I have faith in that. If Nnanna figured it out, so can LB.
John Groce at Illinois
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illinitrav
- NW Suburbs
As someone who follows NIU Hoops closely, take Montgomery off the list. They are having a great season and I'm loving it, but he is not qualified to coach at Illinois.
Or if he is a top 4 seed? and loses? Can 'em? Don't think so. There are always more factors than making a blanket statement like "If you lose x amount of games, you're gone." Or "If you don't win a tourney game, you're fired!"
I guess I am trying to decide what it really means if we make the tournament next year but we don't get a win? Would that make me feel like JG is suddenly a good X and O coach? Not really. I think that can be determined by watching 4 years of play. Would making the tournament make me think that JG is a great recruiter? Not really. I think that can be judged at this point as well. He could really help the cause with a good 17 class.
Overall, I feel we should pursue other options barring some amazing run or recruiting coup... With that being said, I agree with those that say he will get another year. My guess is that we will squeeze into the tournament next year. Maybe we will win a game and maybe we won't. Then we will be discussing this again around 2018 or 2019. As we debate it all over again, some will want to stick with Groce. By that time, our program will be completely undesirable and "who can we get that would be any better?"
ChiCityHoops34
- DeKalb IL
+100
The average MAC coach experiment hasn't worked no need to try it again.
I still have nightmares of watching that Eastern Michigan game where Northern scored 4 points in the first half.
Didn't Tubby take MN to the tourney and win a game (as a lower seed maybe?) the year he got fired? The grass isn't always greener.
That's an interesting twist.
Under this scenario, though, I still don't think that's going to be grounds to cut ties unless Groce does something to impugn his own character. If we're a #4 seed or better, then that means that he's done something right, and that's going to boost his popularity. Why fire a popular coach who's produced a good team? It's not fair to can a coach who's organized a successful regular season and loses in March. Otherwise, Bill Self would be jobless... multiple times over.
Dave Rice or his top recruiter wouldn't be horrible additions to the staff. I still stand behind Groce being the man to take us back to the promise land. Patience 
Try not to tell anyone, but I still think we can make the NCAA tournament. A win tonight allows for a descent into the upper atmosphere of the NIT bubble.
Try not to tell anyone, but I still think we can make the NCAA tournament. A win tonight allows for a descent into the upper atmosphere of the NIT bubble.
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It wasn't rumors. Pull up the stat sheets if you can. He averaged a double-double on the whole trip.
Dave Rice or his top recruiter wouldn't be horrible additions to the staff. I still stand behind Groce being the man to take us back to the promise land. Patience
Try not to tell anyone, but I still think we can make the NCAA tournament. A win tonight allows for a descent into the upper atmosphere of the NIT bubble.
Wasn't K-State on the bubble last year despite having a record of like 15-15 because they had a ridiculous SOS?
I'd take these stats with a grain of salt, especially given the lack of live coverage, but more importantly, the level of competition. The days when college teams competed with good club teams in Europe and elsewhere abroad are long gone. International basketball has improved tremendously, and most good club teams will simply beat average college teams with ease.
With the exception of the NT of Netherlands, when we easily lost in their preparation scrimmage (Netherlands is low level basketball in Europe), the rest were local town teams with not much talent.
I think Leron has talent and potential, but he has to first prove he can be a consistent college player in real competition.
I'll try not to tell anyone... because it would take an absolute miracle to even make it to the NIT, let alone be anywhere around the bubble. Michigan, with significant injuries last year, still went 8-10 in B1G, absolutely killed us in the B1G tournament and still did not make it to the NIT.
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All of you will be tired of my constant mentions of Notre Dame, but their having played the Illini in hoops helps the Illinois strength of schedule.
You may wonder why I'm also an Illini fan, especially football. It goes back to growing up with the Chicago TV stations, which also piqued my interest in Northwestern football (remember "The Dennis Green Show?"). I used to follow the Mike White & John Mackovic teams very closely.
My HS alma mater's fight song (SB Adams) is played to the tune of the Illini song. My dad's old HS, the former SB Central, had colors Orange & Blue. And of course I live in Bears territory, so the orange & blue are prevalent here.
There's no question that the B1G is at the very top of bb conferences -- the Illini will have to hope for few if any true "surprise" mid-major tournament champions, obviously, which in the past have derailed NCAA tourney hopefuls many times.
You may wonder why I'm also an Illini fan, especially football. It goes back to growing up with the Chicago TV stations, which also piqued my interest in Northwestern football (remember "The Dennis Green Show?"). I used to follow the Mike White & John Mackovic teams very closely.
My HS alma mater's fight song (SB Adams) is played to the tune of the Illini song. My dad's old HS, the former SB Central, had colors Orange & Blue. And of course I live in Bears territory, so the orange & blue are prevalent here.
There's no question that the B1G is at the very top of bb conferences -- the Illini will have to hope for few if any true "surprise" mid-major tournament champions, obviously, which in the past have derailed NCAA tourney hopefuls many times.
Sure, our resume is still OK, we just need a lot more wins. Like almost all of the remaining games. And then a couple in the BTT.
I think if we win all of our remaining regular season games, we will make the NCAA tourney, regardless of BT tournament wins.....won't be wagering on it, though.
Generally don't really like looking at possible replacement especially during the season but that's basically what this thread is. So with that what do folks think of Bobby Lutz. Had some success at UAB and has been able to recruit like bonkers at NCSt. You would think he would want to get back to a HC position at some point. I would be worried about progression as it seems like most of those high level recruits haven't done a ton at NCSt but I have no doubt he and his staff (basically all the NCSt assistants have more ties to him than Gottfried) could pull talent.
Don't think they get either of the top 2. Drew might not be bad and Powell could definitely tell him about Dee Brown and get him on staff.
And he averaged that double-double whilst playing 20 minutes per game. If and when he is ever fit (and in my gut I am worried about that happening), he will be a very good player and he won't have the rough play problems from his first year at CU.
I think this discussion is turning from what is reasonably possible to whether Illinois has already been mathematically eliminated.
I think if we lose out the regular season, and then win every game starting with the BTT, we'll all be really happy.
Sure, that's why I wrote "almost all". It would be easier to just win the BTT than win out in the regular season, IMO.
if "the hot seat" is reality (who knows what the AD thoughts will be), JG is at a disadvantage in 2017 recruiting. The AD signals will be key IMO.
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While I agree that landing a monster class may keep Groce even if he misses the tournament, he will also most definitely survive with a S16. But barely making the tournament and losing a game may not be enough, will depend on other factors.
In my opinion, Groce has not earned the opportunity to have a successful regular season only to lose in the first round AND keep his job. So, yes.
Believe me, I am rooting for him. Next season, we will have the experience, depth and talent to not only make the tourney, but win some games IF we have a quality coach to get us there. We shall see.
Big men with leg/ankle/foot injuries take more time to not only heal, but be productive. I realize they were medically cleared to play basketball. That means they are cleared to practice. As the head coach, Groce should have considered long term health. One more week for each player to practice and rehab might have kept them from re-injuring themselves.
I think Groce panicked and rushed them back onto the court b/c the team needs the size.
I don't think Groce rushed them back, I think the players were cleared by the doctors and they insisted they could play. Groce probably saw they weren't 100% but since the doc and players said they could play wasn't really in a position to be picky.
Once he saw it wasn't just rust/conditioning he shut down Leron and is being more cautions with Thorne.
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