CSNbbs

Seems a lot more solid that what we'd heard earlier in the week.

Time for Jeff Boals to come home.

CSN in Chicago was reporting about an hour ago that negotiations were being finalized now.

Actually, they just reported now that "reports are showing that John Groce has been hired as the next U of I head basketball coach. A press conference is scheduled again on Thursday to announce the hire."

Too bad for Ohio, but the next coach at Ohio is walking into a GREAT situation.

This should be an interesting hire. Ohio ought to have $ to pay the new hire.

(03-29-2012 02:56 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad for Ohio, but the next coach at Ohio is walking into a GREAT situation.

This should be an interesting hire. Ohio ought to have $ to pay the new hire.

I spoke to a guy who attended UI and supposedly in the know and he said it is a done deal..

I may be wrong but coach Groce is walking into a rough situation.. There's so, so, so much BS happening there with players (drinking, gangs, fighting, under table money/gifts ) kiss-ass environment, back-stabbing college board, politico-administration, Chicago high school coaches headache etc.. He don't know BS like he will know BS starting the 1st day as the head coach. If he is using it as a stepping stone to move into the big time good but he will have many sleepless nights.. With all that being said, I wish he good luck...

(03-29-2012 05:11 AM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 02:56 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad for Ohio, but the next coach at Ohio is walking into a GREAT situation.

This should be an interesting hire. Ohio ought to have $ to pay the new hire.

I spoke to a guy who attended UI and supposedly in the know and he said it is a done deal..

I may be wrong but coach Groce is walking into a rough situation.. There's so, so, so much BS happening there with players (drinking, gangs, fighting, under table money/gifts ) kiss-ass environment, back-stabbing college board, politico-administration, Chicago high school coaches headache etc.. He don't know BS like he will know BS starting the 1st day as the head coach. If he is using it as a stepping stone to move into the big time good but he will have many sleepless nights.. With all that being said, I wish he good luck...

Could not agree more. I’ll add to your list:
Walking into a situation with no University President
An AD with a job on life support
If Groce can’t beat UNC, Duke, Michigan State and Louisville for Jabari Parker, the Illini fans will want him out before he coaches his first game.

Whoa whoa...gifts, fighting, gangs, drinking? Where is the proof of any of this?

And no, Illinois fans will not want Groce out if he can't land Parker, he's already behind the 8-ball.

(03-29-2012 08:07 AM)FlashFan Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 05:11 AM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 02:56 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad for Ohio, but the next coach at Ohio is walking into a GREAT situation.

This should be an interesting hire. Ohio ought to have $ to pay the new hire.

I spoke to a guy who attended UI and supposedly in the know and he said it is a done deal..

I may be wrong but coach Groce is walking into a rough situation.. There's so, so, so much BS happening there with players (drinking, gangs, fighting, under table money/gifts ) kiss-ass environment, back-stabbing college board, politico-administration, Chicago high school coaches headache etc.. He don't know BS like he will know BS starting the 1st day as the head coach. If he is using it as a stepping stone to move into the big time good but he will have many sleepless nights.. With all that being said, I wish he good luck...

Could not agree more. I’ll add to your list:
Walking into a situation with no University President
An AD with a job on life support
If Groce can’t beat UNC, Duke, Michigan State and Louisville for Jabari Parker, the Illini fans will want him out before he coaches his first game.

How is the AD on life support? He just started. If Beckman and Groce win nobody will care that they came from MAC programs. Do you think the Cinci fans care that he hired Kelly and Jones from a MAC program? Especially after their run with Kelly?

Press conference in 40 minutes.

Illini fans need to know their role, shut up, and close ranks. They have a winner.

(03-29-2012 11:40 AM)CMUprof Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 08:07 AM)FlashFan Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 05:11 AM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 02:56 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad for Ohio, but the next coach at Ohio is walking into a GREAT situation.

This should be an interesting hire. Ohio ought to have $ to pay the new hire.

I spoke to a guy who attended UI and supposedly in the know and he said it is a done deal..

I may be wrong but coach Groce is walking into a rough situation.. There's so, so, so much BS happening there with players (drinking, gangs, fighting, under table money/gifts ) kiss-ass environment, back-stabbing college board, politico-administration, Chicago high school coaches headache etc.. He don't know BS like he will know BS starting the 1st day as the head coach. If he is using it as a stepping stone to move into the big time good but he will have many sleepless nights.. With all that being said, I wish he good luck...

Could not agree more. I’ll add to your list:
Walking into a situation with no University President
An AD with a job on life support
If Groce can’t beat UNC, Duke, Michigan State and Louisville for Jabari Parker, the Illini fans will want him out before he coaches his first game.

How is the AD on life support? He just started. If Beckman and Groce win nobody will care that they came from MAC programs. Do you think the Cinci fans care that he hired Kelly and Jones from a MAC program? Especially after their run with Kelly?

How is he on life support? Let’s see. He will soon get a brand new boss, ( Illinois is without a President), the Trustees are unhappy and the fans are behaving as though they are on the verge of a riot. The Chicago sports press leads everyday with a column about what they perceive as his incompetence.

Just started? This group of clowns forced out the University President in less than six months.

(03-29-2012 12:24 PM)JSF Wrote: [ -> ]Press conference in 40 minutes.

Illini fans need to know their role, shut up, and close ranks. They have a winner.

Agree they should. But, they won’t shut up and close ranks until Jabari Parker is in blue and orange and they are watching the Illini play in the Final Four. Then they’ll brag about their “diamond in the rough."

I would say Thomas is already on life support simply because his time at Illinois has not gone smoothly so far.

To recap:

He hired Beckman, who by all accounts is a great football coach and hire. However, two Illinois trustees voiced their displeasure about Illinois never having a minority head basketball or football coach.

When asked about Bruce Weber before the season ended, he gave the dreaded "no comment" response. Which set off a fire storm because everyone knew he was going to fire Bruce Weber unless they made a magical run and got into the postseason. He was then heavily criticized by Izzo in the media.

He attempted to hire Shaka and Stevens, fell flat on his face...and he should have known better than to go down that road publicly. He could have guaged their interest privately without the circus show. After they turned the job down, he decided to take the Trustees advice and reach out to minority coaches...of which at least 2 or 3 told him they weren't interested. That's a minimum of 4 or 5 coaches that turned down the head coaching position at a high profile University.

After all that, he finally started talking to Groce...which took him at least 3 days to wrap up. Social media descended upon this immediately and there were plenty of premature press conferences scheduled that never happened. We know Groce started talking to Illinois at least on Monday...and things didn't get wrapped up till late last night. Again, the whole process looked like a circus. Airport webcams being watched, twitter blowing up, false press conferences, etc...

Even though I think he knocked it out of the park with Beckman and Groce...it still isn't a smooth start...and neither football or basketball team has even played a game yet. If either struggles big time next year, Mr. Thomas will probably need to prepare his resume. It's unfortunate, but definately reality.

And today everyone seems to be happy with Groce. By not being on life support I mean he will have a few years to prove himself. People were praising him last week for hiring a very good WBB coach from UW-GB. I seriously doubt they go the road of firing a new AD less than 1 year into the job. The Trustees approved the hire, they would look foolish.

(03-29-2012 02:50 PM)CMUprof Wrote: [ -> ]And today everyone seems to be happy with Groce. By not being on life support I mean he will have a few years to prove himself. People were praising him last week for hiring a very good WBB coach from UW-GB. I seriously doubt they go the road of firing a new AD less than 1 year into the job. The Trustees approved the hire, they would look foolish.

Nothing they can do now but sit and wait for the 2012-13 seasons to play out.

What happens if WMU beats Illinois in football (we lost 23-20 at illinois last year)? Haters are gonna be out in full attack.

I don't see the basketball team struggling though. Too much talent coming back.

What was the buyout? Its always nice when big ten schools hand us checks.

200k

(03-29-2012 03:20 PM)EA3 Wrote: [ -> ]200k

Wow that is enough to pay 5 years worth of Charlie Coles salary for him to come to Athens....

(03-29-2012 12:49 PM)EA3 Wrote: [ -> ]He attempted to hire Shaka and Stevens, fell flat on his face...and he should have known better than to go down that road publicly.

He didn't say ANYTHING publicly, according to reports the leaks were from VCU and Butler, not Illinois..

(03-29-2012 09:18 PM)jons99 Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-29-2012 12:49 PM)EA3 Wrote: [ -> ]He attempted to hire Shaka and Stevens, fell flat on his face...and he should have known better than to go down that road publicly.

He didn't say ANYTHING publicly, according to reports the leaks were from VCU and Butler, not Illinois..

It doesn't matter who leaked the info. It matters that he was arrogant enough to think Shaka or Stevens would say yes despite knowing they've turned down previous offers. And in the end he got shot down, which makes the program look like they are nowhere near the commodity they think they are.

But neither had turned down (or seriously listened) to jobs as good as Illinois.. Seth Davis says Illinois is a top 10 job, I think its more like a top 15-20 job, a school like that should absolutely contact the best mid major options out there..