FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
That's all coaching. That's on Groce.
Indiana 103, Illinois 69 POSTGAME
That's all coaching. That's on Groce.
Was that an iceberg Captain Smith?
Chris Yates
Recruiting Correspondent
- Michigan
I have been a steadfast defender of Coach Groce as a victim of bad luck in every form, but I'm finally done. His teams have less structure on offense, less discipline on defense, and less fight with each passing season. This seems like rock bottom, but I fear it may get even worse before this season ends.
I was at the PU win the other day. To go from the euphoria of that win and the tremendous team defense and offense we displayed to the UNL loss and then this is just inexplicable. If this becomes a trend for the rest of the season, it's time for a new coach.
JG and staff are on death watch from now until March. And if I were a betting man, my money would be on a new coach coming this spring, which pains me to write since I love JG. Pathetic game.
JG and staff are on death watch from now until March. And if I were a betting man, my money would be on a new coach coming this spring, which pains me to write since I love JG. Pathetic game.
I have been a steadfast defender of Coach Groce as a victim of bad luck in every form, but I'm finally done. His teams have less structure on offense, less discipline on defense, and less fight with each passing season. This seems like rock bottom, but I fear it may get even worse before this season ends.
The lack of structure on O is disappointing. Funny thing is, we've looked pretty solid offensively from mid-December through the PU game. Against PU we had great ball movement, transition game and off-the-ball movement. Looked very creative. Then we got one-dimensional against UNL (3-point-shot happy) and reverted back to hero ball tonight. The lack of a quality PG is a big part of it. Imagine UI with Ferrell at PG.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
I'm with both of the gentlemen above. Really like JG, but this is the worst Illini basketball performance I've seen this century.
Judging by this game and the postgame presser, John is on his way out the door.
Judging by this game and the postgame presser, John is on his way out the door.
ILLINIWEK86
Dick Vitale walks into a bar..
- Fisher
In other news: the guys to the North are in OT against Maryland. Maryland being a team a lot of people think could be a final four team.
Then here we are... Licking our wounds after getting completely embarrassed on national television by that weirdo Tom Crean, and the stinking Hoosiers.
Then here we are... Licking our wounds after getting completely embarrassed on national television by that weirdo Tom Crean, and the stinking Hoosiers.
Unfortunately I completely agree. I know that the injuries put a major wrench into our season, but if we get beaten badly like this in a few more games and can't get our players to look like they care then I don't see how you can justify keeping Groce. It was one thing when we were losing, but being competitive. This is just embarrassing.
89illinigrad
- Chicago
Don't know if Groce has lost the team or if the team is just lost. In any case, our fanbase is gathering up their pitchforks and, if the current trend continues and this season turns into a death spiral, it will almost certainly spell the end of Groce (and we can say goodbye to any hopes of landing Williams, Goodwin and/or Tilmon).
The only saving grace may be the lack of an AD.
Illinois needs to win the next 4 games, which are all winnable, if they are going to have a chance to salvage this season.
The only saving grace may be the lack of an AD.
Illinois needs to win the next 4 games, which are all winnable, if they are going to have a chance to salvage this season.
ChiCityHoops34
- DeKalb IL
Groce was 34-30 in the MAC and is now 25-33 in the Big Ten.
That's an 8 year sample size of being average at his best.
Recruiting was supposed to be what set him apart, and his best player during his tenure at UI committed to our previous coach.
At some point a spade is a spade.
That's an 8 year sample size of being average at his best.
Recruiting was supposed to be what set him apart, and his best player during his tenure at UI committed to our previous coach.
At some point a spade is a spade.
Illinois basketball new slogan "Come have your most successful season with the previous coaches' roster."
On his coaching and/or his recruiting. Bears noting we pretty much have no one who can stay in front of a moderately talented/quick opponent. Without the constant breakdowns maybe it's easier to keep track of your own man/area.
This is really starting to feel just like Weber's last year. The loyalists are finally folding their cards as the writing on the wall is becoming apparent. I don't think the team is quitting on Groce but their confidence looks shot.
Well said and sad but true. People can make excuses for Groce all day long, but the record is the record. Yes, he's had injuries this year, but we haven't seen many signs of good coaching since his first year.
Hands Malone
- Quad-Cities, IL
I hope the team can put it together. Purdue showed the potential was there. With that said. Sorry to say I think it's time to go in another direction next year.
LOL. Was just gonna posit what folks think tonight's score w/b if we had Yogi and they had Tate or Lewis. Yogi is really something.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
My sentiments to the illini program right now exactly. I want to be good. Supporting a mediocre program year in and out is really not fun.
No, Purdue simply showed that a jump shooting team gets lucky once in a blue moon.
So that means we have an amazing turnaround next season with our new coach, or we have another joke season and we can fire the new guy after one season. At least it makes the future pretty easy. :thumb:
A broken clock is right twice a day huh?
TeamworkOrange
- Chicago
I did a quick scan through our Indiana series and this appears to be our 3rd worst loss to Indiana.
1.) 2/9/74 @ Champaign - 67 - 107 (40 point loss)
2.) 1/2/91 @ Bloomington - 74 - 109 (35 point loss)
3.) 1/19/15 @ Bloomington - 69 - 103 (34 point loss)
Anybody who knows me on the boards, knows I abhor all things IU. I didn't expect us to win tonight, but this... this, is not good. Not good at all. I'm extremely calm, and I was calm watching the game. This is unlike me as I typically yell at the tv during games. I guess I have resigned myself to the fact that we're not a very good basketball program anymore. I'm still a fan and will root for the team, but I'm no longer emotionally invested. I haven't felt this down about our program since the Deon Thomas sanctions. It's hard to believe...
1.) 2/9/74 @ Champaign - 67 - 107 (40 point loss)
2.) 1/2/91 @ Bloomington - 74 - 109 (35 point loss)
3.) 1/19/15 @ Bloomington - 69 - 103 (34 point loss)
Anybody who knows me on the boards, knows I abhor all things IU. I didn't expect us to win tonight, but this... this, is not good. Not good at all. I'm extremely calm, and I was calm watching the game. This is unlike me as I typically yell at the tv during games. I guess I have resigned myself to the fact that we're not a very good basketball program anymore. I'm still a fan and will root for the team, but I'm no longer emotionally invested. I haven't felt this down about our program since the Deon Thomas sanctions. It's hard to believe...
Groce's quotes from the presser are pretty disturbing - echoes of Bruce Weber blaming the players. He's saying the players lack leadership, "execution of discipline and details," and "basketball character." Who's fault is that? I guess you need more than seal training and silly slogans to develop players.
See Jeremy Werner on Twitter.
See Jeremy Werner on Twitter.
Govoner Vaugn Fan
- New Orleans
In the pregame huddle, I could almost hear Crean telling his team, " You've seen the Illinois defense on tape... lets challenge ourselves to set a school record for threes tonight."
It was a B1G conference record. Indy's being a bit of a hog about it though. We own part of it too.