John Groce at Illinois

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,001      

bleedsorangenblue

bleedsorangenblue
C-U
bleedsorangenblue
Adnarel said:
Underside of bus, meet Illinois players:

http://writingillini.com/2016/01/22/illinois-basketball-9/

Yay? Nay? This articles most certainly contains Opinions.
Click to expand...

Ultimately, everything that happens with this program is Groce's fault. However, at what point do you say, that players must take responsibility for what happens on the court? It is now 19 games into the season. Lack of playing experience as individuals and as a team should not be the issue it was in November. Yet, this team often plays like they just met each other and are green to the college game.

I have no problem with anything that was said in that article. This team needs to pull itself up by the bootstraps and take some pride in playing for the University of Illinois. This may not always mean winning but it does mean competing and leaving it all on the court when all is said and done.
 
#1,002      

Adnarel

A
Adnarel
bleedsorangenblue said:
I have no problem with anything that was said in that article. This team needs to pull itself up by the bootstraps and take some pride in playing for the University of Illinois. This may not always mean winning but it does mean competing and leaving it all on the court when all is said and done.
Click to expand...
Gotta say, I'm with you there. After seeing how distasteful BW's player-trashing looked, I've tried to avoid trashing players unless they deserve it (players who have met that criteria this season before IU: MM).

But man, the product I saw in-person against Nebraska followed by getting a century piled on top of the team... that's real bad. We need a floor leader, so badly. I'm waiting for somebody to step up; it's there for the taking. KL tries to be assertive while being PG, but sometimes I get the impression that the other players kinda resent that. Like, at Indiana, Lewis was directing Nunn to the other side of the lane, and Nunn just stood there for a while and looked at him before jogging over. Bad body language like that just burns me up. Maybe KL was making a dumb call, I don't know. But you've gotta have structure and discipline on the floor.
 
#1,003      

Calvin

C
Calvin
Klondike said:
Well, the Vegas line on tomorrow's game is a pick 'em. And if we lose that, to move to 1-6, we will be favored in 3 remaining games.

v. OSU (dogs)
v. Wisconsin (dogs)
@ Rutgers (favored)
v. Iowa (dogs)
@ NW (dogs)
v. Rutgers (favored)
@ Wisconsin (dogs)
v. Indiana (dogs)
v. Minnesota (favored)
@ Maryland (dogs)
@ PSU (dogs)

Hopefully we pull off the win tomorrow, or this is going to get bleak (12-19 [4-14 B1G] bleak), fast.
Click to expand...

I remember saying we'd be lucky to win 4 games after watching some of the crap bball we played in the non-conf. After playing that series of cupcakes later in the non-conf, I thought we were a little bit better and actually went with 7-11 in conference, and a win in the conference tourney.

Glad I didn't put money on it.
 
#1,004      

Illini2018

I
Illini2018
Hey guy I'm a longtime follower on this board but decided it is time to post. I am first off apalled at the basketball program and secondly fed up with Groce. This man is getting paid millions to run a championship level basketball team and that expectation has fallen short in every season. I am fed up with the excuses coming from him and also the blame on the players. Groce is the man that recruited these guys and it is also his job to get these guys to play at a high level every single play and every single game. If those guys can't play at a high level then find guys that can or fix the problem. This level of play has not been consistent in this season and also throughout Groce's tenure. I remember last year, Groce's team laid down during the second half of the Purdue game and during the Michigan game last year with a tournament bid at the line in both. Groce is a great person no doubt and I hope he gets it together, but if we continue to sink this season the axe should fall on him before we sink even farther. I love my Illini as much as you all most likely do and hope we can return to national prominence soon.
 
#1,005      

Deleted member 11241

D
Guest
Deleted member 11241
I think at the end of this season, IF Groce has somehow salvaged the season in some way and IF we have an AD in place and he agrees to give Groce another year to right the ship. I think Groce deserves to have his contract extended a couple years. Even if it is same pay/buyout. It's only fair to him on the recruiting trail especially when he is trying to land this 2017 class. You have to at least give him a show of support and a fighting chance to get these kids to come play here. It would make no sense to keep him but say you got one year to make it happen. Most of the 17 class will already be committed by then. And by salvaging the season, I mean no more embarrassing losses, staying competitive, showing better team play, beating the teams we should beat, maybe win a couple games in the BTT and end the season on an up note. I am a big Groce supporter, but we keep turning out games like the other night and changes need to be made sooner. My biggest fear there is we end up worse off than we are now and Groce goes on to somewhere else and takes some team to multiple NCAA appearances while we go through 8 years of rebuilding. That would be the Illinois way!!
 
#1,006      

roger murdock

roger murdock
roger murdock
Adnarel said:
Underside of bus, meet Illinois players:

http://writingillini.com/2016/01/22/illinois-basketball-9/

Yay? Nay? This articles most certainly contains Opinions.
Click to expand...


So let me get this straight.... 'Groce has been a very good recruiter', 'Groce is going all out for the class of '17' (who isn't?), Groce is...'an excellent skills and game plan coach', and the team..'isn't executing the game plan', and 'isn't playing with heart, passion, and pride.' So basically we fans need to call out the players, 'especially Nunn, Hill, Tate, Finke, and JCL.'

Just. Wow.
 
#1,007      

Fillory

F
4th Floor Grainger
Fillory
Why the insistence on comparing Illinois to ISU? The comparison is completely unwarranted.
 
#1,008      

RVILLINI76

R
RVILLINI76
Why can't we find out the truth about our Illini?

I've had it. NO poster here has come to Groce's defense more than I.
I posted 5 posts the day before the Nebraska game headed what's Great about Groce. No more! I don't know if it's Groce or the players but of 346 Division 1 teams we are 323rd in field goal % defense, 274th in scoring defense, 337th in 3pt defense, 331st in rbs per game & 333 in offensive rbs per game. The plan & execution of the Purdue game were brilliant & the talent level of our players is improving. What's the matter? The defense is absolutely, completely unacceptable. I can't abide a team that quits! I wish all players & Coaches could be FIRED. I have rooted for the Illini more than 50 years. No More. This level of play makes me want to puke!
 
#1,009      

Allstar

A
Allstar
If John's guards make great shots they win. I watched his teams at OU and now. They run good sets for 3's but again that's it. The D #'s speak for themselves and the rebounding. Make great 3's they win...if not they lose. Don't like the odds.
 
#1,010      

illiniknight

I
illiniknight
Allstar said:
If John's guards make great shots they win. I watched his teams at OU and now. They run good sets for 3's but again that's it. The D #'s speak for themselves and the rebounding. Make great 3's they win...if not they lose. Don't like the odds.
Click to expand...

I don't think that is completely fair about the defense over time. Obviously this year's defense stinks but the previous years were not that bad. Illinois was in the top 50 for efficiency on defense all 3 years. Definitely not elite but nothing like the train wreck this year. Is it all the young players or did the rule changes make his previous defense untenable. I am not sure, but this year is definitely not on track with his previous years.
 
#1,011      

Calvin

C
Calvin
RVILLINI76 said:
I've had it. NO poster here has come to Groce's defense more than I.
I posted 5 posts the day before the Nebraska game headed what's Great about Groce. No more!
Click to expand...

He's had a weird trajectory. I thought his first season was VERY impressive, and promising for the future. 2nd season was solid IMO. 3rd season, disappointing. 4th season, an abomination, although the injuries muddy the water. You just can't expect a good season with so many key players out. So if I was giving out a report card by year, it would look like this:

1 A+
2 B
3 C- / D+
4 Incomplete, and allowances made for injuries, but still failing.

On balance you could argue he's average. But the trend is awful, and watching a team quit makes you want to quit as a fan.
 
#1,013      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
miketherevelator said:
Ex-Illini Sergio McClain on basketball program: 'Hire me as the head coach'
http://www.csnchicago.com/big-ten/ex-illini-sergio-mcclain-basketball-program-hire-me-head-coach

Ryan Easterling ‏@RyanEasterling 1 hour ago He and Jerrance must have the same weed guy
Click to expand...

I want Groce to succeed, but all options really should be on the table. Poor taste in a tweet by Easterling. I know Sergio says he wants the head job, but I would ask him what would be wrong with starting out on staff first?
 
#1,014      

Newman

N
Newman
Ryllini said:
I want Groce to succeed, but all options really should be on the table. Poor taste in a tweet by Easterling. I know Sergio says he wants the head job, but I would ask him what would be wrong with starting out on staff first?
Click to expand...

Might as well open up the job to all area high school coaches.. It was not in poor taste to criticize such a terrible and conceited suggestion.
 
#1,015      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
Newman said:
Might as well open up the job to all area high school coaches.. It was not in poor taste to criticize such a terrible and conceited suggestion.
Click to expand...

I have made jokes like that before and find them funny, but isn't he apart of the media? My opinion, writers for scout or representatives from ESPN shouldn't be joking around like that.

Maybe I shouldn't have said all options, but I would say he speaks with some validity with his assertion about his connections. One would probably have to assume he has many more connections with his playing days and the family he comes from than "area" high school coaches.
 
#1,017      

Ulysses Everett McGill

Ulysses Everett McGill
Ulysses Everett McGill
I'm wavering on Groce's future, but wha a classless move by McClain. Vulture. Wonder what his Dad would think of it. After reading that, if I'm the new AD I wouldn't offer Sergio the job of sweeping the gym.
 
#1,018      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Newman said:
It was not in poor taste to criticize such a terrible and conceited suggestion.
Click to expand...

He can criticize all he wants, as he should, but his tweet was truly in poor taste. As was Sergio's. Two wrongs do not make a right.
 
#1,019      

Stevegarbs

Stevegarbs
Mokena, IL
Stevegarbs
TCTORNADO said:
I smell a skunk on this one.:)
Click to expand...


5eb3534453dab497ce4ad9722b261d57.jpg
 
#1,020      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Calvin said:
He's had a weird trajectory. I thought his first season was VERY impressive, and promising for the future. 2nd season was solid IMO. 3rd season, disappointing. 4th season, an abomination, although the injuries muddy the water. You just can't expect a good season with so many key players out. So if I was giving out a report card by year, it would look like this
Click to expand...

Groce overachieved in his first season. No doubt about that.

He did not overachieve in his second. Making the NIT was not an overachievement, especially with a healthy junior Tracy and junior Egwu, in addition to Rice. But he did not underachieve either. NIT is where that team belonged.

Same with his third season. After Tracy's injury, that team was a bubble team and missing the NCAA but making the NIT was not really unexpected. The only true disappointing (underachieving) element, however, was how the season ended, two terrible performances.

This season, with so many injuries, it is hard to give any grade or evaluation. JMO, but given personnel after injuries, we had no chance at much.

So overall, Groce gets another chance. His overall performance has been... meh, but not really much of an underachievement. Given the state of the program he inherited, I though it would take 3-4 year anyway.

My major concern, however, is that I though we would be further ahead personnel wise. Four straight seasons, not even a single top-100 PG or C. That is disappointing. Going into the 5th year with very visible gaps in our roster. We should have been further ahead. No excuses there. That's why the 2017 recruiting class is so critical IMO. Given that we are further behind, Groce needs a really great class to make up some ground. Not just a good one. Other than Tilmon, the talent at Illinois is just good, not great. For a great class, Groce needs Tilmon and/or some difference makers from out of state.
 
#1,021      

westcoastillini

W
westcoastillini
Obelix said:
Groce overachieved in his first season. No doubt about that.

He did not overachieve in his second. Making the NIT was not an overachievement, especially with a healthy junior Tracy and junior Egwu, in addition to Rice. But he did not underachieve either. NIT is where that team belonged.

Same with his third season. After Tracy's injury, that team was a bubble team and missing the NCAA but making the NIT was not really unexpected. The only true disappointing (underachieving) element, however, was how the season ended, two terrible performances.

This season, with so many injuries, it is hard to give any grade or evaluation. JMO, but given personnel after injuries, we had no chance at much.

So overall, Groce gets another chance. His overall performance has been... meh, but not really much of an underachievement. Given the state of the program he inherited, I though it would take 3-4 year anyway.

My major concern, however, is that I though we would be further ahead personnel wise. Four straight seasons, not even a single top-100 PG or C. That is disappointing. Going into the 5th year with very visible gaps in our roster. We should have been further ahead. No excuses there. That's why the 2017 recruiting class is so critical IMO. Given that we are further behind, Groce needs a really great class to make up some ground. Not just a good one. Other than Tilmon, the talent at Illinois is just good, not great. For a great class, Groce needs Tilmon and/or some difference makers from out of state.
Click to expand...

I think this is a great assessment of John Groce's performance so far. A lot of people are calling for a change but I think so far he has been ok based on circumstance. We need good pg and bigs though...
 
#1,022      

Newman

N
Newman
Obelix said:
He can criticize all he wants, as he should, but his tweet was truly in poor taste. As was Sergio's. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Click to expand...

Initially, I found Sergio's comments to be so outlandish that I didn't mind the criticism, but after a little while I did think it was in poor taste. I still fear that many fans are going to entertain the idea of him being the next coach..
 
#1,023      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Newman said:
I still fear that many fans are going to entertain the idea of him being the next coach..
Click to expand...

Sergio? I think zero chance to begin with, but I'd be surprised if there will be any fans that will entertain that idea.
 
#1,024      

Konnie

K
Western Suburbs
Konnie
Newman said:
Initially, I found Sergio's comments to be so outlandish that I didn't mind the criticism, but after a little while I did think it was in poor taste. I still fear that many fans are going to entertain the idea of him being the next coach..
Click to expand...

Although I found Sergio's comments far fetched, the comment that really bothered me is "You can't use Central as a measuring stick. I wasn't supported by the administration, nor the majority of the parents whose kids played because I was about building a program and it not being a recreation center."

He is already defending his poor high school record by throwing parents and administrators under the bus and not admitting he needs to gain some more coaching experience.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.