Now that's a good first post. I N I!
The Illinois Coaching Search
- Status
Now that's a good first post. I N I!
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
Sometimes I feel like I could "not that anyone cares" on all my posts.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Every post in this entire thread should start with "Not that anyone cares but..."
A few points.
a) The emphasis on recruiting and the need to get a dynamic recruiter, or the importance of recruiting has been debated quite a bit. Recruiting is not a binary variable, there is a difference between a coach who can't recruit and a dynamic recruiter.
b) Having Ford/Cuonzo recruiting in our own backyard does increase intensity. It does have an effect, no doubt about that. It means is that it is even more important to get a dynamic recruiter. Does this change Whitman's strategy? I do not think anyone knows, since we do not know what his strategy was to begin with. Strategies may change, it is a dynamic environment. Coaches/jobs become available/unavailable all the time.
c) I can tell you with certainty that Porter Sr. and Cuonzo have had a pre-existing relationship. So as I had said in previous posts, Cuonzo was a critical factor, as was Romar when Porter Sr. moved across the country to CA. So while it is logical to think that Porter Sr. would have preferred Cuonzo/MO vs. Cuonzo/IL, there is absolutely no evidence to indicate that Porter Sr. was not going to send his son at UI if Cuonzo had indeed taken the UI job and he was offered the assistant position. The "Porter was not coming to IL" has no real basis.
Even with all of the bickering going on in this thread, I love the ongoing discussion. It means we're passionate about the importance of this hire. I have a father who went to Purdue, a brother that went to Michigan State and now I have to sit and watch Northwestern make noise in the NCAA tournament. How in the hell did we get this low? I fault two people - Bruce Weber and John Groce. No matter who the pick is, I have confidence in JW to get a hire far superior to either one of them.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
I am one for the idea that coaches that are good at Xs and Os AND developing players are better bets than high-profile recruiters. Yes, recruiting top talent here would be great, and one usually needs elite talent to make deep runs in the Tournament. Bo Ryan is a prime example of what one can do with player development, but his best Wisconsin teams had NBA draft picks (i.e. Kaminsky and Dekker). Someone mentioned earlier that Marshall's Final Four team also had NBA talent. However, the point I was trying to make (and failed to express clearly) is that in the long-term, Cuonzo and Ford will probably fizzle out and be fired from their respective jobs in a few years, while if Illinois makes the right hire, hopefully will be able to sustain longer success, which would probably be in part to their ability to win enough recruiting battles in the area. But again, I just love me some Orange Koo-Laid :thumb:
It's good to see somebody gets it. You're so wise. Like a miniature, Buddha covered in hair.
Again, Porter Sr. has a strong relationship with Cuonzo. Porter Sr. moved across the country because of his relationship with Romar. The theory that Porter Sr. was calling all the shots for the Mizzou AD and whole Mizzou administration (especially given their problems on campus) holds no water. Cuonzo is actually a very good choice for Mizzou, they could not have done much better IMO. Porter Sr. was not calling the shots on this search, just that Mizzou gets the added benefit of the nations' top recruit (assuming he ends up there).
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
In comparison to Monty Williams, whom everyone here seemingly would love to have, I don't see much of a difference based on their NBA coaching records. Mitchell had .433 winning percentage while Williams had a .439 percentage in only 33 fewer games coached. I'm not advocating for Mitchell, but I don't see how'd be any worse than Monty.
Watched Iowa St vs. Nevada. Like both teams and coaches...a lot. Read Steve Prohm's profile and remembered his time at Murray St. Very impressive. He would be an exceptional hire! And Mussleman is unique with all of the NBA experience. He has moved around a lot but I think he could sell his pro experience pretty effectively.. I still like Keatts but feel good about the potential Tier 2s on our list.
I just don't feel like Musselman is a fit or would be a JW guy. Not much to base it on, other than Musselman seems to have some showman Bruce Pearl to him and JW feels like a no nonsense guy. Plus I hated Nevada's defense tonight. It was a layup and dunk drill for Iowa st.
Prohm was much more interesting to me. I liked what I saw from ISU and my only concern with him is recruiting
https://mobile.twitter.com/SamTSnelling/status/842084771601776642
I haven't read everything page but if this hasn't been mentioned I think it's interesting because it's from a guy who covers Mizzou.
He's also got several tweets about Jamal Walker and Jeremiah Tilmon.
I haven't read everything page but if this hasn't been mentioned I think it's interesting because it's from a guy who covers Mizzou.
He's also got several tweets about Jamal Walker and Jeremiah Tilmon.
If you look at Illini basketball history, the periods when the Illini were consistently very good, not just for a season here and there (i.e., 80s and 99-05) miraculously coincide with periods when Illini talent was at a whole different level. It is no coincidence. Bo Ryan was a great coach, but he is more of an exception. That is why people actually constantly bring Bo Ryan up and not other coaches. Good luck trying to find the next Bo Ryan.
As far as mid-major coaches, there have been many good X's and O's coaches who failed miserably at the next level. Much of it had to do with recruiting. I think Marshall is a good coach, but I still have doubts he can be successful at the next level, unless he can get the extra help in recruiting from a "name" school. That is why I believe Indiana makes sense for Marshall, but I do not think he would be a great fit at Illinois.
BTW, Sam Dekker was a 5*, top 20 recruit (#19 RSCI), so if that means consistently getting talented players like Dekker, I am all for it.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
For this board's information on any future recruiting concerns on Prohm, he was the head coach responsible for recruiting current Chicago Bull Cameron Payne when he was at Murray State, so the NBA pedigree is there.
Prohm would be an intriguing hire. I haven't had a chance to watch Iowa State since he took over, but his Racer teams liked to run the floor and had some great athletes. I'd be thrilled if he came to Illinois.
Also, mentioned earlier but got no response
The guy at the center of the Cal scandal with Cuonzo, was dismissed and landed with Musselman.
Would not seem great on UI staff after Whitman had to deal with things...
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ed-assistant-coach-nevada-men-basketball-team
Last edited:
Would be pretty triggered if Walker and Tilmon end up at Mizzou, have hated that school ever since that stretch around the Rose Bowl year where we kept playing them the first game of the season.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
People also forget that coaches like Kruger, Calipari, etc all all had less than impressive NBA stints. It's just a totally different ballgame.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I feel like Prohm is the underrated candidate here. I'd be thrilled to get him, Drew, or Keatts if not one of the Big 3. No for me on Musselman just because he seems totally west coast and jumps around way too much for my liking.
matt1all
- Chicago, IL
Also I'm not sure if all Drews are necessarily created equal, at least for this job at the U of I. Scott makes me nervous in all kinds of ways. I don't think it'd be a bad hire, but personally, I'd call Bryce first.
I don't necessarily want to, but if I need to start the Bryce Boat in parallel with S&C's Keatts Train, I'll do it. Don't make me
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don't necessarily want to, but if I need to start the Bryce Boat in parallel with S&C's Keatts Train, I'll do it. Don't make me
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
chrisRunner7
- Spokane, WA
The sky isn't falling, despite some people freaking out because everyone's favorite fall-back option Cuonzo Martin went to Missouri. I would also add:
3) Keatts is done with his season now, so another program (i.e., NC State) might snatch him up if we wait *too* long for a bigger hire
4) Gregg Marshall tells the media he's very happy at WSU but will listen to offers... I think that was common knowledge but it was still nice to read
5) Archie says he's just focusing on the tournament right now, which I interpreted to mean he'll also listen to offers
Anyone find a way to watch games on replay? I'm gonna be at work during the Dayton-Wichita St game and it looks like CBS is being a tool and not providing a replay option like WatchESPN provides. Maybe I'm just being obtuse and missing it in the app. Don't have DVR.
Because there is a large handful of more qualified candidates?
According to the statement they (the IU AD?) made, their expectation is the next Coach K.
Bryce was last years Keatts. I think he would do a very good job at Illinois.
Whitman is going to hire a guy he has full confidence in, whether it be Drew, Keatts, Marshall, etc. or my favorite, Bennett.
- Status