Issac Chew to MU?

[Blackhat]

A native of the city, newly named Illinois assistant Isaac Chew gets Chicago.

With that comes his understanding that his Chicago roots may get his foot in the door many places in the city, but he still has to put in the time and effort if the Illini are going to be consistent players for the area's premier talent.

"It's about spending time and developing relationships in the city, the south suburbs, the western suburbs, the entire state," Chew said on Thursday. "That's what the goal is. We want to do whatever possible to maximize our ability to get the best players.

"The one thing I will say, and people often say it outside of Chicago, people who are from Chicago wear it like a badge of honor. We want our own to do well. It's how the city is built. I think generally people want the state school to do well because it is the state school. This is about the state, not the city."

Chew has relationships with some of the area's most influential coaches, having recruited the area while an assistant at a number of schools, including most recently at Missouri. Chew said he knows Mac Irvin Fire club Mike Irvin and the Irvin family, Illinois Wolves club coach Mike Mullins, Whitney Young coach Tyrone Slaughter, Proviso East coach Donnie Boyce and a number of other coaches. He said he looked forward to developing a stronger relationship with Simeon coach Robert Smith.

Chew reached out and spoke with Chicago Public League Coaches Association president Vince Carter on Thursday.

"I think it is a good hire," Carter said. "You got to feel comfortable with who you hire. I know Isaac more than the other guys. I think the idea that somehow the Public League coaches have to say it's okay is just ridiculous. The coaches just want to know who you are. Once they learn who you are, you're fine. I think that's all they want."

Boyce was bullish on the hire.

"I think it's a great hire for U of I," Boyce said. "He has ties to the Chicago area and helped build Murray State's great season with the recruits he brought into the program. Also, he has been in our gym and to our games numerous times this season recruiting Sterling Brown. I think he will make his presence well known in the Chicagoland area."

Chew said he was drawn to the Illinois position partly because it would allow him to return to Chicago more often. Chew attended Proviso East High School for three years and transferred to Wells, a Chicago public school, for his final year.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to come home," Chew said. "Throughout my professional life, it's the first time I've been able to come home. I think coach [John] Groce wants to do a great job in that area. I think with his energy, style of play, player will be attracted to Illinois.

"This is not about me. This is how your work together, and that's more important than anything. The staff I'll be a part of at Illinois with coach Groce, coach [Dustin] Ford, coach [Jamall] Walker, if we have the same vision, same infectious energy, we'll be able to do what we're trying to achieve."

http://www.youtube.com/v/F9NJitbTyNM

[4everwarriors]

Crean can keep his AAU connections, I'll take a wad of chew.

[Lennys Tap]

Crean can keep his AAU connections, I'll take a wad of chew.

coo-coo cachew

[jsglow]

Confirmed.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7985457/assistant-coach-isaac-chew-quits-illinois-fighting-illinois-join-marquette-golden-eagles-staff

[Jay Bee]

#15 Norfolk St.  86
#2 Isaac's team 84

Hiro sandwich.

[77ncaachamps]

He loves Chicago as a Chi-town guy.

Well, his drive just got shorter (by about an hour) from MU to Chi than UIUC to Chi.
And his pocket got fatter.
And he's at a basketball only school.

Who WOULDN'T say no?

He's probably going "Benford" in less than 5 years. Seems ambitious. Wonder if DePaul is going to take a stab at him if their coaching carousel and hometown pull is suffering.



From Illinois Royalty:

The pull-factors to Marquette, though, were too much at the end of the day for Chew to continue to ignore. There were simply too many pros and advantages with the move to Marquette.

First, Chew has a previous relationship with Williams, which set the tone, initially, for casual conversations between the two. The two are close. Chew talks to Williams fairly regularly, regardless of there being a coaching position open or not, so the dialogue has always been free and easy. So why wouldn't the question be asked: "So, Isaac, how about coming to Marquette and working for me?" There is a definite comfort level between Chew and Williams.

Second, Marquette has an absurd basketball budget and isn't afraid to spend. Chew will not be getting just a raise with the move, he will be getting a substantial, a near impossible-to-say-no-to raise with the move to Milwaukee.



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."

Illinois radio personality on Chew's departure: http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-05-29/sports-talk-05-29-12.html

[buckchuckler]

For giggles I checked out a couple of Illini forums and they sure didn't disappoint.
They can't fathom why a guy would leave a "top 15 school" for Marquette.
Tee-hee. As delusional as ever.

Yup.  Those guys have the market cornered on delusional. 

[MattyWarrior]

Wonder what the players are thinking about these changes, chew on that!

[Lighthouse 84]

And online, at least, the JS still has no story about this hire.  Pretty Sad.

[The Process]

And online, at least, the JS still has no story about this hire.  Pretty Sad.

But not surprising, frankly. At least we can get all our #mubb news right here!

[GGGG]

And online, at least, the JS still has no story about this hire.  Pretty Sad.

The Pony Express has yet to stop at Enlund's house with the press release.

[Golden Avalanche]

All jokes aside, this is a very astute hire by Buzz and a tremendous dam-stopper to losing Benford and Aki.

[Benny B]

All jokes aside, this is a very astute hire by Buzz and a tremendous dam-stopper to losing Benford and Aki.

If Chew pays immediate dividends on the Chicago recruiting front, this could be the Hoover Dam of hires.

No more dam questions.

[GOO]

Man, Buzz always seems to have a plan and then a plan B and C.  And the plan C is usually pretty dam good.

[Dish]

Be interesting if MU and the Illini meet up in Maui, wondering if there would be any bad blood between Groce and Buzz.

[Hoopaloop]

You sir are a loser.

Quite the opposite.  He is a winner in this case.  He has given another concrete example that the SLUesque drum banging was complete manure.


For that, he is a winner and I hope more posters continue to shine the light on the conspiracy tin foilers and their claims that MU is about to become Loyola, NYU, or SLU right around the corner. 

[brewcity77]

For that, he is a winner and I hope more posters continue to shine the light on the conspiracy tin foilers and their claims that MU is about to become Loyola, NYU, or SLU right around the corner.

Kill all the tin foil people!!!

Honestly, that's what this site sounds like right now. The overreaction to a few people trying to share information is mind-numbingly ridiculous.

[T-Bone]

No mention of this yet??  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_LtUQlHKs

[Nukem2]

The Pony Express has yet to stop at Enlund's house with the press release.

Yeah, Enlund is wait for the AP posting of MU's official release.  Tom's a real wire service kind of guy....

[Goose]

I love how some posters say losing assistant is no big deal but getting new one is massive. On paper looks like a big improvement but I never heard Chew's name mentioned once in two months on here.

[ATWizJr]

Quite the opposite.  He is a winner in this case.  He has given another concrete example that the SLUesque drum banging was complete manure.


For that, he is a winner and I hope more posters continue to shine the light on the conspiracy tin foilers and their claims that MU is about to become Loyola, NYU, or SLU right around the corner. 

anyone who claimed that MU is about to become Loyola, NYU or SLU qualified that claim by using the word IF.  IF new standards were imposed retroactively, IF players had not met the new standards, IF they were not given a fair chance to qualify, IF they were then forced to transfer, IF the admin was trying to push Buzz out.  Pretty simple, IF you think about it.

[Pakuni]

Kill all the tin foil people!!!

Honestly, that's what this site sounds like right now. The overreaction to a few people trying to share information is mind-numbingly ridiculous.

The irony is that the "tin-foil" response was borne out of a mind-numbingly ridiculous overreaction to the information (read: rumors) that were shared.

I mean, how else does a reasonable person respond to some of the truly nutty conspiracy theories that were floated - and in some instances embraced - around here over the past six weeks?

[chapman]

I love how some posters say losing assistant is no big deal but getting new one is massive. On paper looks like a big improvement but I never heard Chew's name mentioned once in two months on here.

All about expectations.  When a few names were being tossed as suggestions I doubt anyone considered that a guy who just took a new position at a Big Ten school was going to be an option for us.  On the flip side, we expected Benford could leave, though Aki's timing was a little unexpected.

[Goose]

Pakuni
Muguru states a post of upcomng Hiroshima and that is "rumor". Big Daddy says IC has relationship with JP and that is embraced. I like Big Daddy's post better but how is his post not rumor? Personally I give the poster the benefit of the doubt that they are sharing info they feel to be credible. I would much rather read Big Daddy's posts that everything is perfect than Muguru or my posts for that matter. However, I cannot say with certainity that Big Daddy is not starting rumors, but I give him benefit of the doubt and hope he is right.

[GGGG]

I'm wondering how unexpected it was.  Strotty mentioned yesterday something along the lines of personal conflict.  It was mentioned that Buzz first broached the subject a few weeks ago.  I am wondering if Buzz and Aki just didn't see eye-to-eye....especially given his interest in Louisville last year.