foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Kedric Prince @KedPrince4
@j13byrd12 Sorry your guy Archie wasn't in the top two. C. Martin was, ticket sales in Missouri already up and Martin's a better recruiter.
Illini Coaching Staff
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Kedric Prince @KedPrince4
@j13byrd12 Sorry your guy Archie wasn't in the top two. C. Martin was, ticket sales in Missouri already up and Martin's a better recruiter.
The other thing about Fletch is that it seemed that all of the players really seemed to like him, not just as a coach, but as a person as well. I'm aware that the S&C does not, and should not, be a major factor in team cohesion and recruiting, but every little bit helps.
Obviously, this should not be a deciding factor, and if Coach Underwood has a guy that he really trusts, then he should bring in his guy. But if all other things are equal, I would take the guy who also helps with team chemistry, especially after a coaching change.
Obviously, this should not be a deciding factor, and if Coach Underwood has a guy that he really trusts, then he should bring in his guy. But if all other things are equal, I would take the guy who also helps with team chemistry, especially after a coaching change.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Alrighty Illini fans, it's Monday. It's been a week since BWood was hired. The season is over for all but a handful of teams. It's time to officially introduce some assistants!
This! I want to move on with football but I can't close the book on basketball until the staff is rounded out. MUST NEEDS HEAR MORE SOON!
I think the job posting closes and the end of today, so maybe tomorrow?
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
I see four postings:
Assistant Varsity Coach, Men's Basketball, close 3/27
Assistant Coach, Men's Basketball Operations, close 3/28
Assistant Coach, Men's Basketball Video Operations, close 3/30
Assistant Coach, Men's Basketball Player Personnel, close 3/30
Bolded: The S+C should be a factor in cohesion. Players spend a disproportionate amount of time with him as their leader in the offseason, individually or in group settings. Players need to like him to buy into what he's selling. Working really hard in the weight room is not necessarily fun. A guy that our players will gravitate to, work hard for, trust, and have seen fantastic results from, should not be written off.
As for whether its a deciding factor, if all things are even between fletch and option A, Fletch is the better option for his existing relationship and proof that the players like him and will work hard for him, and will see results when doing so.
I agree. I should have worded that better. What I meant is that chemistry with the players should not be at the top of the list of qualifications, but is definitely a reason why I would like to keep Fletch.
I also agree that he should bring in whomever he wants. However, the "obsession" with Fletch is merely that he is a known commodity. We can't talk about the other options because we have no clue who they are.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
I was wondering about the benefit of retaining guys from the previous coach. On one hand, you can see how a familiar face would make transitions easier for the players, but it might also perpetuate the "old way" of doing things which the new coach may want changed. You could imagine how a coach that is already experienced with the players could offer valuable insight into their psyches and their strengths and weaknesses, but then again, it may be that as a new coach you don't want to be jaded by the previous coaches' biases, interpretations, etc. Giving the whole roster a fair chance to show what they can do, without any bias or assumptions might be better. Watching film may in fact be a better way to get unbiased views, but then, for backups who never played, that won't be enough.
If an existing coach is truly skilled and valuable on their own right, then it makes sense to keep them. But keeping them simply because they know the players and have been around could backfire in a way, by making it take longer to establish the new way of doing things.
If an existing coach is truly skilled and valuable on their own right, then it makes sense to keep them. But keeping them simply because they know the players and have been around could backfire in a way, by making it take longer to establish the new way of doing things.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
It's a valid concern, but I don't think that will be an issue for Underwood.
Walker is on board. Evans is mostly on board. OSU is making a last ditch effort to keep him. The third assistant is up in the air but Underwood likely knows who it will be. The posting date for assistant coach ends today. At this point, speed is not important for filling the coaching spots. Getting the right guys is the key.
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More like their AD painted himself into a corner and had little choice, IMO. Way overpaid for Ford, then tried lowballing Underwood. Tough to attract a new coach unless you're willing to go the "way overpay" route again.
I predict an Underwood Burial ceremony in Stillwater.....followed by a mediocre season there.
It's definitely bizarre. It seems to me that usually when a team promotes an assistant, it's because the head coach that's moving on has really built something and the school wants that continuity (thinking Butler). Underwood and his staff were only there for a year so that doesn't really fit the continuity narrative.
The spite argument would maybe make sense if he left OSU for K-State or someone in conference. I don't see the point in spiting someone that will never be on your schedule.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
Same.
If we can get people to the point where they're not getting hurt as frequently, great. But basketball is not football, where so many positions simply amount to who is going to out-athletic who.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
Also became a nice complimentary piece to a true board mainstay, the Wildly Optimistic Offseason Scouting Report (WOOSR).
Evans isnt coming
to Illinois. He is a great recruiter and has recruited some really good players. This is disappointing that he couldn't retain his best recruiter. and team him up with jamal.
to Illinois. He is a great recruiter and has recruited some really good players. This is disappointing that he couldn't retain his best recruiter. and team him up with jamal.
Yes, the obsession is extremely baffling.
It's also baffling that people seem to think they can evaluate Fletcher. I know I can't, but I do know that last year's team was the slowest, least athletic team I've seen at Illinois in the last 40 years. There was a vast gap between the vanity stats Fletcher posted and the athleticism we saw on the court.
We would have been better off spending all that workout time working on dribbling.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Source?
Welp, that's disappointing if true. No Boynton or Evans puts us behind the eight ball on a few levels. Orlando Antigua rumored to go back to UK last I heard. Have to hope for something ridiculous like Dennis Gates + Heirman. I'm guessing Geoff Alexander and someone we haven't discussed.
Dan
Admin
Lamont Evans will stay as the associate head coach Mike Boynton just announced. #OKState
https://twitter.com/TheGreat_Nate/status/846457237015068672
https://twitter.com/TheGreat_Nate/status/846457237015068672
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