Michigan 75, Illinois 55 POSTGAME

#101      

ThreatLevelMidnight

T
ThreatLevelMidnight
basementcheetos said:
Tilmon and Frazier are both going to ask out of their LOI's if Groce is fired.
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You state this as if it is fact? Do you have some inside info?

If this does end up being the case, then so be it. Groce would not be able to coach them up to their potential anyway.

I think Frazier is more likely to stay with the class than Tilmon, but apparently much of Tilmon's decision rides on the fate of Jamal Walker and that's why so many posters here are wanting him to be kept on.
 
#102      

ChiefIllini

C
ChiefIllini
haasi said:
How Whitman handles this whole thing - reaching out to committed recruits, lining up new coach, timing of firing, etc. - will be a delicate dance and a very good indicator of how skilled he is at his job.
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This is all that really matters. If everything goes right, we settle recruits down, bring a coach with enough on the table to keep them, and add a piece or two through transfers/Mark Smith. Very interesting next couple of weeks for UI. Nothing Whitman has done so far has made me question his ability to be a good AD. This is however the biggest test he has or will face, at least for the next 5 years.
 
#106      

IlliniinIowa

I
IlliniinIowa
winorlosewestillbooze said:
Within 2 points of an identical score to the 2015 game, called it to. Embarrassing.
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And I wasted over $1,000 on tickets, parking, meals, hotels to go and watch that incredibly pathetic performance in Chicago for me and my family. Team didn't even want to be there that day. At least today there seemed to be a little energy....not much...but a little. More than that 2015 11 am game anyway. :(

Didn't waste my money today. :thumb:
 
#107      

zpfled

Z
Logan Square, Chicago
zpfled
mattcoldagelli said:
Fine.
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Not really. We'll be back to being super thin at PG and C, which has been the bane of our program for the whole Groce era.

If the new coach can't retain those guys or fill their positions with good talent quickly, he'll be set up to fail.

I'm not saying keep Groce, but we're royally screwed if we can't add top-100 talent at the PG and C positions next year and keep doing it consistently. We may just live in the gutter for another 4 years.

Of course, if the new guy can recruit well, and quickly, we'll probably be fine.
 
#108      

Orangetool

O
Orangetool
basementcheetos said:
I guess you really want to get into it. Lets try this, I want you to articulate the harm in accepting a NIT bid. How bad is it for the program? Then take the potential bad you can find in the opportunity to play more games, sell more tickets (you won't fill the arena, but you're kidding yourself if you think no one will go), and extend the careers of some student athletes that have given a ton to the university. You seem to find lots of bad there, which I don't get. But take that bad you have found there and way it against telling Malcom and TA that they have been offered a chance to keep playing, but the school is not going to take it. We are going to be the school that takes opportunities away from our student athletes rather than support the continuation of their careers, and that's better than taking an extra home game or two? Not even close, take the bid.
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I agree with this completely, well put.


The pleasure and status of playing in a post-season tournament is something that all of the seniors, Hill, Abrams and Morgan especially, deserve to enjoy. Even after a season like this.


There is no real argument to not take the NIT bid.
What is the harm??
 
#109      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
Deleted member 29907
I miss the Illini team that came out on defensive fire against MSU. Tipping passes, jumping passing lanes, getting in the face of the offense. For some reason, against Rutgers and Michigan, we didn't realize that was a good thing. And why are we bringing the ball up slowly and not pressuring a team that flew in the morning of a game? Michigan was almost spent at the end of the game. We should have gotten them there 1/2 way through the 2nd half.
 
#110      

chief78

chief78
Florida
chief78
BirdDog9048 said:
I'm not very optimistic about keeping all of our recruits (especially Frazier) and I sure as heck don't think we are still going to get Smith.
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I would not be so sure about either Frazier or Smith. If I were being recruited -or- had signed with a P5 program that has excellent academics (and if that matters at all), I would prefer stability with my coach, not one who appears to be constantly on the hot seat. Certainly if Groce if let go, I believe both of these athletes (and Tillmon, too) will weigh the outcome of whoever is hired. Could be that they would be better off with the new hire.
 
#111      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
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#115      

EJ33

E
San Francisco
EJ33
Groce:

I told numerous people about what we've done culturally over the last month, six weeks, how we have kind of turned that corner (more) than any time I've been at Illinois.
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This is perhaps the most damning statement I've heard from Groce regarding his inability to build a winning culture. He's been here five years and he's touting the last six weeks, which of course, include the last two awful losses.
 
#116      

illinipeoria

I
illinipeoria
Illinithad said:
I'm so tired of it all. For me the season is over.
I'm tired of watching this team not only lose, but not even compete.
I'm tired of coming on this board and reading all the negativity (Including myself, I've been negative also).
I'm tired of literally having a headache after each game.
I'm tired of having a coach the fanbase hates.
I'm tired of the team underachieving.

I'm like Madeline Kahn's character Lily Von Schtupp in Blazing Saddles...I'm tired!
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#117      

EJ33

E
San Francisco
EJ33
About that winning culture he's putting in place:

per McColley

Groce shouting in #Illini lockerroom. "I'm tired of you guys not competing & not communicating out there!" He's now on same page as fans.
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Just amazing that this would need to be said in a play-in game. It just boggles the mind.
 
#118      

FatGreg

F
FatGreg
BirdDog9048 said:
When a coach is bad, you fire him. When a team is bad, you reward it with more games? Yeah, makes perfect sense when you read it out loud like that.
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Yep. Because a coach is a grown up professional with a seven-figure job. The players are kids in their teens and 20s who play the game in exchange for an education and a chance to represent the university. 100% totally different. Regardless of whether they've met our standards with their play, they have poured their hearts and souls into Illini basketball. They should (and will) get a chance to keep playing this season.

For Tracy Abrams, Mike Thorne, and Jaylon Tate, this stretch is likely the last time they'll get to play competitive basketball. For Malcolm and Mav, they'll catch on somewhere and play pro ball, but this is the end of a profoundly important period of their lives. They've all been good students and citizens. They shouldn't be denied the opportunity to go out on their own terms because some armchair coach decides they're not good enough.

Groce will be fired, as he should, because that's how these things work. The team will play in the NIT, as they should, because these student athletes deserve the opportunity. Quit being petulant.
 
#120      

Illinoiser33

I
Illinoiser33
FatGreg said:
Yep. Because a coach is a grown up professional with a seven-figure job. The players are kids in their teens and 20s who play the game in exchange for an education and a chance to represent the university. 100% totally different. Regardless of whether they've met our standards with their play, they have poured their hearts and souls into Illini basketball. They should (and will) get a chance to keep playing this season.

For Tracy Abrams, Mike Thorne, and Jaylon Tate, this stretch is likely the last time they'll get to play competitive basketball. For Malcolm and Mav, they'll catch on somewhere and play pro ball, but this is the end of a profoundly important period of their lives. They've all been good students and citizens. They shouldn't be denied the opportunity to go out on their own terms because some armchair coach decides they're not good enough.

Groce will be fired, as he should, because that's how these things work. The team will play in the NIT, as they should, because these student athletes deserve the opportunity. Quit being petulant.
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:clappy::clappy::clappy:
 
#121      

illinihawk16

illinihawk16
Chicago
illinihawk16
Man, that picture of Malcolm in the locker room after the game. I wish so badly that he could have gone dancing.
 
#122      

Kathy

K
Kathy
illini80 said:
A few cupcake wins in the NIT will make the record look a little better. We all know how the last game goes. Just like this one.
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I'm afraid that's what we've become to other teams. Look in the mirror, we're the cupcakes. IF we make the NIT I'm hoping we don't have to play any powerhouses like RUTGERS!!!
 
#123      

kuhl84

K
Orlando, FL
kuhl84
basementcheetos said:
Tilmon and Frazier are both going to ask out of their LOI's if Groce is fired.
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They may. You have no idea.

New coach will have to re-recruit them. Easier than starting from scratch. If the right coach is hired and it is communicated properly, there is a good chance they commit to the new coach.
 
#124      

Orangetool

O
Orangetool
FatGreg said:
Yep. Because a coach is a grown up professional with a seven-figure job. The players are kids in their teens and 20s who play the game in exchange for an education and a chance to represent the university. 100% totally different. Regardless of whether they've met our standards with their play, they have poured their hearts and souls into Illini basketball. They should (and will) get a chance to keep playing this season.

For Tracy Abrams, Mike Thorne, and Jaylon Tate, this stretch is likely the last time they'll get to play competitive basketball. For Malcolm and Mav, they'll catch on somewhere and play pro ball, but this is the end of a profoundly important period of their lives. They've all been good students and citizens. They shouldn't be denied the opportunity to go out on their own terms because some armchair coach decides they're not good enough.

Groce will be fired, as he should, because that's how these things work. The team will play in the NIT, as they should, because these student athletes deserve the opportunity. Quit being petulant.
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This, well put Fat.
 
#125      

basementcheetos

B
basementcheetos
FatGreg said:
Yep. Because a coach is a grown up professional with a seven-figure job. The players are kids in their teens and 20s who play the game in exchange for an education and a chance to represent the university. 100% totally different. Regardless of whether they've met our standards with their play, they have poured their hearts and souls into Illini basketball. They should (and will) get a chance to keep playing this season.

For Tracy Abrams, Mike Thorne, and Jaylon Tate, this stretch is likely the last time they'll get to play competitive basketball. For Malcolm and Mav, they'll catch on somewhere and play pro ball, but this is the end of a profoundly important period of their lives. They've all been good students and citizens. They shouldn't be denied the opportunity to go out on their own terms because some armchair coach decides they're not good enough.

Groce will be fired, as he should, because that's how these things work. The team will play in the NIT, as they should, because these student athletes deserve the opportunity. Quit being petulant.
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Great post, completely agree.