Trakis
- Chicago, IL
East St. Louis ties.
The Illinois Coaching Search
- Status
East St. Louis ties.
PhillyIllini
- Los Angeles
Yea has everything to do with faith in JW vs. MT
Larken24
- Florida
And Tillmon said it was Walker that helped him choose Illinois
Even if Cuonzo is officially going to Mizzou, there's no point in freaking out about what Tilmon will do until we make a hire....unless Cuonze immediately hires Walker....then I'd be worried.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
I wouldn't be shocked if Cuonzo hired Walker.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
So some guy swoops in who didn't even recruit him in high school and he has no relationship with and he just commits to him because he is from the same area? Seems highly unlikely.
PhillyIllini
- Los Angeles
Not buying that alone will grab Tilmon.
It's the bridge between Porter and Mizzou.
If Washington fires Romar they fire Michael Porter Sr., thus making the whole family free agents right after they moved from Columbia.
Cuonzo would hire Porter Sr. and thus get Porter Jr.
If Washington fires Romar (and I had heard they weren't going to), Mizzou has just struck a miracle here.
Bennett to Illinois
Cuonzo to Mizzou (looks like that's done now)
Gregg to Indiana
Archie to NC St.
Keatts to Virginia
Kelsey to Wichita St.
Musselman to Cal (seems like a great fit)
I'm too lazy to worry about the rest.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
Not so much Cuonzo as Porter and his brother are originally from Colombia, MO and to them, any Mizzou coach besides Anderson would have locked them up by their sophomore years. Plus if Romar gets canned, their father would be looking for a job and CM would need an asst coach, so -- see? Perfect.
(or what S&C said).
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
If Walker went to Missouri that is different. Why would Walker go to Missouri? If anything in Missouri, he would probably want to go back to SLU. What ties does he have to Missouri? Just cause he knows Martin?
KewpieNation
kbattle33 Fanboy
- Columbia, MO
Not much of one, except the fact that CM now coaches in a town where the Porters lived for a few years.
Tbh, can't see Porter ending up at Mizzou unless his dad is hired there. I would think he'd rather play his one year at somewhere like KU (and no way he doesn't leave after one year. He's the real deal).
Last time around I was crazy excited about the possibility of Shaka or Brad Stevens. But when those fell through there seemed to be a significant drop off in coaching talent and Groce felt like a consolation prize. This time around none of the coaches get me that excited but the talent pool feels bigger overall. And I trust Whitman.
So there goes our back up. But I guess we weren't going to pay Cuonzo that much anyway.
It would be a smart move if Cuonzo did it.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
Well, SLU would be death too.
But my hope would be that Illinois has the right of first refusal. He is our head coach until we find our next one after all.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
Walker has followed Groce around, though.
Isn't this Martin news good news for the Illini? If Illinois were still a possibility for Martin, don't you think he would have deliberated a bit more, if only to maybe wring a few extra $$ out of Mizzou? Doesn't this mean that the Illini job was effectively off the table for Martin meaning....we have our guy (who is currently still coaching)?
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
I was in the pro-Cuonzo camp, dating all the way back to last season...and I find myself a bit relieved.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Here is what bothers me on the info coming out on the Bennett offer. Who is putting it out. If Illinois, lock up the leaks. I also have to think Bennett loves the distraction his possible new employer is causing right before he starts the tournament. And if its Bennett putting the info out, it feels like a cash grab to get more from UVA. Either way I just want the news to be done deal.
Aren't the assistants still under contact to Illinois? Maybe JW convinces the new coach to keep Walker and the rest can go just to keep the recruits happy? I'm surprised Missouri jumped this quickly but they must have had Martin as their first choice? He can recruit but he is an average coach and it will take him 2-3 years to turn that program around there a mess!!
$$$ - If Mizzou thinks Walker gets them Tilmon then they will pay. He also gets Cuonzo in the door with a lot of Illinois recruits that Walker has established relationships with including Smith
I can't believe some of you would question hiring Bennett. It's laughable to the point of insanity. The guy is a first class winner and coaches/develops his players better than most coaches in NCAA basketball. Do we realize how AWFUL it's been watching our team the last 10 years? Do we realize how few NCAA tournaments we've been in the last 10 years?
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