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Groce/Whitman Press Conference
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<blockquote data-quote="HoustonIllini" data-source="post: 1206353" data-attributes="member: 569110"><p>I'm not sure I saw last year's team as a tournament team. We were one dimensional offensively, and middle of the pack defensively (I'm being generous here). While Hill and Nunn showed flashes of what is to be, Rice carried this team on his shoulders. After Rice - there was little to no offense, and while a defensive force in the middle, Egwu didn't add much on the offensive end. Any expectations we had of a tourney berth were . . . well . . . Illini pipe dreams. </p><p></p><p>People use the word "excuse" for describing the injury situation this year, when it's actually "fact" - we lost 60% of our starting lineup for most of the season. Try and spin it anyway you want, and nobody could get much more from the lineup we had.</p><p></p><p>Like others, I see next year as the make or break year for Groce, and I'm optimistic, for all the reasons highlight by others in this thread. I don't see Tracy as the savior for the program, but more as an inspiration for the rest of the team - whatever we can get from him is a bonus. </p><p></p><p>I'm excited for the continued advancement I saw from Finke, JCL, and most of all . . .drum roll please . . . . Maverick. If he continues his present trajectory, I think we could see All BIG honors next year. I think Coach Groce has done a great job developing these youngsters, to the point where getting them minutes is going to be an issue next year - a good problem to have. And the pipeline is starting to look better and better, boding well for our Illini.</p><p></p><p>I'm willing to wait until next year to throw my thumb up or down . . .<img src="/inc/illinois.gif" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":illinois:" title="Illinois :illinois:" data-shortname=":illinois:" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HoustonIllini, post: 1206353, member: 569110"] I'm not sure I saw last year's team as a tournament team. We were one dimensional offensively, and middle of the pack defensively (I'm being generous here). While Hill and Nunn showed flashes of what is to be, Rice carried this team on his shoulders. After Rice - there was little to no offense, and while a defensive force in the middle, Egwu didn't add much on the offensive end. Any expectations we had of a tourney berth were . . . well . . . Illini pipe dreams. People use the word "excuse" for describing the injury situation this year, when it's actually "fact" - we lost 60% of our starting lineup for most of the season. Try and spin it anyway you want, and nobody could get much more from the lineup we had. Like others, I see next year as the make or break year for Groce, and I'm optimistic, for all the reasons highlight by others in this thread. I don't see Tracy as the savior for the program, but more as an inspiration for the rest of the team - whatever we can get from him is a bonus. I'm excited for the continued advancement I saw from Finke, JCL, and most of all . . .drum roll please . . . . Maverick. If he continues his present trajectory, I think we could see All BIG honors next year. I think Coach Groce has done a great job developing these youngsters, to the point where getting them minutes is going to be an issue next year - a good problem to have. And the pipeline is starting to look better and better, boding well for our Illini. I'm willing to wait until next year to throw my thumb up or down . . .:illinois: [/QUOTE]
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