Illini board is melting down about the Chew move to MU (more evidence it is a good hire).
It starts here at the bottom on page 68
http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=17846&page=68Some choice posts ...
In a nutshell. He moved to Illinois for a big raise, and then jumped to the next opportunity when a bigger raise was offered. We can hardly complain given that we just plucked him from Missouri for the same reason.
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I feel bad for Groce man. He really has a mess to deal with
Wasnt Chew our Chicago guy and actually wasnt he the one that Groce took with him on his tour of Chicago?
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Yeah it sucks but if he and Buzz have been casually discussing him coaching there for a while then I'd rather he just leave now instead of constantly peeking over to see if Buzz is looking at him so he can leave our side and go be with him.
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Joe Henricksen on WDWS talking Isaac Chew to Marquette: "It was a huge, significant raise."
Joe Henricksen on WDWS talking Isaac Chew to Marquette: "It know for a fact that he felt sick about it."
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As a fan, I never got to know Coach Chew at Illinois.
His abrupt departure has got to be one of the shortest stints as an assistant basketball coach in Illinois History.
I was skeptical when Chew jumped from across the river leaving behind a team that won 30 games last year to join the Illini. I thought Chew saw something special in this Illinois team and the new Head Coach. Perhaps he still does, just not enough to stay.
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How is it Marquette can pay the Assistant Coaches more than Illinois could pay?
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My guess is because Marquette does not have a football program...B-Ball is THE money maker.
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Isaac Chew to join Marquette coaching staff
"I really appreciate the opportunity coach Groce gave me," Chew said by phone. "This wasn't my plan. I didn't seek this out. I think coach Groce is going to do great things at Illinois. This is just a situation I can't pass up for me and my family. It was a family decision.
"There were some factors involved that were important to me as well as my wife. As coaches, we often make decisions. We always tell our wives to make sacrifices. This is an opportunity for both of us. She really felt great about the decision."
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Another blow to the already bruised psyche of Illini Nation. Why not just hire Deon and get this thing over with?
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The last few months have provided us with a sobering, eye-opening view of just how our program is perceived these days. We are not a destination. We're a way station. If recruiting for 2013 was a mess before this, it certainly isn't going to get any better now. I've been off the board lately because I'm so depressed about the state of our program and I don't want my negativity to spill onto the board. Let's hope something good happens soon. We're certainly due for some good news.
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Chew to Marquette - and explains why
Illinois made a counter-offer to entice Chew to stay at Illinois. But the opportunity to join Williams, who has taken Marquette to consecutive Sweet 16s and has turned down multiple job offers from other programs to stay at the Big East school, was too attractive. Chew was scheduled to leave for Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
"It was an emotional decision. It was emotional for me and for my wife and my family," Chew said by phone. "Coach Groce is going to do a great job (at Illinois). This had nothing to do with the challenge. I think the world of coach Groce and his staff. I just couldn't pass up this opportunity. That's just the bottom line."
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I can't believe Marquette is perceived as a better job than Illinois, and if it is that's a crime. I don't understand all of this talk about this being a rebuild, its not like we have had 5 losing years in a row, we are close to being good and in basketball a couple players make all the difference. We have plenty of good players, with Hill, James and Rice and the sophomore class I just don't see that we are that far away from being good.
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Did you read Henricksen's article? In the last four years, does Marquette have four NCAA tournament appearances and two sweet sixteens to UI's one win, and two no-shows? The historical argument doesn't really mean much except to a few people, and certainly not 15-17 year olds. They probably watch the '05 team when they were ten, but that was an long, long time ago in their lives. Our program has found a way to make PSU formidable, and Nebraska more than competitive. How much worse does it get than tied for ninth place? Five mediocre years may as well be five losing years when it comes to perception.
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I still do not think Marquette is as good as Illinois, they won it all in 77 I think but other than that no final fours and I don't think they have ever won the Big East, the last 30 years Illinois has been better and certainly should be better in the future.
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would not disagree at all. But, I'm an Illinois fan on an Illini forum. If I wasn't, that argument would be useless. The last four or five years is the only history most fans can recall, or probably give any value, imo. There may be exceptions like Indiana high schoolers. On the other hand is ND a football power, or Army, or Harvard? Once upon a time....nobody cares.
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We have certainly fallen, but there is no comparison between the innate strengths of the Ui program and MU. Had to be a serious money difference for Chew, who probably is at a career stage where he is thinking short-term until he gets a top job. There will be other strong coaches/recruiters for Coach Groce to bring in, but for the next few months, this doesnt help.
At this point, if i played for the illini. I'd have a serious chip on my shoulder. Much to prove in the next few seasons, and i think we have a core of 8 or 9 who have the talent and desire to finish in the top 5 or 6 teams in the B10 and make some noise in the tournament that matters.
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And money, right? Substantially more we are hearing?
Let me also add another caveat. B
uzz is safe at Marquette. He will not be fired in the next 3 years. Groce could be. When the head man goes, so do his assistants.
So in the end we have a young guy who probably has little savings at this point leaving for more money and greater job security with a true mentor that he trusts? Count me as someone who hopes my kids have the same approach to their careers.
(apparently they have not heard of Hiroshima!)
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