Bruce Weber Fired

[brewcity77]

Just announced it on ESPN, per Andy Katz. So how long until we hear "Buzz to Illinois"?

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=17753

I'll repeat what I've said before ... Weber is very close to Jabari Parker. If Benford takes a Head Coaching job (SIU?) then Buzz should hire Weber as an associate head coach. 

(and yes Weber could also take the SIU job but he would have a 0.000% chance of getting Parker down to Carbondale.)

[Goose]

How about Junior to Illinois?

[Tugg Speedman]

You beat my post on this subject by 25 seconds.

You guys have it all wrong.  This is great opportunity for MU ....

I'll repeat what I've said before ... Weber is very close to Jabari Parker. If Benford takes a Head Coaching job (SIU?) then Buzz should hire Weber as an associate head coach.

(and yes Weber could also take the SIU job but he would have a 0.000% chance of getting Parker down to Carbondale.)

[Golden Avalanche]

You beat my post on this subject by 25 seconds.

You guys have it all wrong.  This is great opportunity for MU ....

I'll repeat what I've said before ... Weber is very close to Jabari Parker. If Benford takes a Head Coaching job (SIU?) then Buzz should hire Weber as an associate head coach.

(and yes Weber could also take the SIU job but he would have a 0.000% chance of getting Parker down to Carbondale.)

I don't see Weber going the Larry Shyatt way. However, there should already have been a conversation with Jerrance Howard though I suspect Theus will make him a priority and possibly elevate him a slot or two on the AC chain.

[MerrittsMustache]

You beat my post on this subject by 25 seconds.

You guys have it all wrong.  This is great opportunity for MU ....

I'll repeat what I've said before ... Weber is very close to Jabari Parker. If Benford takes a Head Coaching job (SIU?) then Buzz should hire Weber as an associate head coach.

(and yes Weber could also take the SIU job but he would have a 0.000% chance of getting Parker down to Carbondale.)

Weber is a Milwaukee native and UWM grad. Just sayin'.

[brewcity77]

You guys have it all wrong.  This is great opportunity for MU ....

I'll repeat what I've said before ... Weber is very close to Jabari Parker. If Benford takes a Head Coaching job (SIU?) then Buzz should hire Weber as an associate head coach.

(and yes Weber could also take the SIU job but he would have a 0.000% chance of getting Parker down to Carbondale.)

Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's any way Buzz takes a step down by going to Illinois. If (and I definitely think it's if, NOT when) Buzz ever leaves, it will be for a marquee job, a Duke, Kansas, or UNC. I don't think anyone will be confusing Illinois with Duke any time soon (obviously Jon Scheyer didn't). I just expect the talking heads to put Buzz at the front of the list, because that's just what they do. Same thing will happen if Texas misses the dance and Rick Barnes finds himself on the outs. I still think Buzz stays.

Anyway...I think either Benford or Weber will end up at SIU. Honestly, with Marquette headed to March, I could see Weber being back at SIU in less than 48 hours. I suspect Theus will be a hot candidate for Illinois, but I think they'll wait until after the NCAAs and possibly make a play for Shaka Smart. Jerrance Howard might be in the mix, but I can't see them simply promoting from within, similar to how MU went outside for Larry Williams.

I really hope Buzz makes a quick play for Howard. My guess is that at least one of Benford, Collins, or Monarch will get a HC gig after this year. I can't see Weber taking an assistant job, there will be some mid-major openings, and his track record will get him one of them (even if not SIU). Howard could help us get closer to Parker, but I suspect more than anything, this has pushed him closer to Michigan State. I'd love to see us bag Kendrick Nunn now, giving us the chance of the Simeon reunion, but then where do the scholarships come from? I can see us making up one scholarship from a transfer, but two by 2013? I sure don't know who they would be.

But I agree, this is great news for Marquette. If we have any hope at Parker, it just got a sliver better, one of the best assistants in the game may now be available, and as this shakes out, it could give one of Buzz's assistants a chance to be the first leaf off his coaching tree (admittedly not likely at IU, but as it all shakes out).

[TallTitan34]

Weber will go to Southern.

Reggie Theus (who has been getting close with Parker) will go to Illinois.

[MU82]

If Weber really could go back to SIU, where he is loved and where he had great success, why would he even think about being an assistant at Marquette? On the off chance that he could help bring a teenager to MU to play for one season? That is absurd.

And of course Buzz will be mentioned for the Illinois job. It will just be so much blah-blah-blah, though. Hard to believe that's the one he'd leave Marquette for.

The single best thing Marquette can get out of Weber being fired is for Illinois to not promote Jerrance Howard at least to associate coach, and for a disappointed Howard to bolt for Marquette. He is a major talent as a recruiter.

[nyg]

Buzz will not go to Illinois.

Weber will not come to MU in any capacity.

Illinois will have a minority coach.

Parker will not come to MU.

[TallTitan34]

Illinois will have a minority coach.

This is guaranteed.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This is guaranteed.

Apparently their AD has a relationship with Shaka Smart

[Spotcheck Billy]

But it's ILLINOIS!!

[Bieberhole69]

Smart money is on Shaka Smart.  Reggie Theus will be lucky to get interviewed.

[MerrittsMustache]

Apparently their AD has a relationship with Shaka Smart

Buzz to VCU?

[brewcity77]

ESPN has an article on the leading candidates, and includes Tony Benford as a name to consider. Leaders include Shaka Smart, Anthony Grant, Chris Collins, and Reggie Theus (my pick). They also say Jerrance Howard wants to stay, but that his feelings could change if he goes for the HC job and is passed over.

We knew Illinois would make a coaching change after their season ended, but the prevailing thought was AD Mike Thomas would let Bruce Weber coach the squad through any possible postseason play (there had been talk of the Illini and the NIT). However, ESPN's Andy Katz reports Weber has been fired.

Some may knock Illinois as not being a major college hot-spot, but it is the best coaching job in the state. Our hunch is the first coach that Thomas and the athletic department could target is VCU's Shaka Smart. Even though Smart signed a long-term contract after the 2011 season, he should be the Illini's primary target. Smart's fast-paced style of play, along with his HAVOC defense, is attractive to high-major recruits. Even though the NCAA tournament has yet to start, Smart has already had to address concerns he may depart the CAA school, telling the Richmond Times-Dispatch that his sole focus is on the NCAAs.

Brad Stevens' name will certainly pop up, but we are pretty sure the Butler coach will stay put in the Horizon League. The addition of Rotnei Clarke should make the Bulldogs one of the conference's preseason favorites, and it doesn't feel like Stevens would jump at the Illini's opening.

Even though some are not impressed with the Duke associate head coach, Chris Collins could be a potential candidate. The longtime assistant has been a popular name in the coaching carousel the past few seasons, and Thomas, as the first-year athletic director, could go in the direction of winning pedigree for his second-major hire.

We have heard whispers that Alabama coach Anthony Grant might work in Champaign. Grant has been able to turn the Tide into one of the SEC's top defensive teams. Another possible name is Reggie Theus, who was connected to UNLV's opening last offseason. Theus has wanted to rejoin the coaching ranks since his stint in Las Cruces, and we feel if his name could prove helpful in navigating the Chicago basketball scene.

A few other names to consider: Marquette's Tony Benford (the Golden Eagles have done a solid job recruiting Chicago players within the past few classes), Michigan State's Dwayne Stephens, and Michigan's LaVall Jordan.

We wonder if Ernie Kent, the former Oregon coach, will also try to throw his hat in the ring. During his tenure in Eugene, Kent was able to build a very fruitful Chicago pipeline to the Pac-12 school. His name was connected to the Wyoming opening last offseason, but a vacancy at Illinois could again stoke his coaching desire.

Though he has proved pivotal in Illinois' recruiting efforts the past several seasons, we don't think Jerrance Howard will replace Weber. While there will be a push to keep Howard on the incoming head coach's staff, it will be interesting if Howard does go for the head job, and if he becomes a serious candidate. Paul Klee of the Champaign News-Gazette has mentioned countless times that Howard wants to remain at the Big Ten school, but if the coaching search passes him by, will his mindset change?

[chapman]

Buzz will not go to Illinois.

Weber will not come to MU in any capacity.

Illinois will have a minority coach.

Parker will not come to MU.

Simple, to the point, and 100% accurate. Here is your gold star:

[mr.MUskie]

Simple, to the point, and 100% accurate. Here is your gold star:

+1

[4everwarriors]

How about Junior to Illinois?

I'll spring for the one-way Greyhound fare.

[Les Nessman]

I'll spring for the one-way Greyhound fare.

Brutal.

[4everwarriors]

OK, Amtrak, then.

[Donnybrook]

My bet is that Weber will do analysis for one of the networks for a year or two before getting another high major job.

[RJax55]

My bet is that Weber will do analysis for one of the networks for a year or two before getting another high major job.

Bruce doesn't have the voice for TV.

[Jam Chowder]

I'll spring for the one-way Greyhound fare.

I'll go halvsies with you.

[Henry Sugar]

I'll go halvsies with you.

Who's going to make sure he doesn't lose possession of his luggage on the way down?