I just want our coaching staff filled out so I can sleep at night.
This is chicken and egg dilemma. The thing is, you still need players to win. Even mid-major Gonzaga produced its best results ever because they has 2 burger boys, 3 top 50 players, and 7 top 100 players.
We can't take the scraps of Chicago and even if we don't get all the 5 star guys, we've gotta land 1 or 2 here and there.
Exactly - I mean, Paris Parham is like the platonic ideal of "Chicago guy on staff" and it got us nowhere because our on-court product is bad. Which is understandable! It's not due to some House of Cards-style backroom machinations that kids are finding reasons not to go to Illinois. We are providing them with obvious, public, compelling reasons not to go to Illinois.
Did N. Irvin not say that Paris "did his job" and got Chicago guys on-campus. I think we didn't see dividends with Chicago because we weren't winning with Weber and Groce.
All things being equal, wouldn't we take a Chicago kid with similar fit and skill set over someone out of state?
Why else would Underwood and Whitman publicly speak to the importance of Chicago being a fertile recruiting ground that makes Illinois an attractive destination? I realize that they may not necessarily admit it publicly, but there's apprehension in having to "play the game" with Chicago kids and their handlers, but it's not like we don't try. I would suspect the reason why is that everyone knows that Chicago talent can put you over the top.
We need to win, period. But why does a Chicago guy on staff and winning have to be mutually exclusive?
We should be reluctant to act like we "don't need Chicago" when we'd take the talent from there in a heartbeat. In my humble opinion we need to have a Chicago guy on staff with this new administration to help defrost the relationship, but, more importantly, win.
I guess we'll see how much Chicago matters in one of these next two hires ...
Ironically I think it's something like 10 out of the last 12 champions had Chicago recruits on the roster but aside from being from Chicago, what's more rare is winning without 5 star talent. UNC has at least 5 burger boys that I can think of.
For those who think we can achieve final four results without this talent, please let me know how and I'd also love to know how you're going to make the wheel and fire obsolete.
Exactly. Each time a new coach like Will Wade hires a great !!!'t like Tony Benford, I discover I'm suffering from "assistant coach hiring envy". At least I think that's what my psychiatrist called it.I just want our coaching staff filled out so I can sleep at night.
This thing has to go in phases, we (or any program) can't jump straight to a FF without spending a few years rebuilding the program (yes, I'm aware there are flukes, but we're talking about sustained success, not one-off E8 runs). To get to that regular SS/E8/FF expectation that we all have it will absolutely take big-name recruits, but it's silly IMO to think we'll get there in 2-3 years.
This is a process, and it took Lou a long, long time to build the program to where it was a regular in the top 5 of the polls in the 80's, and then a while for Kruger/Self to rebuild it to get there again in the early-mid 00's. To think that there's one magical assistant out there who can grab the big CPL recruits in 2017 and have us in the upper echelons in 2018/19 is being realistic.
That's the whole point. It's a process and in order to develop that relationship you need to have someone on staff who can connect with Chicago. Granted, Jimmy Collins was from NY, but his impact in Chicago speaks for itself. Same with Jerrance - he's from Peoria but he started to make those inroads in Chicago even though the actual return on investment wasn't 5*s. If we're trying to cultivate relationships with Chicago, why not have a guy on staff who "gets" Chicago and can make inroads.
These are all abstract arguments, so very curious to see who BU brings on board. I'd be shocked if at least 1 of the 2 positions wasn't filled by someone with Chicago ties.
So two of our best recruiters in Chicago weren't Chicago guys and more than likely didn't have real Chicago contacts?
We need someone that can speak the same language as the people in Chicago and has a personality that will led to allowing them in the door. After a good recruiter is in the door all bets are off. This person doesn't have to be from Chicago (though it would make it easier) and does not currently need to have Chicago ties (though it would make it easier). They need to be able to earn those ties by recruiting well in the city and having those players go on to play well at Illinois.
what do you know about a guy named Ron "chin" Coleman?
He allegedly has good relationship with the Irvins.
http://www.uicflames.com/news/2015/5/20/Ron_Coleman_Rounds_Out_UIC_Men_s_Basketball_Coaching_Staff.aspx?path=mbballBefore entering the collegiate ranks, Coleman served as head coach for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU squad from 2005-11
Ronnie Coleman?
Coleman's time at Bradley was unfulfilling and left Bradley fans feeling like they had been swindled. Bradley fans celebrated when he left Peoria.
Anyone know what kind of reputation Orlando Antigua has? Connections to Coach Cal and a scandal at USF don't fill me with confidence.
...recruited nationally for Pittsburgh, Memphis and Kentucky. Big reputation as a recruiter.
Men's BB banquet--May 1st--should be lots of juicy rumors by then. Seems rather late this year.?? I wonder who will get the Mike Henry award and not be invited??