Seven figures....ummm maybe I should have gone into coaching after all. This high school rec coaching gig doesn't pay what I thought it would lol. Yes 7 figures would tempt Nagy or Byrd for sure
John Groce at Illinois
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Not gonna offer that much for one of them of course...what did Groce get to come to Illinois to begin with?
Man, the B1G is so weird this year. We've got three teams in the Kenpom top 15 and three teams in the Kenpom P5 bottom 15. And one of those top teams is not tOSU, but Iowa.
Makes me so sad to think if we stayed healthy how good of a shot we would've had at making it to the dance
Given the current political season, I thought it would be interesting to see where folks would place Groce on a politically inspired chart (see attached). I plotted recruiting prowess against coaching ability.
If enough people respond I'll upload another picture with people's opinions plotted. I think I'd put him at 4/10 on Xs and Os and 7/10 on recruiting. (It'd also be fun to see how people rate other coaches.)
If enough people respond I'll upload another picture with people's opinions plotted. I think I'd put him at 4/10 on Xs and Os and 7/10 on recruiting. (It'd also be fun to see how people rate other coaches.)
Attachments
Since we have been talking about coaching resumes, I've decided to pull up the last 4 coaches prior 4 years before taking the Illinois job and how they compare to each other.
Lon Kruger 4 years prior Illinois
1992–93 Florida 16–12 9–7 3rd (East) NIT First Round
1993–94 Florida 29–8 12–4 T–1st (East)NCAA Final Four
1994–95 Florida 17–13 8–8 3rd (East) NCAA First Round
1995–96 Florida 12–16 6–10 5th (East)
Bill Self 4 years prior to Illinois
1996–97 Oral Roberts 21–7 NIT First Round
1997–98 Tulsa 19–12 9–5 3rd (Pacific)
1998–99 Tulsa 23–10 9–5 T–1st (Mountain) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Tulsa 32–5 12–2 1st NCAA Elite Eight
Bruce Weber 4 years prior to Illinois
1999–00 Southern Illinois 20–13 12–6 3rd NIT Second Round
2000–01 Southern Illinois 16–14 10–8 T–4th
2001–02 Southern Illinois 28–8 14–4 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002–03 Southern Illinois 24–7 16–2 1st NCAA First Round
John Groce 4 years prior to Illinois
2008–09 Ohio 15–17 7–9 6th (East)
2009–10 Ohio 22–15 7–9 5th (East) NCAA Second Round
2010–11 Ohio 19–16 9–7 3rd (East) CIT Quarterfinals
2011–12 Ohio 29–8 11–5 3rd (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Lon Kruger 4 years prior Illinois
1992–93 Florida 16–12 9–7 3rd (East) NIT First Round
1993–94 Florida 29–8 12–4 T–1st (East)NCAA Final Four
1994–95 Florida 17–13 8–8 3rd (East) NCAA First Round
1995–96 Florida 12–16 6–10 5th (East)
Bill Self 4 years prior to Illinois
1996–97 Oral Roberts 21–7 NIT First Round
1997–98 Tulsa 19–12 9–5 3rd (Pacific)
1998–99 Tulsa 23–10 9–5 T–1st (Mountain) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Tulsa 32–5 12–2 1st NCAA Elite Eight
Bruce Weber 4 years prior to Illinois
1999–00 Southern Illinois 20–13 12–6 3rd NIT Second Round
2000–01 Southern Illinois 16–14 10–8 T–4th
2001–02 Southern Illinois 28–8 14–4 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002–03 Southern Illinois 24–7 16–2 1st NCAA First Round
John Groce 4 years prior to Illinois
2008–09 Ohio 15–17 7–9 6th (East)
2009–10 Ohio 22–15 7–9 5th (East) NCAA Second Round
2010–11 Ohio 19–16 9–7 3rd (East) CIT Quarterfinals
2011–12 Ohio 29–8 11–5 3rd (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Gene Bartow, Lou Henson, and Lon Kruger each had a final 4 appearance prior to being hired at Illinois.
Bardo4assistant
- springpatch
Just thinking of Kruger, and how awesome it would be to have him back....there are no coaches that come to mind that have ever returned to a school they previously coached.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
Dave Leito (sp?) says hello.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
LOU HENSON
brokensaphire
- Arizona
This is my first response.
I registered here in order to comment on my favorite Illinois sports program. My opinion is just that and I only ask that anyone reading this be fair and open-minded, if possible, in regards to their support (or lack, thereof) of John Groce.
I will premise my remarks by saying that the main concerns I had about Coach Groce when he was hired was that his conference record was lacking mightily at Ohio. He was known for his ability to get his players into the tournament where it matters most and where even a middle seed can go deep. Also, his lack of experience troubled me due to the high standards of the Illini basketball program, its history and fan base. Reading this thread proves that.
Those concerns have not been dispelled, however; circumstances beyond any coach's control do not warrant his dismissal by our new AD. I am speaking about injuries. With a full slate of players, healthy players, there is no way of truly and honestly gauging Coach Groce. I am disturbed by the showing in last year's NIT because if a coach can do one thing right it is to motivate under any circumstance. I understand the players' poor attitude and that is on John but not an offense tipping the scales against him. I agree it most certainly doesn't help his cause.
Lastly, the recruiting edge he was going to bring might have been misinterpreted. If we know one thing, it is that Coach Groce doesn't cheat, nor should he have to, in order to get good players. With all the messy recruiting business that many programs have or are rumored to have I am proud that Groce loses great players with sketchy pasts and handlers in exchange for solid, young men with potential. It appears he does bring in quality kids a majority of the time and for that reason alone I thing we should keep him. Last year's class was fine and this upcoming class is his biggest challenge. I hope that AD Whitman, in his wisdom, knows all this and we won't be looking for another coach in the next few years. At least, that is my desire. Is his coaching seat hot? Yes, but we can blame him if the chair on which he sits keeps getting broken? Perhaps we should wait for him to get a sturdy one before we starting throwing matches and lighter fluid on it.
Thanks.
Love my Illini
I registered here in order to comment on my favorite Illinois sports program. My opinion is just that and I only ask that anyone reading this be fair and open-minded, if possible, in regards to their support (or lack, thereof) of John Groce.
I will premise my remarks by saying that the main concerns I had about Coach Groce when he was hired was that his conference record was lacking mightily at Ohio. He was known for his ability to get his players into the tournament where it matters most and where even a middle seed can go deep. Also, his lack of experience troubled me due to the high standards of the Illini basketball program, its history and fan base. Reading this thread proves that.
Those concerns have not been dispelled, however; circumstances beyond any coach's control do not warrant his dismissal by our new AD. I am speaking about injuries. With a full slate of players, healthy players, there is no way of truly and honestly gauging Coach Groce. I am disturbed by the showing in last year's NIT because if a coach can do one thing right it is to motivate under any circumstance. I understand the players' poor attitude and that is on John but not an offense tipping the scales against him. I agree it most certainly doesn't help his cause.
Lastly, the recruiting edge he was going to bring might have been misinterpreted. If we know one thing, it is that Coach Groce doesn't cheat, nor should he have to, in order to get good players. With all the messy recruiting business that many programs have or are rumored to have I am proud that Groce loses great players with sketchy pasts and handlers in exchange for solid, young men with potential. It appears he does bring in quality kids a majority of the time and for that reason alone I thing we should keep him. Last year's class was fine and this upcoming class is his biggest challenge. I hope that AD Whitman, in his wisdom, knows all this and we won't be looking for another coach in the next few years. At least, that is my desire. Is his coaching seat hot? Yes, but we can blame him if the chair on which he sits keeps getting broken? Perhaps we should wait for him to get a sturdy one before we starting throwing matches and lighter fluid on it.
Thanks.
Love my Illini
Welp, after 70-something pages, we can just summarize it all with this and end the thread.
Right?
All in favor say "aye".
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
Problem is, without this thread, it will bleed over into every single other thread. I don't like it either, but this thread is currently a necessary evil.
Posters gonna post!
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icengineer
- Southern Illinois
What is going to be really difficult for Whitman next year is having to evaluate Groce in a year when he should be loaded. At that point, with the exception of Abrams, everyone on the roster will be one of his recruits and many will be upper classmen. If that team fails to make the tournament then I think the decision is easy.
However, if the barely makes the tournament and finishes somewhere in the 5-8 range in the Big 10, what do you do then? I think there are far too many signs of perpetual shortcomings to keep him around but it is going to be tough to let a guy go after his team just made the dance.
Now, on the flip side, if we finish in the top 4 of the Big 10 next year, easily make the tournament and have solid recruiting commitments, then it is probably an easy decision the other way.
I would love to see Kendrick and Malcolm go out on a high note. Unfortunately, I don't think Groce has recruited enough talent in the post to make much of a splash. I hope I'm wrong.
However, if the barely makes the tournament and finishes somewhere in the 5-8 range in the Big 10, what do you do then? I think there are far too many signs of perpetual shortcomings to keep him around but it is going to be tough to let a guy go after his team just made the dance.
Now, on the flip side, if we finish in the top 4 of the Big 10 next year, easily make the tournament and have solid recruiting commitments, then it is probably an easy decision the other way.
I would love to see Kendrick and Malcolm go out on a high note. Unfortunately, I don't think Groce has recruited enough talent in the post to make much of a splash. I hope I'm wrong.
Yes, but we can blame him if the chair on which he sits keeps getting broken? Perhaps we should wait for him to get a sturdy one before we starting throwing matches and lighter fluid on it.
Thanks.
Love my Illini
I like this.
As long as the recruiting class is not an abject failure, I think you keep Groce on after making the tournament. We're probably going to miss out on the prized '17 recruits, but as long as he's able to pull in a decent class that actually addresses the needs of the roster it should be enough to keep him around with a tournament appearance IMO.
That's why the 2017 class is also a big part of the evaluation. He needs to have the needle point upward in both on court performance and recruiting. The former should happen just by having a healthy team. The latter will show things are really moving forward for the future. The JCL/DJW/AJ/MK/LB class is a nice core, adding to it with a good 2017 class sets up well for the next few seasons.
Not so sure. It will be tough for a new coach to get in on Tilmon, for example, unless he has been recruiting him earlier. Groce has built up a multi-year relationship with Tilmon and his mom. Right now, Tilmon is basically committed to Illinois. It is not a public commitment so I don't put much stock in it. It will be hard to hold onto him, but we are in great shape right now. Goodwin will commit, imo, if Groce stays. Not sure about Williams.
Unless Tilmon or his mom told you "I'm 100% committed to Illinois" then this information is useless. Groce and his staff have consistently fed people overly optimistic recruiting information.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Looks like Groce will be looking for another transfer to fill an empty slot at the 4/5. It feels like it has become a yearly event.
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