Here is one thing that I haven't seen discussed to date:

I would highly question whether Groce wants to play Matta twice a year for the foreseeable future. More specifically, I would question whether he even wants to play him at all, forget about twice a year in a hotly contested B1G.

This is certainly not an uncommon phenomenon. Guys like Roy Williams never wanted to play Dean Smith, Crean doesn't play Izzo, Howland doesn't play Dixon, and the list goes on. There's obviously a special bond formed, the point your entire scheduling philosophy is altered b/c of the opposing Coach.

It's really odd to me, but I'm obviously in a completely different world. I can't see Steve Jobs saying he would stay out of the tablet PC business b/c he had a personal friendship with Mark Hurd at HP several years back.

My point is that this protege/mentor dynamic is a strong one that bears discussing. I have said all along, it's not Illinois that scares me this year. It's the other crazy stuff that is yet to come on the coaching carousel. This stuff goes on into the summer, and I can almost guarantee we will see several more, plum jobs open up soon. 

Take Kansas State for example. They're going to lose Frank Martin. It would be a perfect landing spot for Groce. They'll pay. It's a good college town. He'll be able to recruit there. They have facilities. Again, not saying it will happen - but right now, Illinois is not my chief concern - and the Matta thing has a big part in that.

LOVE

We know that Groce and Matta have each said they don't ever want to play a real game against each other...but I think it's more likely the Matta health issues could play a role.  

Does Groce stay at Ohio while waiting for Matta's back issues to force him to retire?  Has Matta ever said, "John, I think I got another 2 years in me, after that, I'm recommending you for my replacement."  If Groce leaves now, does Boals turn down an Ohio offer with hopes of OSU staying in house and promoting him to the lead chair?

I don't think OSU will go the assistant coach route. Wasn't Randy Ayers an assistant to Gary Williams? When Matta. retires OSU will go after another head coach with a track record as a head coach. If Groce were to stay, I think it's a no brainer that OSU would go after him. I also feel that if/when Groce leaves Boals is a logical fit.


Another thought is if Groce leaves would Geno Ford be interested? I have heard his package at Bradly is in the $700,000 range. It would be a lateral move but it would be to a program in solid shape plus the school he graduated from. I doubt he we ever consider another mid- major. There is no way he could go from Kent to Ohio but he could go from Bradley to Ohio. I don't know how I even feel about it.

Thoughts?

If we're giving anyone the job with the last name Ford his first name will be Dustin. Just my opinion.

Geno would not be a step up from Coach Groce.

D.j Cooper ‏ @djcoop5

Gm twit fam. Didn't wake up to the best of news today😳

I agree he is not. Like I said, I have some mixed feelings on it just curious what others thought. I am confident Groce wouldn't leave Ohio for a Bradley type position which is the biggest reason for the mixed feelings. It's a trust issue.

Just read that too...Smith also had a tweet earlier that was somewhat depressing. No bueno.

For fun...the folks at Illinoi Loyalty are following the web cam at the Champaign airport and have noticed a private jet from Columbus and a hurried exit to a waiting car....

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=17...

LOL. The plane hasn't even landed yet.

Saw that too, Mike. Man this will eat away at me if it happens. Don't like seeing the tweets from Smith and Coop. Not good.

Not just midmajors. I'm sure they were following Self's plane to Lawrence, Kansas.

Evan Bradds tweeting that he's getting a little nervous about all of this.