Play more basketball? Yes. But I've seen too many Illini NIT embarrassments over the years to want to see yet another mortification and flame out. But I've got the answer. Let's have an all exclusively Illinois D1 tournament for all the teams that don't make the Big Dance. Illini, DePaul, and anybody else within state lines. That way, at least the State of Illinois can be assured of having at least ONE tournament winner every year! No more title droughts! Lots of good PR to sell to recruits. Assured winner! Could be big. People would come from all around... well at least maybe a few who want to get out of the rain or bad weather if it's cold. Play it somewhere around the Dixie Truck Stop in McLean for central convenience. Open all night. But have to wait until the IHSA tourneys are over though because they're playing a better brand of ball. Hey, I'm just trying to smile through the pain.
Michigan 75, Illinois 55 POSTGAME
Play more basketball? Yes. But I've seen too many Illini NIT embarrassments over the years to want to see yet another mortification and flame out. But I've got the answer. Let's have an all exclusively Illinois D1 tournament for all the teams that don't make the Big Dance. Illini, DePaul, and anybody else within state lines. That way, at least the State of Illinois can be assured of having at least ONE tournament winner every year! No more title droughts! Lots of good PR to sell to recruits. Assured winner! Could be big. People would come from all around... well at least maybe a few who want to get out of the rain or bad weather if it's cold. Play it somewhere around the Dixie Truck Stop in McLean for central convenience. Open all night. But have to wait until the IHSA tourneys are over though because they're playing a better brand of ball. Hey, I'm just trying to smile through the pain.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
It might be worth watching the first 5 minutes just to watch the ridiculousness of Michigan wearing practice uniforms.
PostersLastStand
- Wayne County, IL
Groce is probably trying to convince DJ to follow him to Cleveland State.DJ got 4 mins at the end? He knows Groce is gone so he can come back and actually playray:
PostersLastStand
- Wayne County, IL
As far as the NIT goes, accept the invitation. Let the Seniors have one last go round. Heck maybe they'll win a few games despite the circumstances.
Just got back from the game, drove up from Richmond and had a good time. The game however...ugh. Just the worst possible time for MH and MM to have the worst games of their careers. Glad TA did well but man it was awful listening to the Michigan fans gloating all around us. My 9 year old girl actually kept getting upset that the Illini would screw up and the Groce would be high fiving them on their way out. She says he is too nice to be a coach and we needed someone to get after them. Amazing...a 9 year is sees it correctly
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
It sucks to lose even as a fan, I wholeheartedly agree on that point with most everyone here. I skipped watching the game live this morning because I knew if we didn't play well it would affect my energy level in a lecture I was giving.
That said, if you're a fan and you're suggesting we should turn down an NIT bid, you're thinking more about yourself than the players and that irks me because it's just not what college sports should be about. The guys are in the program to compete and become better players, and suggesting they should turn down an opportunity because you don't want to watch it or deal with your emotions if they lose is extremely selfish.
I guess what I'm getting at is that nobody on here can possibly think they felt worse than Malcolm Hill after today's loss. If he and the players are up for the challenge and potential letdown of an NIT run, that should be their call--they've got the most skin in the game. Sure I'll be sad if they lose, but there's just no way that my potential sadness is worth more than the guys' potential happiness if they win, not to mention the additional practice and experience for the young guys. If my potential sadness is more than I care to go through, I can tune down my attention level.
That said, if you're a fan and you're suggesting we should turn down an NIT bid, you're thinking more about yourself than the players and that irks me because it's just not what college sports should be about. The guys are in the program to compete and become better players, and suggesting they should turn down an opportunity because you don't want to watch it or deal with your emotions if they lose is extremely selfish.
I guess what I'm getting at is that nobody on here can possibly think they felt worse than Malcolm Hill after today's loss. If he and the players are up for the challenge and potential letdown of an NIT run, that should be their call--they've got the most skin in the game. Sure I'll be sad if they lose, but there's just no way that my potential sadness is worth more than the guys' potential happiness if they win, not to mention the additional practice and experience for the young guys. If my potential sadness is more than I care to go through, I can tune down my attention level.
Absurd post
Yes of course play in the NIT. Not a question
illinoisfan11
- Peoria, IL
Only if that's what the team wants. If they don't feel like playing in an also-ran tournament after a long, tough, disappointing season, I wouldn't blame them.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
That's the only argument I could imagine for not playing, but these guys are competitors, there's no way they won't want to play more games and play for a championship, even if it's the NIT.
illinoisfan11
- Peoria, IL
I agree. I don't think Malcolm is the type to just quit. I think he'd want to play as many games in orange and blue as possible. And, if that's the case, I'll watch all of those games too.
Great post, and I'll add on. If the players like playing for Groce then he shouldn't be fired before the NIT either.
Pretty hard to win when stats favor our opponent as follows:
* Steals: Us=2; Them 10
* Turnovers: Us=14; Them=7
* Assists: Us=8; Them=16
* Game FG%: Us=45.8; Them=53.6
* Another head-scratcher: Black=0 points in 10 minutes; DJW=2 points in 4 minutes
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2017/3/9/Game_32_Michigan_75_Illinois_55.pdf
* Steals: Us=2; Them 10
* Turnovers: Us=14; Them=7
* Assists: Us=8; Them=16
* Game FG%: Us=45.8; Them=53.6
* Another head-scratcher: Black=0 points in 10 minutes; DJW=2 points in 4 minutes
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2017/3/9/Game_32_Michigan_75_Illinois_55.pdf
What a devastating basketball loss today for Illini Nation.
This loss deeply pains me and sets forth a path of unknowns for our program.
Keeping the incoming Recruiting class in place is critical. One of the best in many years. Not sure how you hold it together with the Lead Recruiter gone.
There are some that say so what (let the coach go) and if those players request out of the LOI so be it- The main sticking point is Illinois can ill afford to allow a top class to bolt as it would set us back 2 years.
What condition our condition is in.
This loss deeply pains me and sets forth a path of unknowns for our program.
Keeping the incoming Recruiting class in place is critical. One of the best in many years. Not sure how you hold it together with the Lead Recruiter gone.
There are some that say so what (let the coach go) and if those players request out of the LOI so be it- The main sticking point is Illinois can ill afford to allow a top class to bolt as it would set us back 2 years.
What condition our condition is in.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
It may be the "top class" for 2017, but it's not a "TOP CLASS" by most measures. You don't continue to throw bad money after good for the sake of a couple of players. Move on, look ahead, plan for the future, because yesterday sucked, tomorrow's here in a minute, but we've by god got to make the dance in the next 2 or 3 years or there will be no one in SFC.
And Groce, by all measures, isn't going to get UIUC to the dance in the future if he couldn't do it this year. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen good night.
schnaurt
- Phoenix, AZ
AZ, Kansas and Gopher fans at my office and they were all the same way. Gopher fan cannot believe what has happened to our program. We should never be receiving sympathy from Gopher fans. On to the next era.
I dunno, but reading between the lines I think there's a decent chance Groce is gone before the NIT starts at least if this Werner quote is at all credible. Supposedly Groce is going to meet with Whitman to discuss "postseason possibilities" -- but there really are no "possibilities" -- there's an NIT berth that we'll accept and that's that. But there are "possibilities" in terms of who is coaching the team for the NIT. It could be Groce, or it could be an assistant stepping into an interim role.
It is a top class, I don't know why people keep saying it isn't in order to make groce look even worse. Top class in the league, everyone elses must really stink
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
A fifth consecutive year missing the tournament amid an empty SFC would harm the marketability of the coaching job more than the recruits would help it.