When I was in school well over a decade ago, Playboy named C-U the top college party town in the country. We would make pretty much every top 5 list. It's always been a big time party town. 18/19 and up bar scene, largest Greek community in the country; whole town built around the university. People outside the university/alumni community don't realize this, though.
The Illinois Coaching Search
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When I was in school well over a decade ago, Playboy named C-U the top college party town in the country. We would make pretty much every top 5 list. It's always been a big time party town. 18/19 and up bar scene, largest Greek community in the country; whole town built around the university. People outside the university/alumni community don't realize this, though.
The opinion on this is going to be generational. I'm sure anybody younger than 25 has their doubts. And if you are younger than 35 you are "somewhere in the middle." If you experienced the phantom travel (Winters, Douglas, Altenberger), flying Illini (Gill, Bardo, Anderson, Battle), Deon Thomas and Brian Cook, and the Manual guys (Serg, Marcus and Frankie), and Dee, Deron and Luther, and so many others, you know that the success can be sustained. An somewhat above average coach that knows how to put together a staff to cover his weakness (Lou and Tony Yates and Jimmy Collins) gets the court named after him. Outstanding coaches like Kruger and Self would have statues if they would have stayed. Honestly, for the right guy, that wants to build a legacy rather than lunch on one, this is the best job in the country.
Illini teams have stunk much longer than that
This is a good post, but I don't think expectations are much of a millstone now. Most would just settle for having to watch the NCAA Selection Show every year. That might change in the future, but that also likely means the coach has been successful
What it means is I would like to have him as a coach or at least have JW kick the tires, but I don't think he is leaving Manhattan regardless.
The world is such an interesting, diverse, mysterious place.
Someone woke up today and said "I'm going to be the Steve Masiello guy".
Someone woke up today and said "I'm going to be the Steve Masiello guy".
No- I can't imagine Masiello ever even being considered. However, it sadly isn't the worst suggestion in this thread. We've had posters give the job to AAU coaches, Sergio McClain and Kendall Gill. At least Masiello is a college basketball coach. Not one to consider but at least he's in the profession...:huh:
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
Ha, have you been to State College, smack dab in the middle of Pennsyltucky? Winters are at least as bad as Chambana, with the added bonus of lake effect snow from Lake Erie. Oh, the other local industry? A state prison. Road into town has a sign telling you not to pick up hitchhikers.
On the other hand, Pennsyltucky.
But Pennsylvania does love its Nittany Lions like U of I could only wish Illinois did the Illini.
I don't buy that narrative, but I think it's pervasive among national NCAA fans with no attachment to the program. Maybe I'm wrong. Most Big Ten fans and people who pay attention to basketball history would tend toward the former assessment I laid out. Just saying that outside of our community, there are lots of people who think that Illinois is nothing special (outside of its engineering and business programs). I know they're wrong, you know they're wrong. I hope Archie Miller knows they're wrong.
He wouldn't leave because no one would offer him a job. South Florida (an absolute dumpster fire of a basketball program) rescinded their offer after Masiello was exposed as a total fraud. Now Manhattan sits at the bottom of their conference.
He might be qualified to be the next UIC coach. Not UIUC.
Nah, that was when I woke up yesterday.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
I prefer that a coach use Illinois as a stepping stone as opposed to being fired. The former implies success.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That is amazing.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Put me in the camp that thinks Self literally only leaves for KU, which was his dream job. Kruger left for the NBA, a destination that often steals from Blue Bloods, too (not to mention Kruger has been somewhat of a traveler!). This idea that we are a stepping stone, while understandable, is kind of odd. IMO, we're no more of a stepping stone than MSU, Michigan, Ohio State or Georgetown ... there was just a very specific circumstance that led to that perception.
I woke up today and thought "I'm going to be the Kevin Keatts guy". Outstanding man, outstanding recruiter, and has now proven that he can coach. He knows the prep recruiting game as well as anyone in the country and I honestly believe he could be the one to finally unlock Chicago for us. I understand why some think he is a bit risky, but what he has done (w/o big time recruits yet) at UNCW is phenomenal. Any comparison between he and Groce is null and void due to Keatts actually winning his conference (3 times in a row) after walking into a bad situation. I don't think he would be recognized as such immediately, but I think he is a homerun hire
kcib8130
- Parts Unknown
The latter implies your avatar.
is this an overwhelming majority opinion? Is all this back and forth and speculation all for a potential stepping stone coach that will be gone in 3 years?
Priorities. All in there right places.
"The reason for Keatts’ success is simple, Pitino said.
“He’s got the total package,” Pitino said. “He doesn’t have a weakness as a coach. He’s an outstanding recruiter, that was a big factor in us winning the championship.
“He knows how to scout and prepare. He also communicates with the players well. He has a great rapport with his players. He’s not soft on them but the players love him.”"
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article136192413.html#storylink=cpy
“He’s got the total package,” Pitino said. “He doesn’t have a weakness as a coach. He’s an outstanding recruiter, that was a big factor in us winning the championship.
“He knows how to scout and prepare. He also communicates with the players well. He has a great rapport with his players. He’s not soft on them but the players love him.”"
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article136192413.html#storylink=cpy
To be fair, USF had actually agreed to hire him. And Masiello thinking he'd graduated from Kentucky when he hadn't seemed like a good faith mistake, if a pretty embarrassing one.
He was a nice candidate at the time. It has gone sharply downhill since.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
A coach must first have success in order to use Illinois as a stepping stone. I would argue that it is your perspective which is placing a priority in the wrong place.
He needs a change of scenery. Wherever that may be, who knows, but I am not writing off his ability to coach and recruit until he crashes and burns at his next spot.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
This is the reality. People like to draw generalized conclusions that have little basis in fact. Same can be said for football. Other than Mackovic, who ever left for a better job?
I think everyone here would be happy if Illinois hired the next Bill Self right now. Illinois needs a spark, the problem was Weber and Groce didn't work out after Self left.
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