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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: TOS to Butler
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Ted Thompson
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Posted: 3/16/2026 5:15 PM
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Matta retires. Groce landing spot?
GraffZ06
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Posted: 3/16/2026 7:13 PM
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Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
Matta retires. Groce landing spot?
Very well could be Groce.

Could have been Jeff succeeding his mentor if he wanted it and had done better the last couple years.

Not sure how appealing that job is long-term. Butler has been getting their teeth knocked in pretty regularly since Holtmann left in 2017.
FJC31
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Posted: 3/16/2026 7:50 PM
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I’d say Steele before Groce. Steele is a Butler Alum.
GraffZ06
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Posted: 3/16/2026 8:33 PM
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FJC31 wrote:expand_more
I’d say Steele before Groce. Steele is a Butler Alum.
Could be as well - but Steele feels like a better fit for UC to me.
FJC31
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Posted: 3/16/2026 8:41 PM
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GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
I’d say Steele before Groce. Steele is a Butler Alum.
Could be as well - but Steele feels like a better fit for UC to me.
UC will go Calhoun from Utah State. He’s the closest thing to Huggins (former assistant at WVU) that still remains.
Last Edited: 3/16/2026 8:45:19 PM by FJC31
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 3/16/2026 8:56 PM
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Oh, man. Thanksgiving is gonna get weird.

Talk about timing.

4 months ago this job was earmarked for Groce. Still say it should go to him.



Travis Steele, Welcome (back) to Hinkle.
Last Edited: 3/16/2026 8:57:19 PM by M.D.W.S.T
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 3/16/2026 11:03 PM
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Just don't know how Butler fans would feel after Steele didn't get it done at Xavier.
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/16/2026 11:49 PM
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Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
Just don't know how Butler fans would feel after Steele didn't get it done at Xavier.
Ditto for UC.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 3/17/2026 8:18 AM
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Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
Just don't know how Butler fans would feel after Steele didn't get it done at Xavier.
Same can be said for John Groce at Illinois though. This is a pretty crazy storyline with these 2 brothers. I feel like we don't talk about it enough, the story probably gets lost in the different last names and being half bros, but it's pretty insane. The MAC a two bid league for the first time in forever, coached by brothers, whose teams went 35-0 when not playing each other. And now potentially interviewing for the same job(s).
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 3/17/2026 9:36 AM
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Steele or Groce is fine with me. No matter who it gets of the two they can take their guys with them. If Steele leaves I can almost guarantee that at the very least two of Byers, Elmer, Perry or Kirby leaves with him. If it's Groce then I think Eric Mahaffey and Young could go with him (he does lose a ton of senior leadership). Both have earned the shot and both sucked at High Major previously. I think Steele was better at X than Groce was Illinois. Was always hoping Boals would follow his boy Matta but he screwed the pooch the last two years. Maybe Kron would give him a look if Dustin Ford isn't promoted if Groce goes.
shabamon
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Posted: 3/17/2026 9:59 AM
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Is Butler a top half of the Big East job?
FJC31
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Posted: 3/17/2026 10:30 AM
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Adam Zagoria tweeted Groce (among a list of others) is involved with the BC job. Some have interviewed on campus already.
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Posted: 3/17/2026 10:36 AM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
Is Butler a top half of the Big East job?
Squints...probably not?
Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 3/18/2026 10:36 AM
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BC?

Now THAT'S a black hole.
JSF
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Posted: 3/18/2026 11:30 AM
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I’ll never forget meeting Matta at Butler in 2021. He could not have been more unhappy to be recognized.
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 3/25/2026 9:39 AM
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FJC31
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Posted: 3/25/2026 9:56 AM
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Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
Butler is expected to hire former Bulldogs player and NBA assistant Ronald Nored, source told https://twitter.com/TheFieldOf68?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw .

Nored, 36, was briefly an assistant at Northern Kentucky before spending the last decade in the NBA with the Long Island Nets, the Hornets, Pacers and with the Hawks.…— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/20367976288604939...
Good sign for MAC. Idk that Groce ever leaves at this stage in his career. Steele could also be comfortable at Miami, especially with the incoming arena and more inevitable realignment.
FJC31
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Posted: 3/25/2026 10:17 AM
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FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Butler is expected to hire former Bulldogs player and NBA assistant Ronald Nored, source told https://twitter.com/TheFieldOf68?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw .

Nored, 36, was briefly an assistant at Northern Kentucky before spending the last decade in the NBA with the Long Island Nets, the Hornets, Pacers and with the Hawks.…— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/20367976288604939...
Good sign for MAC. Idk that Groce ever leaves at this stage in his career. Steele could also be comfortable at Miami, especially with the incoming arena and more inevitable realignment.
Steele was never pursued by Butler

https://x.com/char_cliff/status/2036802227197583841?s=46&...
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 3/25/2026 10:39 AM
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FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Butler is expected to hire former Bulldogs player and NBA assistant Ronald Nored, source told https://twitter.com/TheFieldOf68?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw .

Nored, 36, was briefly an assistant at Northern Kentucky before spending the last decade in the NBA with the Long Island Nets, the Hornets, Pacers and with the Hawks.…— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/20367976288604939...
Good sign for MAC. Idk that Groce ever leaves at this stage in his career. Steele could also be comfortable at Miami, especially with the incoming arena and more inevitable realignment.
I never saw Groce as Akron's Solich, but good for him if he stays. Groce is still in his early 50's. It just feels like hes been around forever because he was at OU in his 30's. I still think he has some P5 offers in his future. I think he wants to prove he can be successful somewhere like the Big 10, but maybe hes comfortable being the highest paid coach in the MAC, with almost no pressure at all. Though constantly losing in the NCAA Tournament is probably eating at him.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/25/2026 10:51 AM
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FJC31 wrote:expand_more
. . .Steele was never pursued by Butler.
Probably because word got around that he wasn't interested.
shabamon
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Posted: 3/25/2026 10:53 AM
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Groce and Steele staying put forces our hand to raise the standard and investment at Ohio.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/25/2026 11:04 AM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
Groce and Steele staying put forces our hand to raise the standard and investment at Ohio.
Exactly!
FJC31
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Posted: 3/25/2026 5:34 PM
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Samurai Hoops is pretty dialed in. Sounds like Groce was heavy in the mix for USF before Mack got it.

https://x.com/samurai_hoops/status/2036903802964418850?s=...
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