I struggle a lot with this thought. How bad was the talent during the Groce years? Recruiting websites would make you think we should've been a S16 team. Now, I get we only signed two top 50 guys (JCL and Black), but our classes were as follows:
2012: (nobody)
2013: 13th nationally, 2nd in B1G
2014: 56th, 8th (with Black)
2015: 15th, 2nd (with JCL)
2016:110th, 14th (just TJL)
Now I understand the arguments: bad scouting on our end, poor fits, lack of PG's, dismissals/transfers, etc. and I also understand we are used to recrutiing better players (well at least in the 80s/90s/early 00s) but to say we didn't have talent is wrong. Not saying if we had [Insert your 'best' coach here] that he would have lead us to the promise land, but as you say, we needed solid coaching as well.
It's hard for me to say talent was the major issue why Groce failed at UIUC. I doubt it'll be the reason if BU fails. He might not land top 25 kids, but getting one or two top 100 guys each class (and getting them to stay) is plenty. But that said, I want BU to get who he wants, not what the star amount next to their name is.