I'm shocked he can't recruit better there. He would easily get another mid major job if they fired him.

As I have written in other threads, Groce has tended to recruit more than his share of knuckleheads (remember he brought Armon Bassett to Ohio), and he's paid the price. Kendrick Nunn was a top 25 player out of high school and I believe was all big 10 last year, but got kicked off the team after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. He's not the first kid to whom Groce has shown the door...

He has indicated in interviews that he's changed his philosophy. Kipper Nichols from Cleveland becomes eligible in December after transferring in last year, and Groce has raved about what a good fit he is on and off the court.

It may be too late. The Illini win total has gone down in each of his four years, so he probably has to make a big splash this year to make up for lost time. I did not see the W Va game, but the stats were terrible. Couldn't shoot, couldn't hit free throws, etc...

http://verbalcommits.com/schools/illinois

His recruiting class for next year is very good. The sophomore group is also pretty good.

Needs to win at least first round as well.

Knuckleheads eventually catch up with you. Yeah, sometimes you can win with them...more often than not, they eventually do you in. Maybe not in those words, but Groce has generally admitted that he's now emphasizing recruiting kids who are "good fits" on and off court.