Coaching Carousel 2017

[MU82]

This thread is about the coaching carousel. Please refer to the regularly scheduled programming for insights and analysis on our big upcoming win on Friday.

Again, what cause?

And who is "our"?

[JWags85]

#2. Monty Williams already turned them down. On to #3.

Just a really weird play by U of I in my opinion, and probably indicative of how they think of themselves.  A relatively young NBA assistant, less than 2 seasons removed from a HC job with no ties to the program, or the area for that matter.

[brewcity77]

Any of those people chanting for Martin over Wojo a few years ago care to chime in on their feelings now?

I was on board with Martin. After Smart said no, he was my pick. Good recruiter, coming off one of those "I'll show you" to the fanbase runs in the tournament at UT. Seemed like a good guy and good coach.

I think he would've been okay here, but I think more than wanting Marquette, he wanted out of Rocky Top. Not saying we dodged a bullet, but I'm happy with how it worked out.

[Herman Cain]

I was on board with Martin. After Smart said no, he was my pick. Good recruiter, coming off one of those "I'll show you" to the fanbase runs in the tournament at UT. Seemed like a good guy and good coach.

I think he would've been okay here, but I think more than wanting Marquette, he wanted out of Rocky Top. Not saying we dodged a bullet, but I'm happy with how it worked out.

Cords told me that he perceived it the way you did. In that Cuonzo was running from something and not to something.

[jesmu84]

Cords told me that he perceived it the way you did. In that Cuonzo was running from something and not to something.

What cause? Who is "our"?

[brewcity77]

#2. Monty Williams already turned them down. On to #3.

Also...didn't miss this, absolutely hilarious. And now they want to make a run at Tony Bennett? Absolutely delusional.

[GGGG]

I understand why Illinois got rid of Bruce Weber.  Once he ran out of Self's recruits, he just didn't do much at Illinois.  And despite this year's success, he hasn't done much at Kansas State either. 

But as I said when it surfaced earlier, the Monty Williams thing was strange.  It's the basketball version of the Lovie Smith hire which isn't going to pan out either.  And Bennett isn't going there either.

If I were Illinois I would reach out to Marshall.  He has likely topped out at Wichita and might be finally looking to make that jump and Illinois IMO would be a good fit. 

[MerrittsMustache]

I understand why Illinois got rid of Bruce Weber.  Once he ran out of Self's recruits, he just didn't do much at Illinois.  And despite this year's success, he hasn't done much at Kansas State either. 

But as I said when it surfaced earlier, the Monty Williams thing was strange.  It's the basketball version of the Lovie Smith hire which isn't going to pan out either.  And Bennett isn't going there either.

If I were Illinois I would reach out to Marshall.  He has likely topped out at Wichita and might be finally looking to make that jump and Illinois IMO would be a good fit.

While Lovie was an odd hire, there was at least his obvious connection to Chicago and the presumed thinking that his name recognition would get some talent to travel down 57 to Champaign. I'm not sure where Monty Williams came from to be their top choice.

[LAZER]

I'm not buying the Cuonzo turning down Illinois story, it doesn't really add up.

[LAZER]

I understand why Illinois got rid of Bruce Weber.  Once he ran out of Self's recruits, he just didn't do much at Illinois.  And despite this year's success, he hasn't done much at Kansas State either. 

But as I said when it surfaced earlier, the Monty Williams thing was strange.  It's the basketball version of the Lovie Smith hire which isn't going to pan out either.  And Bennett isn't going there either.

If I were Illinois I would reach out to Marshall.  He has likely topped out at Wichita and might be finally looking to make that jump and Illinois IMO would be a good fit.

If you're running a coaching search aren't you supposed to reach out to best candidates you can come up with?

For all the talk of Illinois, Indiana, and other fanbases being delusional...when the Marquette job was open a lot of people on this board thought Bennett was interested and Shaka actually accepted the job.  An outsider's perspective would probably call that delusional.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I'm not buying the Cuonzo turning down Illinois story, it doesn't really add up.

If they offered him less money than Mizzou (which is what has been reported), sure it adds up.

[GGGG]

If you're running a coaching search aren't you supposed to reach out to best candidates you can come up with?

For all the talk of Illinois, Indiana, and other fanbases being delusional...when the Marquette job was open a lot of people on this board thought Bennett was interested and Shaka actually accepted the job.  An outsider's perspective would probably call that delusional.

I don't have a problem with them reaching out to who they think are the best candidates.  I just don't understand the Monty Williams thing.

[LAZER]

If they offered him less money than Mizzou (which is what has been reported), sure it adds up.

I doubt he's Illinois' top candidate (I'm sure many of their top choices are still playing), Illinois is a much better job than Mizzou, and if the difference was an extra year on the contract I'm sure Illinois would have made it happen, and there is clearly an incentive for Mizzou to pretend like they beat out a big rival for a coaching target.

[LAZER]

I don't have a problem with them reaching out to who they think are the best candidates.  I just don't understand the Monty Williams thing.

I think it's a Collangelo-USA basketball thing and he's usually pretty involved in their searches.

[brewcity77]

For all the talk of Illinois, Indiana, and other fanbases being delusional...when the Marquette job was open a lot of people on this board thought Bennett was interested and Shaka actually accepted the job.  An outsider's perspective would probably call that delusional.

I don't think Bennett had interest when Buzz left, our timing was really unfortunate with Bennett. Smart was definitely the top target in 2014. After Smart's deal was undone, we turned our attention to Martin and Wojo. One nailed the interview, one didn't.

Contrast that to Illinois hiring their sixth option last time and already moving on to the third option now, I think it's safe to say neither their fanbase nor administration is particularly realistic.

[MU82]

After Self left, Illinois could have had either Matta or Altman.

They hired Weber, and he obviously did well with Self's recruits, but he petered out when they left and Illinois has been reeling ever since.

Groce was more Dukiet than Matta/Altman.

[Pakuni]

After Self left, Illinois could have had either Matta or Altman.

They hired Weber, and he obviously did well with Self's recruits, but he petered out when they left and Illinois has been reeling ever since.

Groce was more Dukiet than Matta/Altman.

Altman was this close to taking the Illinois job, but ultimately turned them down.
They could have had Matta, but people tend to overlook how good of a coaching candidate Weber was at that time. He had a great run as an assistant and recruiter for Keady at Purdue and then built one of the better mid-major programs in the country at Southern Illinois. Hindsight is always 20/20, but at the time there was little reason to question his hire by the Illini.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If you're running a coaching search aren't you supposed to reach out to best candidates you can come up with?

For all the talk of Illinois, Indiana, and other fanbases being delusional...when the Marquette job was open a lot of people on this board thought Bennett was interested and Shaka actually accepted the job.  An outsider's perspective would probably call that delusional.

One of those two things was delusional. The other was possible but unfortunately incorrect.

[drewm88]

Crean fired.

[MU82]

Altman was this close to taking the Illinois job, but ultimately turned them down.
They could have had Matta, but people tend to overlook how good of a coaching candidate Weber was at that time. He had a great run as an assistant and recruiter for Keady at Purdue and then built one of the better mid-major programs in the country at Southern Illinois. Hindsight is always 20/20, but at the time there was little reason to question his hire by the Illini.

Probably true about Matta.

I didn't remember Altman having turned them down, so that's probably true, too.

Having reached my 106th birthday, sometimes my mind gets a little fuzzy!

[Tums Festival]

Going to throw Steve Forbes from East Tennessee St.'s name out there, not for any specific job, but would be a quality hire for the right school. Has a pretty good record as a head coach.

[MU82]

Going to throw Steve Forbes from East Tennessee St.'s name out there, not for any specific job, but would be a quality hire for the right school. Has a pretty good record as a head coach.

Plus, he's already a multi-billionaire so probably won't need to pay him!

[Tums Festival]

Plus, he's already a multi-billionaire so probably won't need to pay him!

[buckchuckler]

One of those two things was delusional. The other was possible but unfortunately incorrect.

What exactly was unfortunate?

[forgetful]

What exactly was unfortunate?

The last minute change of heart by Smart.