Any Chance there might be a transfer or a player released that MU would have interest in? Highly rated recruiting class.
The John Groce era is over at Illinois. Many felt this was a pivotal season for Groce, who was under pressure and scrutiny when the 2016-17 season dawned. Well, on Saturday afternoon, A.D. Josh Whitman made it official, firing the coach he inherited. "I want to thank John Groce and his staff for their tireless efforts over these past five years," Whitman said in a release. "In many ways, John is a model leader. He exudes optimism and tackles every day with unbelievable energy. He has the highest integrity." Bottom line: Groce, who compiled a 95-75 record overall, including 37-53 in Big Ten play, probably needed to earn an NCAA bid in his fifth season to keep his job. Alas, that didn't happen with Illinois needing to make a run in the Big Ten tourney but instead getting knocked out in its first game by Michigan. "Under his leadership, regrettably, we were not able to sustain the level of competitive excellence that we expect at the University of Illinois. But that should do nothing to detract from the many wonderful things John has done on behalf of Illinois Basketball during his tenure." Groce had two years remaining on his contract and will receive the balance of payment due, approximately $1.7. million. As for the immediate future, assistant coach Jamall Walker has been elevated to interim head coach. What's next, though? Whitman was bold when he made a football coaching change shortly after landing the A.D. job last winter, canning Bill Cubit just moments into his new gig and quickly tabbing former NFL coach Lovie Smith. It was an emphatic move that excited the fan base. Will Whitman make another splashy hire? That may be what's needed to generate interest in a middling basketball program that can't gain traction. But competition for big-name coaches is fierce. And some of those may be leery of taking the Illinois job. Names that have been speculated are Xavier's Chris Mack, Middle Tennessee's Kermit Davis, Dayton's Archie Miller, Wichita State's Gregg Marshall, Utah's Larry Krystkowiak, UNC Wilmington's Kevin Keatts, Cincinnati's Mick Cronin, Virginia's Tony Bennett, SMU's Tim Jankovich and Cal's Cuonzo Martin, among others. Whomever Illinois lands will inherit a solid program. The basketball venue has undergone a recent renovation. And Illinois traditionally is known as a basketball school, making the Final Four as recently as 2005. Plus, the recruiting base is solid, too. The roster will take some big hits, however. The best player in wing Malcolm Hill is gone along with guard Tracy Abrams and big man Maverick Morgan. But talent is back in the form of forwards Michael Finke, Leron Black, Kipper Nichols and exciting freshman point man Te'Jon Lucas along with guard Jalen Coleman-Lands. And Groce had the makings of one of the top recruiting classes in the Big Ten led by 6-10 Jeremiah Tilmon, a five-star recruit. The class also includes four-stars in guards Trent Frazier and Da'Monte Williams, along with three-star guard Javon Pickett. Can the new coach hold that class together? Groce arrived in Champaign amid great expectations after Bruce Weber was let go. Groce forged an 85-56 mark at Ohio University in four seasons, playing in two NCAA tourneys. His Bobcats reached their apex in his final season in 2011-12, going 29-8 and reaching the Sweet 16. But Groce couldn't duplicate that success at Illinois. Groce failed to land an NCAA bid each of the last four years. The program hasn't gone that long without a Big Dance appearance since missing the event from 1964-1980. The Fighting Illini reached the NCAA tourney Groce's first season during a 23-13 campaign. But it was downhill from there. NIT bids followed each of the next two years. Then, Illinois finished with a losing mark in 2015-16 (15-19) before going 18-13 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten this season. Groce's best finish in the Big Ten was a pair of ties for seventh place in 2013 and 2015. He leaves campus with a 95-74 overall record and a 37-53 Big Ten mark. - See more at: http://btn.com/2017/03/11/illinois-fires-mens-basketball-coach-john-groce/#sthash.0h5W1pyM.dpuf
Hope he has a better plan than when he hired Lovie.
Apparently they offered Monty Williams the job and he turned them down. Monty Williams is basically the basketball equivalent of Lovie Smith. Decent, not great coach with no college experience.
Love some of the names they mention. Chris Mack, Tony Bennett, Archie Miller, do they realize they are Illinois, not Kansas?
Would love Wojo to reach out to Tillmon. He'd match our needs of an athletic, defense first big man.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 11, 2017, 03:37:18 PM
Love some of the names they mention. Chris Mack, Tony Bennett, Archie Miller, do they realize they are Illinois, not Kansas?
Would love Wojo to reach out to Tillmon. He'd match our needs of an athletic, defense first big man.
Why wouldnt Archie leave Dayton for Illinois? I know he could probably get a bigger gig down the road but its not that long ago where Illinois was winning the Big 10 almost every year.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on March 11, 2017, 03:42:25 PM
Why wouldnt Archie leave Dayton for Illinois? I know he could probably get a bigger gig down the road but its not that long ago where Illinois was winning the Big 10 almost every year.
Because if he leaves Dayton before a big time job opens up
He's going to his alma mater
Why go to Illinois? He can basically get any job he wants
I actually think this could be the job that Marshall would look at.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on March 11, 2017, 03:42:25 PM
Why wouldnt Archie leave Dayton for Illinois? I know he could probably get a bigger gig down the road but its not that long ago where Illinois was winning the Big 10 almost every year.
He's already turned down better jobs than that. It'll be NC State or a borderline blue blood. No way do I see him going to Illinois. What does Illinois offer that Florida, Tennessee, or UNLV do not?
Has Archie been mentioned as a possibility at IU assuming they let Crean go?
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 11, 2017, 03:55:46 PM
He's already turned down better jobs than that. It'll be NC State or a borderline blue blood. No way do I see him going to Illinois. What does Illinois offer that Florida, Tennessee, or UNLV do not?
A lot more than Tennessee and UNLV. Hard to believe but UNLV finished last in the MWC this year. Didnt know he was offered the Florida job, cant believe he turned that one down.
Word is Monty Williams, OKC thunder top assistant under Donovan, and former NO pelicans head coach already turned them down.
I seem to have heard around here that one cannot tell how good a coach will be until they had five years at the post.
Groce just finished his fifth year and now he's unemployed.
Question answered!
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 11, 2017, 03:55:46 PM
He's already turned down better jobs than that. It'll be NC State or a borderline blue blood. No way do I see him going to Illinois. What does Illinois offer that Florida, Tennessee, or UNLV do not?
Chicago
Quote from: Dread Pirate Roberts on March 11, 2017, 04:04:13 PM
Word is Monty Williams, OKC thunder top assistant under Donovan, and former NO pelicans head coach already turned them down.
I said the very same thing, in this very same topic, less than a half hour ago.
So if I'm remembering the MU situation when Buzz left, all those recruits would likely be granted their release immediately upon request.
Quote from: Dr. Vinnie Boombatz on March 11, 2017, 04:07:55 PM
I said the very same thing, in this very same topic, less than a half hour ago.
Sorry I missed that.
And you're correct, Williams was the basketball version of Lovie
Quote from: jsglow on March 11, 2017, 04:14:09 PM
So if I'm remembering the MU situation when Buzz left, all those recruits would likely be granted their release immediately upon request.
I think we've typically done waiting until they talk to the new coach.
Quote from: jsglow on March 11, 2017, 04:14:09 PM
So if I'm remembering the MU situation when Buzz left, all those recruits would likely be granted their release immediately upon request.
Usually yes, with no restrictions.
Tilmon is top 25 recruit and was recruited by blue bloods and his hometown, SLU.
Probably wait to see who they hire, but look for the big boys to come calling.
I could see Hoiberg ending up there after the Bulls (hopefully) fire him this year.
Would it be a possible Crean landing spot? Different administration I assume, but didn't he almost go there once?
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on March 11, 2017, 04:18:59 PM
I could see Hoiberg ending up there after the Bulls (hopefully) fire him this year.
They won't wait that long.
Doesn't sound like any of the recruits are going to de commit.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 11, 2017, 03:55:46 PM
He's already turned down better jobs than that. It'll be NC State or a borderline blue blood. No way do I see him going to Illinois. What does Illinois offer that Florida, Tennessee, or UNLV do not?
Illinois, with the right coach (see Bill Self, Lou Henson) can be a monster of a program. Great recruiting territory (not just Chicago, but Peoria and St. Louis), major conference, big bankroll, big alumni base, quality facilities, lots of potential TV exposure, solid tradition, etc. The only school of the three you mention that can compare is Florida.
Just wait--some most certainly will.
Last time around, Illinois fans thought they'd have their pick of coaches too. Instead they got turned down by almost everyone. As I recall, Groce was something like their seventh or eighth choice.
Could the right coach win there? Sure. But if people think our fanbase can be delusional, Illinois fans are that times ten. They think they're a top-10 blue blood job when in reality they're more like top-40. Unrealistic expectations, a complete disconnect between their fanbase and recruiting base, and maybe the dirtiest recruiting ground in the country in Chicago.
There's a reason they hired Groce, because he was the only one that would take the job.
This is good news. Now we have 4 high major jobs open . LSU, NC State , Missouri and Illinois. If Wojo plays his cards right he could get an excellent offer by playing these four off of each other. Would be a win win situation . Wojo gets Great Money and a mulligan. MU gets the contract make whole . Everyone moves on fat and happy. We then immediately sign Up Stan . I want MU to regain its past glory and to my way of thinking this is a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can pull it off. The recruits and playerrs all respect and admire Stan for the quality guy he is.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:15:50 PM
This is good news. Now we have 4 high major jobs open . LSU, NC State , Missouri and Illinois. If Wojo plays his cards right he could get an excellent offer by playing these four off of each other. Would be a win win situation . Wojo gets Great Money and a mulligan. MU gets the contract make whole . Everyone moves on fat and happy. We then immediately sign Up Stan . I want MU to regain its past glory and to my way of thinking this is a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can pull it off. The recruits and playerrs all respect and admire Stan for the quality guy he is.
Just stop.
Rock?
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:15:50 PM
This is good news. Now we have 4 high major jobs open . LSU, NC State , Missouri and Illinois. If Wojo plays his cards right he could get an excellent offer by playing these four off of each other. Would be a win win situation . Wojo gets Great Money and a mulligan. MU gets the contract make whole . Everyone moves on fat and happy. We then immediately sign Up Stan . I want MU to regain its past glory and to my way of thinking this is a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can pull it off. The recruits and playerrs all respect and admire Stan for the quality guy he is.
Stan, a once in a lifetime opportunity?????
Didn't Wojo get a big extension already????
Wojo gets a mulligan for what????
Really nothing that you said makes any comprehensible sense.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:15:50 PM
This is good news. Now we have 4 high major jobs open . LSU, NC State , Missouri and Illinois. If Wojo plays his cards right he could get an excellent offer by playing these four off of each other. Would be a win win situation . Wojo gets Great Money and a mulligan. MU gets the contract make whole . Everyone moves on fat and happy. We then immediately sign Up Stan . I want MU to regain its past glory and to my way of thinking this is a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can pull it off. The recruits and playerrs all respect and admire Stan for the quality guy he is.
Lol
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:15:50 PM
This is good news. Now we have 4 high major jobs open . LSU, NC State , Missouri and Illinois. If Wojo plays his cards right he could get an excellent offer by playing these four off of each other. Would be a win win situation . Wojo gets Great Money and a mulligan. MU gets the contract make whole . Everyone moves on fat and happy. We then immediately sign Up Stan . I want MU to regain its past glory and to my way of thinking this is a once in a lifetime opportunity if we can pull it off. The recruits and playerrs all respect and admire Stan for the quality guy he is.
Just shut up, Wojo's not going anywhere except the NCAA Tournament.
Quote from: Dr. Vinnie Boombatz on March 11, 2017, 04:07:55 PM
I said the very same thing, in this very same topic, less than a half hour ago.
What do you expect from a pirate?
Quote from: cheebs09 on March 11, 2017, 04:20:45 PM
Would it be a possible Crean landing spot? Different administration I assume, but didn't he almost go there once?
The Illinois AD goes for pro retreads, not college retreads.
People. Why do you react so surprised that MUFNY makes posts like this. Ever since the second @ScoopTakes came out this is literally all he does, make the most absurd posts he can possibly come up with in an attempt to make his own Twitter account as "funny" as it can possibly be.
What clicks for Heise with fake thread titles and copy and pasted articles is, @ScoopTakes is for MUFNY. This is the type of post we should expect.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on March 11, 2017, 05:17:56 PM
Just stop.
Rock?
I don't even know what to do. I guess we could code in something to wrap his posts with a <sarcasm> tag....
Quote from: rocky_warrior on March 11, 2017, 05:32:13 PM
I don't even know what to do. I guess we could code in something to wrap his posts with a <sarcasm> tag....
You saavy enough to figure out if MUFINY is Scoop takes?
Quote from: nyg on March 11, 2017, 05:19:57 PM
Stan, a once in a lifetime opportunity?????
Didn't Wojo get a big extension already????
Wojo gets a mulligan for what????
Really nothing that you said makes any comprehensible sense.
Give him a few days. He will come up with something goofier. We all laughed at jjj for PG. But now he has topped that. He will top this one as well - while at the same time keeping us informed on the life history of every potential recruit MU has ever had.
Quote from: nyg on March 11, 2017, 05:19:57 PM
Stan, a once in a lifetime opportunity?????
Didn't Wojo get a big extension already????
Wojo gets a mulligan for what????
Really nothing that you said makes any comprehensible sense.
To address your questions:
The once in a lifetime opportunity is that we have a truly great coach on our staff. If our existing coach is by the grace of God hired away then we can immediately hire the coach that can lead us to the promised land. We don't have to sully our self by firing Wojo, he goes of free will.
Wojo got the extension , which now becomes an asset to is because the new guy has to pay the severance fee to MU which should be in the millions. That is good money for us.
Wojo 's mulligan is the chance to start over with a grace period. Gives him some more time to work on his coaching skills while not under pressure . Kind of a like a coaching redshirt year. While at the same time getting Big Money . If he can get some modest traction after a few years at the new power 5 school he can sell his way into something like MSU when Izzo retires .
Stan is the guy getting the players that our future revolves around. I think people are not giving him the respect he is due.
I can say unequivocally MUFINY is not ScoopTakes
I don't have enough MU history to go back very far, but I know of at least two previous times when we have looked at the assistant who is an excellent recruiter and assumed they would be a great HC. Tony Benford was that guy in Buzz's early years, he just got fired at North Texas. Isaac Chew was that guy in the last Buzz year, and he's still bouncing around as an assistant.
I love what Stan has done on the recruiting trail, but an excellent recruiter does not a head coach make.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:43:05 PM
Stan is the guy getting the players that our future revolves around. I think people are not giving him the respect he is due.
Well nobody here respects you either so I guess you guys have that in common.
Quote from: SaveOD238 on March 11, 2017, 05:48:05 PM
I don't have enough MU history to go back very far, but I know of at least two previous times when we have looked at the assistant who is an excellent recruiter and assumed they would be a great HC. Tony Benford was that guy in Buzz's early years, he just got fired at North Texas. Isaac Chew was that guy in the last Buzz year, and he's still bouncing around as an assistant.
I love what Stan has done on the recruiting trail, but an excellent recruiter does not a head coach make.
1. The big example would be Hank. Things didn't go well.
2. No need to legitimize MUFNY by even discussing this.
Quote from: rocky_warrior on March 11, 2017, 05:32:13 PM
I don't even know what to do. I guess we could code in something to wrap his posts with a <sarcasm> tag....
I thought that what teal was for, but then again he knows how to push the buttons of many scoopers and they keep feeding the beast. Can you "teal" all his posts?
Quote from: brandx on March 11, 2017, 05:38:55 PM
Give him a few days. He will come up with something goofier. We all laughed at jjj for PG. But now he has topped that. He will top this one as well - while at the same time keeping us informed on the life history of every potential recruit MU has ever had.
Yeah, I'm waiting for the claim he's involved within the Selection Committee.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:43:05 PM
To address your questions:
The once in a lifetime opportunity is that we have a truly great coach on our staff. If our existing coach is by the grace of God hired away then we can immediately hire the coach that can lead us to the promised land. We don't have to sully our self by firing Wojo, he goes of free will.
Wojo got the extension , which now becomes an asset to is because the new guy has to pay the severance fee to MU which should be in the millions. That is good money for us.
Wojo 's mulligan is the chance to start over with a grace period. Gives him some more time to work on his coaching skills while not under pressure . Kind of a like a coaching redshirt year. While at the same time getting Big Money . If he can get some modest traction after a few years at the new power 5 school he can sell his way into something like MSU when Izzo retires .
Stan is the guy getting the players that our future revolves around. I think people are not giving him the respect he is due.
Stan Johnson is not the messiah for the MU program. He was an assistant at Cal-Northridge, Drake, Utah and ASU. Does nothing for me as a Head Coach at this point, maybe he can recruit and maintain good relations with players, but you have no direct knowledge of how he would be as a head coach. If other Athletic Directors knew how great and under appreciated he was, then the offers should be coming in like crazy. Let him get a low mid major job to start and see how that goes, but if he was that good why hasn't he been offered such a job in the last 13 years???? Oh, must not have received a praising recommendation from you.
Not getting respect he is due????? Lets erect a Stan monument at the Al Center. These assistants are lucky they even have a job today, in a very rotational business.
Fire Wojo, uh, lets wait till Sunday at 5:30pm to do that.
Wojo needing a "redshirt year" and a candidate to take over for Izzo, good grief. Per yourself, heck Stan should be an exceptional candidate for the MSU position.
Been on this board for long time and never have criticized a fellow scooper ( I watch others do that), but you must be on some sort of opiates or something. These two posts by you are clearly wacky, make no sense, and you have no knowledge of facts. Done feeding the beast...........
Quote from: Loose Cannon on March 11, 2017, 05:58:24 PM
Yeah, I'm waiting for the claim he's involved within the Selection Committee.
Actually TAMU is on the selection Committee.
Quote from: nyg on March 11, 2017, 05:19:57 PM
Really nothing that you said makes any comprehensible sense.
This is great. Don't post a lot but I read this board almost daily...and somehow thought MUFNY had forgotten the teal or I'd missed one of the bigger inside jokes in Scoop history.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on March 11, 2017, 06:04:46 PM
Actually TAMU is on the selection Committee.
No wonder he's so Knowledgeable.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 11, 2017, 05:46:12 PM
I can say unequivocally MUFINY is not ScoopTakes
Yeah, scooptakes is good natured and funny, things muffins is not.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on March 11, 2017, 05:43:05 PM
To address your questions:
The once in a lifetime opportunity is that we have a truly great coach on our staff. If our existing coach is by the grace of God hired away then we can immediately hire the coach that can lead us to the promised land. We don't have to sully our self by firing Wojo, he goes of free will.
Wojo got the extension , which now becomes an asset to is because the new guy has to pay the severance fee to MU which should be in the millions. That is good money for us.
Wojo 's mulligan is the chance to start over with a grace period. Gives him some more time to work on his coaching skills while not under pressure . Kind of a like a coaching redshirt year. While at the same time getting Big Money . If he can get some modest traction after a few years at the new power 5 school he can sell his way into something like MSU when Izzo retires .
Stan is the guy getting the players that our future revolves around. I think people are not giving him the respect he is due.
Hashtag @ScoopTakes
Quote from: muwarrior69 on March 11, 2017, 06:04:46 PM
Actually TAMU is on the selection Committee.
I told you that in confidence! Now I'm going to get kicked out!
Quote from: SaveOD238 on March 11, 2017, 05:48:05 PM
I don't have enough MU history to go back very far, but I know of at least two previous times when we have looked at the assistant who is an excellent recruiter and assumed they would be a great HC. Tony Benford was that guy in Buzz's early years, he just got fired at North Texas. Isaac Chew was that guy in the last Buzz year, and he's still bouncing around as an assistant.
I love what Stan has done on the recruiting trail, but an excellent recruiter does not a head coach make.
But he has a fantastic neck.
And that's always a good sign for a basketball mind, be it a player or a coach.
Wojo...insufficient neck.
Quote from: T-Bone on March 11, 2017, 06:18:25 PM
Yeah, scooptakes is good natured and funny, things muffins is not.
Is muffins a term of endearment?
I am going to give MUFINY credit for punking us over and over.
Nicely done, kid!
nm