bukie

No one's in danger of loosing anyone.

@Ryan_G_Baker: Best Final Four moment EVER. Bruce Pearl walks up to Jimmy Collins & apologizes & says Deon Thomas was the victim. 23 years later #Illini

So, apparently the entire Big 12 wants to be coached by ex-Illinois coaches.

Philly just falling apart after a 20-9 start to the year. They could feasibly finish 8th now.

I think he was, are you familiar with Mike Thomas' history with Ohio? Well obviously there's no way of knowing for sure unless someone finds something through a freedom of information search, but do you really think he had Groce ahead of guys like Grant and Miller? Definitely, since there was no word about Grant and Miller coming from the university. The only reason they waited so long to talk to Groce was that Ohio was still playing until last Saturday.

the walks will come when pitchers come to respect his newfound prodigious power Once they start pitching around him to get to Castro, the walk floodgates will open.

If CBS is set up to prevent any points from being scored if you have an illegal roster, that setting should probably be turned off now, though.

Considering where the team/program was when he took over, he's probably a year ahead of schedule. In that sense, he's exceeded expectations.

Ok then, so how does Louisville not have an advantage over Illinois using that criteria? Illinois has a better recruiting base, slightly less history, and comparatively equal fan support. The argument for Louisville as a better job than Illinois has more to do with the history of the program, a lot more than who is currently the coach (and can we give Groce at least a season or two before we call him an abject failure?) I may be biased based on where I live, but I can't imagine there being many comparable fan bases to Louisville and UK. That state cares about nothing else. Their facilities dwarf Illinois, and pretty much all other Div 1 programs as well. I liked the hire by the way. Well, yeah, but he didn't list facilities as one of his criteria, which admittedly helps Illinois' credentials. It's also why they're spending so much to upgrade the facilities in the "near future" (as stated by Thomas yesterday).

Ok then, so how does Louisville not have an advantage over Illinois using that criteria? Illinois has a better recruiting base, slightly less history, and comparatively equal fan support. The argument for Louisville as a better job than Illinois has more to do with the history of the program, a lot more than who is currently the coach (and can we give Groce at least a season or two before we call him an abject failure?)

How? I think its a top 15 program. Even if all of the teams on abucks list were better than us. That still puts us at 15. I mean sure his list is awful, he didn't include Indiana in it, but even using it we are right at 15. Clearly the job isn't that great otherwise they wouldn't have crapped the bed on the coaching search, but you keep changing conversations between historical rankings, current ratings and how good the job is. Everyone keeps saying they crapped the bed on the coaching search, but that's just not true. I don't think there are more than a couple of jobs that Smart/Stevens would have taken if they became available. Illinois made top-10-quality offers to them, and they preferred to stay where they were. I mean, sure, maybe Stevens would jump to IU, and Smart would take a Duke/UNC offer, but their choice was more about being comfortable and able to stay competitive where they were than a comparative slight on the Illinois program.

So, then Texas Tech was a better program when Bobby Knight was the coach?

My understanding is yes, you can bench a starter in order not to exceed 7 starts. That would mean only 4 starters would be active. As far as having 9 starters and therefore permanently having 4 reserves... meaning you do not have a second RP, or...?? A commish will have to weigh in on that. But the team I saw had 20 active players, 16 regulars with a bench of 3 pitchers and 1 position player. I also understand that this year you can pick up a FA to get your 7th start. But I am assuming that if you do so, then you would have to drop someone in order to keep your line-up legal. Whatever you need to do to get 7 starts, yes, but the lineup needs to stay legal. Except you still can' t use relief appearances by starters to get points.

I think part of the initial negative reaction from some fans around here had to do with having no idea who John Groce was three weeks ago. Well, that and the ridiculous meathead spin put on everything by some mainstream Chicago media members, and reading way too much into their comments.

It's amazing what an 8-10 season in the Big Ten does for the ego these days.

He neglects further comment on Thomas, aside from pointing out the risk in any hiring endeavor, and that even hiring coaches from other major programs doesn't always work out like schools want (Texas Tech, Minnesota). Also, he mentions this is the third consecutive time Illinois basketball has hired a former major conference assistant that was a head coach at a mid-major. First time worked so well he left in 3 years, second time it works fantastic for two years and gradually fell apart after that. So who knows?

Illini alum John Gasaway shares his thoughts on the hire:

I'm wrong, the Phoenix/SJ game just has to end in regulation, then there's no way for all four teams to pass the Hawks.

It's not mathematically clinched yet, but there is no way for the Hawks to miss the playoffs now. San Jose/Dallas/LA/Phoenix play each other too much to have all four pass them.

Also, Groce has apparently already talked to a few potential recruits in Kendrick Nunn and Jabari Parker, introducing himself and selling his system and development. Both recruits have also been in contact with DJ Cooper, who played for Groce at Ohio. Both are apparently huge fans of the up-tempo system Groce uses.

Oh, one more thing I like about Groce: Early proponent of advanced statistical analysis in basketball, and a huge KenPom fan.

Sorry it took so long to put together. Large part of it was scribbles while sitting at lunch, had to track down for sure who said what. :)

I'm under the assumption that Clint wants at least three more players...

As far as a running transcript of the PC: - Jerrance Howard wasn't there. Thomas thanked him for his work as interim HC, but wasn't sure if he was in the crowd. - Thomas praised Groce as a "midwest guy" and a guy with a "lot of energy". Also mentioned that's the third coach he's hired that he's said that about. - MT: Groce has tremendous record of success, good pedigree of head coaches he learned under, tremendous recruiter, spent entire BBall life in the Midwest. - JG: Illinois is "once in a lifetime" opportunity. This was the only job he was willing to interview for, and grateful to Ohio U for giving him the chance. - JG: Grew up in Danville, IN, watching B1G BBall. Most vivid college BB memory was the 1989 Flyin Illini, and Nick Anderson's halfcourt shot in Bloomington. - JG: Also a huge fan of Dee Brown and the '05 national runner up (at least the guy did his homework). - JG: Reason Illinois is a once in a lifetime opportunity is that it has a great recuiting base, great history, and tons of potential to be a national contender every year. - JG: Orange Krush made it really difficult to communicate during TO during his time at OSU. Huge fan of that atmosphere. - JG: Wouldn't have come if he didn't think they could compete nationally year in year out. - JG: Has more Chicago connections than people may think. Mentioned Evan Turner. Understands importance of Chicago, and how huge an advantage it is to have it in his "backyard". - JG: Hasn't spoken to Jerrance Howard yet, and will bring staff from Ohio depending on who becomes HC there. Thad Matta part of his "advisory board", and a close friend. - JG: Hardest thing was talking to Ohio players about the move. Told them this morning. - JG: One word to describe his style: "Attack". Regarding player personnel, mentioned adaptability is important. Mold system around current players, not other way around. - JG, when asked about skepticism regarding his middling MAC record at Ohio: "There's always skeptics in every thing in life. If you don't have thick skin in this business, you're in trouble." - JG: Always recruit within the rules, but something you have to be constantly thinking about. - JG: IU fan growing up. No choice, really, growing up in Hoosier state. - JG: Interviewed Monday, negotiated Tuesday, offer Wednesday, accepted Wednesday - JG: Will target very best players who are Illinois guys in recruiting. - JG: Plans to talk to Meyers Leonard about his intentions very soon. - JG: Ohio did everything to keep him, only reason he came to Illinois was because of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity there. - MT: Hiring process was very thorough, and he's very happy with the end result. Contract is $1.4 M per year for 5 years. - MT: Upgrading facilities was part of negotiations. Project will happen "in near future" - MT: No presser Tuesday because deal wasn't done on Tuesday, obviously. - MT: Groce free to hire whoever he wants as assistants. Groce promised he'd have "Chicago ties" in hirings.

everyone else had class I hope so. That's what Griffey said when they asked him why only he and DJ were there.