College Basketball 2011-2012

[illiniguy]

Outstanding. Maybe re-consider and exhale before freaking out next time.

Right, I'm not freaking out. I like the hire. Just you being calm and level headed about Illinois. Per usual.

[Guest]

You’re really going to make me ruin my joke by drawing a map for you? People tried telling Spongeworthy last year that it wasn’t as simple as backing up a truck of money to Stevens’ door, which he wrote off as “loser talk”. Have you really not been paying attention to who has been disagreeing with Neifi’s rampage against Thomas? Not that I think that Groce would be a particularly great hire(although once you get down to mid-majordom, the difference between Groce and say, Marshall, isn’t exactly worth a rage stroke), but you can only do so much as an AD. Only so many candidates are truly available in a given coaching search, and if Smart and Stevens say no, then you’re left with less proven mid major guys, or maybe someone like Martin. None are super inspiring like the top candidates, but since Weber had to go, that’s the best candidate available. As you mention, I of all people would know that freaking out over a hire prematurely can make you look a fool.

[illiniguy]

Im sorry I didn't start following last year as you began to setup your amazing joke. Had I known something that funny was coming, I would have paid closer attention...

[Guest]

If you can't figure out that was sarcasm(which would have required reading this thread since....last night, maybe a day or two before), then you should probably hold off on lashing out at those you think are daring to speak ill of the university.

[illiniguy]

If you can't figure out that was sarcasm(which would have required reading this thread since....last night, maybe a day or two before), then you should probably hold off on lashing out at those you think are daring to speak ill of the university.

Why are you not writing jokes for CBS? You're very good at it. And have you been paying attention, I speak bad about the university all the time.

[Guest]

Listen, I know when you make a mistake and flip out at someone who isn't saying what you're attacking at all, you don't have a whole lot of options to save face. But you've chosen poorly nonetheless.

[illiniguy]

Listen, I know when you make a mistake and flip out at someone who isn't saying what you're attacking at all, you don't have a whole lot of options to save face. But you've chosen poorly nonetheless.

I've always thought you were wise beyond your years. I hope someday to achieve that level of awesomeness. Be patient, I'm working on it. Also maybe your joke came off badly and was hard to pick up on, nah that can't be it.

[Guest]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

[illiniguy]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

[SouthSideRyan]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

 

Fear of being an accessory to homicide.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7737800/kansas-state-wildcats-frank-martin-paid-former-prep-players

[illiniguy]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

 

Fear of being an accessory to homicide.

Worth the gamble, imo.

 

I wish Billy Clyde was a real candidate also.

[Guest]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7737800/kansas-state-wildcats-frank-martin-paid-former-prep-players

 

Yeah, he was a pretty shady character in his HS coaching days. When he was hired at KSU, the only thing I could find on his coaching history was that he was part of the biggest scandal in the history of Florida HS athletics, or something to that effect.

[illiniguy]

Clearly.

 

 

In news that I alone appear to be interested in, sources in Columbia say that Frank Martin is gone to South Carolina as soon as his contract gets approved.

I get he's pissed at his ad, but South Carolina? This guys a great coach, why does no one have any interest?

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7737800/kansas-state-wildcats-frank-martin-paid-former-prep-players

Well that would scare some people off I guess. :shock:

[hawkeyecub]

So did Illinois have no interest in Frank?

 

Mississippi State would have been a better job than South Carolina if he was going to the SEC, but maybe they had no interest either.

[illiniguy]

So did Illinois have no interest in Frank?

 

Mississippi State would have been a better job than South Carolina if he was going to the SEC, but maybe they had no interest either.

It sounds like Mike Thomas wanted nothing to do with him.

[SouthSideRyan]

Because of the poop.

[illiniguy]

Because of the poop.

This and I get the feeling he wanted a young guy that could be here for a long time. Although Frank is only 45.

[tadowdaddy]

Really glad to see that our AD and Martin butt heads so much that he leaves for a school that has either 8 or 9 total NCAA appearances. Just pathetic.

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

So my thoughts on our next coach Groce, and yes he's our next coach. Weber had to go, he drove our program down big time. We used to get the best mid major coaches, now they are afraid to take our job. That said Thomas is making a hell of a gamble here. If this guy fails he won't get to hire another coach. The good news is apparently he was the lead recruiter at OSU on Odense and Conley. Hopefully he does ok here, I'm willing to give him a chance.

 

As much as I would have been incredibly excited for Shaka or Stevens, there was always a small part of me that wondered whether Groce could turn out to be like Matta. Obviously Ohio State hasn't had a whole lot of trouble recruiting since he has been gone, but he did help to start things there. I know he isn't as big of a splash, but maybe his recruiting abilities will better fit Chicago than the other two would. I definitely think you are right about the gamble. I am willing to give him a chance as well. I would be less excited if it was just a coach who had some success at a mid-major, rather than a coach who has a reputation for being a good recruiter.

 

Matta's 4 seasons before getting the OSU job: 102-31, 50-12 in conference play combined at Butler and Xavier. 3 trips to the second round and one Elite Eight.

Groce's 4 seasons: 85-56, 34-30 in conference play, one 2nd round and one Sweet 16.

 

The two are practically identical.

 

Believe me, I know Matta had a much better record. But Xavier was a much better basketball school at the time he took over than Ohio ever was. I didn't say I love this move, but what are we supposed to do. We went after the two hottest names and they didn't come. (Speaking of which, it was pretty lucky of VCU to get into the tourney last year. If they don't, how many people know who Shaka is right now?)

 

If a really big name coach like Sean Miller or Donovan aren't going to leave the situations they are currently in, we pretty much have to go the mid-major route. It seems like the Ohio fans love him (I know Illinois is on a completely different level, but they seem to think he finally had a team of his own players and are really excited for next year). Reading some Ohio State fans responses on some other boards, it seems like they would love to have him if Matta were to move on. I don't know, big name coaches had to start somewhere. Sometimes a hire doesn't work out (Lickliter and many many others), sometimes they turn out to be Self, Matta, etc. I just would rather take a chance on someone that at least has the possibility of being a good recruiter. Obviously he may not work out--hence the mention that it is a big gamble.

[abuck1220]

man, i hope half k-state's players leave and the program just goes in the gutter for five years.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

I'll support Groce, I'm just very disappointed at how the search played out. I don't fault Smart or Stevens for wanting to stay in their respective locales, however this was an opportunity for Mike Thomas to redefine the Illinois program for the next 15-20 years. He even said that he needed to make a home run hire and he failed to get it done. We've been turned down by everyone, we look like crap and we're the best job available. It's absolutely pathetic.

[illiniguy]

I'll support Groce, I'm just very disappointed at how the search played out. I don't fault Smart or Stevens for wanting to stay in their respective locales, however this was an opportunity for Mike Thomas to redefine the Illinois program for the next 15-20 years. He even said that he needed to make a home run hire and he failed to get it done. We've been turned down by everyone, we look like crap and we're the best job available. It's absolutely pathetic.

I don't know why anyone thought Stevens was coming. He wasn't going to, he won't leave Butler unless its for IU. Smart hurt, the other guys who said no I am not sweating.

[Formerly Snayke]

It's not like Ohio was awful when he took over or he really built something though. The 4 years prior to Groce they won 21, 19, 19 and 20 games with an NCAA trip. Groce won 15, 22, 19 and now 29 this year with 2 NCAA trips.

 

It's a crap shoot, but it's one Illinois has to take if they can't lure any big names in. And the difference between Groce and Semi-Famous Mid-Major Coach is probably not that large.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

I'll support Groce, I'm just very disappointed at how the search played out. I don't fault Smart or Stevens for wanting to stay in their respective locales, however this was an opportunity for Mike Thomas to redefine the Illinois program for the next 15-20 years. He even said that he needed to make a home run hire and he failed to get it done. We've been turned down by everyone, we look like crap and we're the best job available. It's absolutely pathetic.

I don't know why anyone thought Stevens was coming. He wasn't going to, he won't leave Butler unless its for IU. Smart hurt, the other guys who said no I am not sweating.

 

What pisses me off the most is that we're going to hire a guy based off two tournament wins. That's not to say he won't be a good coach, but I'd like to see more consideration of names like Marshall and Mack.