Groce/Whitman Press Conference

#3      

Shuttlesworth

S
Shuttlesworth
illinifan87 said:
Has to be about the off court incidents right and the 'state of the program?'
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Have to imagine so. Be pretty weird to call a presser just for a vote of confidence although now they can do it here as well. Either that or Groce is going to walk away and Whitman is going to respect him (that's not happening guys)
 
#5      

79illinois

7
Winnetka, IL
79illinois
Groce-Whitman joint press conference this afternoon. Staff changes? I am speculating but this is interesting.
 
#6      

illininks

I
Shawnee, KS
illininks
79illinois said:
Groce-Whitman joint press conference this afternoon. Staff changes? I am speculating but this is interesting.
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I'd say outside of making a stand on expectations of players and making-clear the approach they will take on recent incidents, a change to coaching staff might be the only other thing that is mentioned.

On a separate note, I love how JFW is handling his role. So intentional and clear. It's very refreshing
 
#8      

ChitownIllini

ChitownIllini
Chicago, IL
ChitownIllini
Hoping today's presser includes a change in staff. IMHO the coaches have done a poor job with preparation on both sides of the ball the last few years.
 
#10      

Cubby Blue

C
Cubby Blue
ChitownIllini said:
Hoping today's presser includes a change in staff. IMHO the coaches have done a poor job with preparation on both sides of the ball the last few years.
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I feel quite opposite. I have always thought we were well prepared to start each and every game. However, I wouldn't say the same about the in game changes nor the halftime adjustments.
 
#16      

KnoxIllini2

KnoxIllini2
KnoxIllini2
"We will hold our athletes accountable but the legal process will need to be played out... yada, yada, yada..." Nothing to see here.
 
#17      

Shuttlesworth

S
Shuttlesworth
Adnarel said:
Didn't take long for this post to appear.
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It's a bit of a meme at this point yeah. But if it is about assistants, the only reason to have a press conference is from Dee Brown. No other basketball assistant is getting a presser. Dee probably wouldn't either so I don't think it'll be about assistants either.
 
#18      

Newman

N
Newman
IMO, this isn't for the fans wanting new info. This is going to be another vote of confidence for Groce to help with recruits and to show transparency.
 
#19      

Keisersose

Keisersose
Keisersose
The best and quickest hope we have for Illinois to come back to basketball greatness is for Tilmon and Goodwin to commit and join the 2017 class.

IMO, whitmans VOC of Groce hinges entirely on the program trending upward with these types of recruits (Tim Finke too, but that's the next year). By all accounts the recent arrests are not helping these guys decide to come here.

It must be addressed, and Whitman is going to help coach Groce get these guys on board.

For Illinois to be great we have to get guys like Goodwin, Tilmon, Finke, etc. we can't afford to lose them because of current players making bad decisions and a season of unbelievable injuries.

You may not believe the injuries are an excuse and/or you may believe that the arrests are somehow Coach Groces fault, but that can not be the narrative the athletic department allows to persist.
 
#20      

Shuttlesworth

S
Shuttlesworth
You don't call press conferences for a vote of confidence. I mean that can be in there sure, but I imagine it's something else too
 
#22      

breadman

B
Herndon, VA
breadman
I don't care what they talk about. I'm just glad to see them come out from behind the shadows every once in a while. Get those faces in front of the cameras.
 
#23      

icengineer

I
Southern Illinois
icengineer
Shuttlesworth said:
You don't call press conferences for a vote of confidence. I mean that can be in there sure, but I imagine it's something else too
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I've seen a few of those over the years. But I do not think that is the purpose of this one. I expect them to address the turmoil on the team. I do not expect any staff changes to be announced.

breadman said:
I don't care what they talk about. I'm just glad to see them come out from behind the shadows every once in a while. Get those faces in front of the cameras.
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Me too. doesn't hurt to have a show of leadership on occasion. JW is doing good so far showing who's in charge.
 
#24      

NScale

N
NScale
Second and Chalmers said:
Ask me the same question at 4PM. He's walking into a hornet's nest here.
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I have my money on Mr. Whitman over the hornets.
Josh can talk about painting the kitchen walls of his new house and I'd be there in front of the TV watching intently.
By the way, since I am in St. Louis, the paper here reports continued mass defections from the Mizzou BB program, every class. By comparison, we look stellar.
 
#25      

Ulysses Everett McGill

Ulysses Everett McGill
Ulysses Everett McGill
Doubt it's about a change in staff, but probably to discuss police blotter concerns, standards of conduct, etc., and maybe to announce some kind of new "keep them all in line" initiative within the program. Probably couched as general announcement but my guess this is mostly intended for a target audience of parents of recruits like Tilmon, Goodwin as well as parents of current team members like JCL and Finke.