http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=22913

I've wondered the same thing. As you say though, we'll never know the real answer to that question. Personally, though, I think there's a tremendous upside to Saul Ball, so I'm not crying over spilled milk.

I'm Danny's Knee .. BANG !!

I really believe that JG felt that he made the right move. Coach G is a very positive person therefore he will never look back. At the same time I do believe SP feels strongly about his staying for a longer tenure. He has a plan and he feels very comfortable in the Ohio environment. His salary is not millions, but very comfortable with upcoming bonus payments in his road to success.

There are some examples of coaches in the MAC that have had success with greener grass in football, but most coaches who have move to greener grass in basketball have not fared very well. Not sure why this occurs, but SP needs to look at the history of MAC basketball coaches.
Former Football coaches moving to greener grass with some success
Ball State--1 coach (has since been fired)
Bowling Green--3 coaches and 1 fired coach
Buffalo--1 coach (fired, but now back to lower level)
Central Mich.--3 coaches one ended up to be SEC Commissioner
Kent--2 coaches
Miami--6 coaches and several assistants
Northern Ill--3 coaches
Ohio 1 coach and several assistants
Toledo-3 coaches
Western Mich--1 fired coach
From this list three are "national champions"

Former Basketball coaches moving to greener grass with some success
Bowling Green 1 fired coach (has had the most success)
Buffalo--1 coach
Kent--4 coaches (3 have since been fired, but one is back as HC)
Miami--1 coach ( has since been fired)
Ohio--3 coaches and 1 fired coach (1 has been fired)

This list could be corrected

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Please, do. I'm curious.

Bradds is averaging almost 18 and 9 against far better competition than we've played this year. Why didn't he come to OU again?

Thanks Andrew and that could have laid the foundation for OU becoming a big time program on a consistent basis. The wild card though is coaching salary and we just aren't going to lay out Illinois money.

were rodell and nehemias Christian recruits post Groce? Amazing that Fuss came with Groce and is still in the Convo. Weathered the storms and still gives us some continuity

So did Christian.

With regard to the discussion on what might have been if Coach Danny Nee stayed a while in Athens. Some years ago I believe it was the last millennium; I recall reading somewhere, that Danny Nee stated (and I am paraphrasing) that the only reason he left Ohio was to pursue his dream of a national championship, which he felt he could not win competing in the MAC.

He went on to state that he didn't believe that anymore, because in hindsight he felt he could have created a powerhouse. This was an interesting comment because he coached Ohio during the Eldon Miller era at Ohio State when the Buckeyes were not the power they later became. Imagine Ohio building a powerhouse to compete with Gary Williams when he was in Columbus. It is amazing to think what could have been.

Coach Nee's comments are particularly interesting when one realizes they were made before the advent of the tournament runs of Butler and Wichita State. If he would have stayed through what would have been the Hahn and Hunter era, it is certainly interesting to speculate what might have been.

Danny also said that in retrospect, Ohio was the best job he had.

He was a Marine Vietnam vet, too.

First head coaching jobs for both, and transformational success for both.

Many people look back at their first loves the same way. That doesn't mean marrying them would have necessarily been a good idea.

He's had more serious injuries to key players & last minute recruiting defections than you'd expect for a program to experience in 10 years, let alone the few he's been at ILL. It's hurt the results quite a bit. It's almost kind of like a curse.

But in the end, he's gotta win more regardless the circumstances. Hopefully it happens soon so he doesn't have to make another move. I'm hoping he can pull a B10 win off tomorrow in Columbus.