 85% of pretty much everything coming into this year and STILL got 20 wins out of this group including wins over Texas, UCLA and MSU....all of which are still playing.Not trying to be argumentative, but what evidence do you have that makes you believe the Illini are on an upward trajectory after six years? To me it seems like we're going downhill after Ayo, Trent, and Kofi graduated. Are we closer to a FF now? I don't think so. Maybe I'm missing something.