As a Bulls and College Bball fan this is a win-win.
College Hoops Coaching Carousel
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redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
See you guys here next March...
Lol
sacraig
- The desert
sacraig
- The desert
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Oh, sure, but *I'M* the negative, doom and gloom poster
I will say his seat will be extremely warm going into the season
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Oh, sure, but *I'M* the negative, doom and gloom poster
Self awareness is a…positive..step. /s
I love how this thread reignites every time we miss on a recruit.
Bigtex
- DFW
based on salary we should be higher than 80th percentile with results. Brad hasn't ever made it to the S16. So I think everyone understands why the seat would be warm/hot next year.
Phil Fulmer comes to mind. It really sucked being a top 20 football team every year and making good bowl games and winning division and conference championships (he did get one title) - and I know there were some issues. But this is one of many examples of teams trying to upgrade b/c they weren't winning titles. My goodness this whole flavor of the month thing is awful. It didn't take Underwood long to turn our awful program around and since the turn around we've been one of the best, if not the best team in our conference for the past 4 years. Sure we haven't got past the second round. But you have to remember the 3 teams that bounced us we either very experienced or very talented or both. And I'll give you all a different take. We had very little experience and chemistry on the team and we were still a top team in the conference, won 20 games, and got an 8 seed w/out any chemistry (plus had a couple players that were selfish). I might say that's tremendous coaching to get to those feats with what we had. 5 years ago I bet most of us would've jumped at conference titles, a 1 seed, NBA players, etc. Everyone needs to settle down. I don't want to start over and become bad like Tennessee did for a long time after firing Phil Fulmer. Now, if we start missing the tournament and finishing in the bottom half of the conference then let's consider a change. But we have at least 2 NBA picks in next year's draft on our roster with the potential for more moving forward (Rodgers comes to mind, haven't seen Hansberry, but hear good things). And we will have a lot more chemistry and experience.
Matt Painter comes to mind. I'd love to be in Purdue's shoes where we keep a quality coach for a long time and are very competitive. Do I want a title? Of course! And maybe we get one.
We continue to recruit well and we want high character talented guys. Stop the grass is always greener mantra. Go Illini!
Bigtex
- DFW
what says Illinois will have better chemistry in 23-24?
Better chemistry because Clark/Epps/RJ/Mayer are gone?
More experienced (doesn't equate to better chemistry) yes but still without a suitable PG
Many new faces - Domask, Guerrero, Harmon, Hansberry, DGL, Moretti
Sorry I don't see on the surface that this version of Illinois basketball has better chemistry - next winter we will know the outcome regarding if this team has better chemistry
Better chemistry because Clark/Epps/RJ/Mayer are gone?
More experienced (doesn't equate to better chemistry) yes but still without a suitable PG
Many new faces - Domask, Guerrero, Harmon, Hansberry, DGL, Moretti
Sorry I don't see on the surface that this version of Illinois basketball has better chemistry - next winter we will know the outcome regarding if this team has better chemistry
I'm not calling for BU's head. He has given us 3 or 4 really solid years. I am starting to have doubts though about whether his best years are behind him or in front of him. But either way, you and I agree that he shouldn't be on the hot seat right now.
But why settle for a Painter-like tenure? Why not Izzo, Matta, Belein, Ryan - like. I totally understand the security of having a coach like Painter. But we've sniffed greatness as a program before. We should be on a relentless pursuit to get back there.
I do agree with most of what you're saying. I'd love to win 10 titles, but the fact is it's really really difficult to win one title. And just a handful of years is hardly enough time to determine if the coach is great or will be great. So far, in my opinion, for what he's done in a short period of time he's been great. Now let's look and see what he does over the next 6. Go Illini, my friend!
I don't disagree with your basic premise, but a comment on the bolded: We had an "everyday guys" mentality that definitely reflected that, but these last 2 rosters (2022-23 and next season, as the portal and NIL have exploded) have seemingly tossed that aside in favor of hired guns. Last year that didn't work out as well as hoped and a significant part of that was chemistry. I'd love to get back to that, but perhaps in this free agent age that's much tougher than simply trying to plug holes with the best available.
Damn it feels good to be back in the best thread on Loyalty
At this point, i'd love to have a Painter like tenure
I hear what you’re saying… and I’m not in the “fire Brad” camp by a long shot… but I don’t think anyone is saying “championship or bust”, but more “Sweet 16 or bust”… expecting any coach to deliver a championship is the highest of high bars. Expecting a top-ten-paid coach to make a Sweet 16 somewhere in years 5 through 7 is just not remotely the same.
Time my friend. It takes time. We were the bottom of the league when he took over not that long ago. Give it a little time. We've been pretty darn good the past 4 years. Things are trending up. Appreciate your response. Go Illini!
You are a patient man. This will be Underwood's 7th season. He's had 2 AAs, they were on the same team together, and still no 2nd weekend. Chris Beard took Texas Tech to the Elite 8 in season 2, Sean Miller took Arizona to the Elite 8 in year 2, Jerome Tang took Kansas State to the Elite 8 in year 1. These are just the first three guys that jump to mind, I'm sure with some research I could find many more.
To me, and I'd guess Whitman, next year is it. It's year 7, we've had 1 Big Ten title and 0 second weekends in the first 6 years. If we're 5th or worse in the Big Ten and another early out in the tourney, then I don't see Underwood returning. He's getting paid like one of the best in the nation, you need to deliver results like one of the best, no excuses left.
The concern is, unless we get some mystery PG, I don't think we're a better team than we were last year. I also don't think Purdue, Michigan State, Northwestern, or Maryland will be worse teams than last year. So Underwood better be on his coaching game next season or it is gonna be dicey.
Technically things are trending down from where they were 2-3 years ago
Goes back to my argument about the grass is always greener and flavor of the month. What program trends up every year? I'd like to know that answer. We are so much better off under Underwood than we have been since Self. Anyone who argues different doesn't understand. It's impossible to trend up every year. If you were told we'd have a team last year that had so many limited minutes at the college level, best players being transfers, no chemistry, Goode hurt and we'd win 20 games if you're being honest with yourself you'd take it in a heart beat. I've seen our coach handle a lot of different situations: inheriting a bad team, cleaning house, a lot of injuries, the transfer portal becoming a thing, COVID, etc. And while here he has conference titles, 4 NCAA tournament appearances, NBA players, etc. it's pretty impressive.
I've been a lifetime Illini fan. Went to school at U of I. Season ticket holder. Ate dinner with the Flying Illini. Have a family member who was close with Lou Henson. Too many people these days jump to judgement. Illinois is in a good place with Underwood.
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