Groce's comments and tone in the presser make me question his EQ. He seems like an incredibly logical and rational guy, but sort of robotic and incredibly stubborn in his approach. I wonder if he's able to really connect with the players in a way that helps them and improves team chemistry, and whether this is part of the cultural problem within the program. Would love to hear from some folks closer to the program on their perspective on this issue.
Groce/Whitman Press Conference
A bit late to the party with this, but they could tweak that one just a bit: "Don't Fear the Rebound." Instant theme song!
I almost wish some of you posters get your wish because once groce is fired , transfers and decommitments will be at a all time high , then what dwell in the cellar for a couple years and call for the next coaches head and then say JW is not the man for the job , you can say what you want kids committed because of Groce not because of Illinois , cause if that was the fact we wouldn't have two commitments from 17 already with the state we are in now, so if you think some new coach is s gonna come in and convince kids to stay committed y'all nuts cause coach K or Cal is not walking through those doors anytime soon.
I do not think Groce is going anywhere, but this logic is totally faulty. By your own reasoning there was no way Malcolm would have stayed committed since he was a Weber recruit and not an Illinois recruit.
Is groce not a likeable guy ? Why do you think Malcolm stayed committed he fell in love with groce nuff said nothing faulty about that kids and parents love groce , bottom line.
The majority of you already have given Groce a verdict and will spin anything the man does or says negatively, which is quite sad because he's a tremendous leader and a great coach. Whitman, given his pedigree, I woudl assume to be be a of character and if he gives Groce his vote of confidence, then the least you can do is not sabotage our head coach and the basketball team.
What's even more funny is the yearning for Drew or Martin, who are unquestionably downgrades compared with Groce.
What's even more funny is the yearning for Drew or Martin, who are unquestionably downgrades compared with Groce.
It has little to do with Groce being likable. By your own logic, Malcolm was a Weber recruit, not an Illinois recruit (similar to current recruits), and there was no way he would have stayed committed under a new coach. Well, Weber was fired, a new coach was hired (Groce) and Malcolm stayed committed. It can easily happen again with current recruits. Again, faulty logic and reasoning.
Unless your new point now is that Groce is the only likable coach/guy on earth and a new coach will be by default an unlikable coach, which all current recruits will dislike. Which simply adds to your faulty argument.
We are in the cellar. We finished 12th in the Big TEN. We cannot fall much lower.
Whitman has to back Groce for now. But anyone who thinks the program is headed in the right direction has a different view than Whitman.
Whats Whitmans view?
Occam's razor. The obvious answer is that JFW's support is there if the 17 class comes full circle. It's enough to turn the program around. If it doesn't happen, JFG is out. It's really simple. It may not be the morally responsible answer but since when is NCAA athletics morally responsible. I hate to say it bluntly but it's a reality today. Illinois is no different than any other school, it comes down to BUSINESS decisions. Winning by the *rules* (and revenue $$$) takes precedence over off the court shenanigans. If JG had nothing working for the future that could benefit the UofI then he'd be gone by now. He holds the cards and if he lays down a straight flush he's good, but if he lays down an ace high he's out.
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I agree but let's not act like a coaching change doesn't increase the chances of transfers. It's even more concerning now with recruits since they can get out of LOI's so easily. I don't think we'd lose every player in the class with a coaching change, but I'd naturally expect some turnover. It doesn't mean that the class is doomed, as it could cause some excitement just like we saw with Groce in his first year. The excitement doesn't make up for the limited time to develop relationships though.
ChiCityHoops34
- DeKalb IL
It is mind boggling to me that "great" is still being thrown around, at this point in his Illinois tenure you can barely look at the resume and say average. Look at the numbers and tell me the case for anything better than average let a lone great.
Drew is an unquestionable downgrade? Please explain how someone can finish first in their conference 4/5 times in a conference very similar to the level of MAC basketball and be an "unquestionable" downgrade, while Groce finished no better than third in his tenure at Ohio?
It's pretty clear Whitman is buying time while publicly supporting Groce so he is not viewed as a lame duck by recruits. But he does not see the program moving in the right direction.
If Groce wins next year (gets into tourney) and locks up a good 2017 class while keeping the off court issues to a minimum, he probably buys himself another year. If he does not, Whitman has a year to shop the market.
There you have it folks. Now we all know what the AD is thinking.
I thought this was consensus at this point.
I'd be curious on your perspective.
I'll be damned if I would come on here and act like I know what Josh Whitman is thinking. Does that satisfy your curiosity?
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I'm really not exaggerating when I say there isn't a single P5 coach you could refer to as "unquestionably a downgrade" from Groce.
I guess taking Whitman's comments at face value is out of the question?
In this case, LOIs are kind of irrelevant for this year, as none of the current commits have signed (Williams, Pickett). But everything depends on the new coach and the existing recruiting class. In our last coaching change, we really had no transfers of impact, we kept all recruits we wanted (really Malcolm), and got in with recruits that we absolutely had no chance before (Nunn, DJax) despite the limited time to develop relationships.
I have said multiple times that Groce is going nowhere this year, deserves another year. He survives 2016. But he is not home free and secure yet beyond next season. That will highly depend on 2017 recruiting class and next year's performance.
Peoples anti Groce agendas are showing hard.
Oh stop it. The Pitino Boy. Rick Barnes. Ernie Kent. Johnny Jones. Weber. Jim Christian. There are a lot worse than Groce.