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Topic: A quick thought on Groce/Illinois...
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born2bleedgreen
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:02 PM
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Chicken George wrote:expand_more
Most of the details are very different, but UM hiring RichRod from WVU, does have one potential similarity to the feel of this.  UM fans/alumni didn't want him from day one and he wasn't one of them.  Consequently, they didn't give him a chance and was eventually run out of town.  And like JG, RichRod was great with the media, charismatic, well spoken and had won everywhere he'd been.  No doubt had they embraced him, he would've won at UM.  They didn't, he didn't,  he's in Arizona and he wishes he was back at WVU.


I agree!  I hope Coach does well at UoI but that school does not deserve a man like him.  The way those fans have acted over the past few days gives a poor reflection of their whole school.  I give this thing 4.5 years as the over under and will end poorly due to over inflated expectation by fans who believe their school is Duke.  Wake up Illini fans you are not Duke, UNC, KANSAS or even Minnesota.  Good Luck Coach, you are going to need it!
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:02 PM
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illinidrew wrote:expand_more
Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?  Historically we are top-15 at worst.  Almost everything else would be a lateral move outside of the few true elites like UNC/Duke/Kentucky/Kansas.  If Groce is successful, he will have us back as a top program.

I have enjoyed reading this board and it seems full of mostly classy fans.  It sucks to lose your coach, and I feel for you guys.  I think he has left your program in good shape and I hope your team has great success going forward.  Hopefully most of you will not be bitter and enjoy seeing coach Groce succeed at Illinois, assuming the deal is done tomorrow.


Presently you're a train wreck, which is why you're on your 6th choice.  These are facts. It's a good program, but there's some work to do to get it back to where it was before. The present obviously matters more than the past in this search or you'd have Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens.

Most everyone (save a few complete idiots) are definitely going to wish Groce the best if this goes through. Can't fault someone for getting themselves a million dollar raise.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:03 PM
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illinidrew wrote:expand_more
[Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?


Actually .....ummmm...no....not like anyone is out there saying "It's Illinois"

ANd I am not going to argue with you .... I lived on the North side of Chicago for too many years and listened to my friends argue back and forth. Learned a long time ago you can't get those minutes of your life back once you have wasted them.  YOu can believe what you want and come here and try to shove it down our throats but it is your reality ....not the rest of the basketball world's
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:05 PM
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I think we realize we are a train-wreck, which is why Weber got shown the door and Groce is getting the job.  My point is if he IS successful, there is no reason to find a "good" high-major as he will be at one.    While it may look like a wreck right now, the right coach can turn it around very fast.  We are still chock full of top-100 talent on the roster and the #1 recruit in the nation has basically said he wants to come to Illinois but just needs someone to give him a reason too.  Hopefully Groce can show him a reason.
born2bleedgreen
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:06 PM
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Illinoisfan wrote:expand_more
(if true) 

but (again, if true) I hope JG is successful enough that he can ditch Illinois for a GOOD high-major program in 2-3 years.

edit: again, if all of this is true. Hopefully this is another case of Illinois reporters being illinois reporters.


Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?  Historically we are top-15 at worst.  Almost everything else would be a lateral move outside of the few true elites like UNC/Duke/Kentucky/Kansas.  If Groce is successful, he will have us back as a top program.

I have enjoyed reading this board and it seems full of mostly classy fans.  It sucks to lose your coach, and I feel for you guys.  I think he has left your program in good shape and I hope your team has great success going forward.  Hopefully most of you will not be bitter and enjoy seeing coach Groce succeed at Illinois, assuming the deal is done tomorrow.


I've been in on this thread for quite a while, and these Ohio fans are a classy bunch indeed. Know a lot about basketball, too. There will always be someone who dosen't like us, you know that.


Illinois not even a top 5 program in B1G.  Behind  MSU, Indiana, O$U, MU, Wisconsin and maybe on par with Minnesota someday.
OhioStunter
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:06 PM
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Could Groce end up being a Solich?

What I mean by that is IF he accepts the Illinois position that sets him and his family for life financially, does he return to Athens in 5-6 years to (continue to?) build the basketball program -- regardless of his performance at U of I?

With money not as much of a factor and his love for Athens, does he and his family enjoy the happiness of OU and the success of the Bobcats?

Not that I'm obsessed with having him be the coach or that he's the only guy for the job, but ask guys like Solich if they enjoy the role they are in now vs. when they were at schools like Nebraska. I know, it's very different, but that's the point.
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:09 PM
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illinidrew wrote:expand_more
(if true) 

but (again, if true) I hope JG is successful enough that he can ditch Illinois for a GOOD high-major program in 2-3 years.

edit: again, if all of this is true. Hopefully this is another case of Illinois reporters being illinois reporters.


Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?  Historically we are top-15 at worst.  Almost everything else would be a lateral move outside of the few true elites like UNC/Duke/Kentucky/Kansas.  If Groce is successful, he will have us back as a top program.

I have enjoyed reading this board and it seems full of mostly classy fans.  It sucks to lose your coach, and I feel for you guys.  I think he has left your program in good shape and I hope your team has great success going forward.  Hopefully most of you will not be bitter and enjoy seeing coach Groce succeed at Illinois, assuming the deal is done tomorrow.


Hmm, might I have been throwing in a little tongue-in-cheek sarcasm? Yes. (or to play devil's advocate, if you're really as elite as your fanbase in general seems to think, your AD wouldn't have wiffed on his first 5-6 attempts).

Allow me to clarify

No, Illinois isn't bad, historically. I hope JG is uber successful there, and then I hope he moves on up so I can root for him without feeling conflicted about his success pleasing an illini fan base that seems COMPLETELY UNDESERVING OF HIM and doesn't want him, given the class that's been demonstrated on the Illini fan boards, twitter, chicago media, etc. I would like to emphasize that most of the Illinois posters who have been here the last couple of days have been very respectful and some of them have been fun to have around; my comments about your fanbase being undeserving do not include you guys. 
whocaresgobobcats
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:10 PM
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Sigh

@GoodmanCBS: John Groce to Illinois is a done deal, source told CBSSports. News Conference likely tomorrow.

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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:11 PM
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OhioStunter
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:12 PM
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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead wrote:expand_more


I wanted to bump this awesome graphic up and also share some breaking news relevant to this: 

http://www.eonline.com/news/anchorman_sequel_will_ferrells_coming/304806
Last Edited: 3/28/2012 11:13:19 PM by OhioStunter
Illinoisfan
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:13 PM
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born2bleedgreen wrote:expand_more
Most of the details are very different, but UM hiring RichRod from WVU, does have one potential similarity to the feel of this.  UM fans/alumni didn't want him from day one and he wasn't one of them.  Consequently, they didn't give him a chance and was eventually run out of town.  And like JG, RichRod was great with the media, charismatic, well spoken and had won everywhere he'd been.  No doubt had they embraced him, he would've won at UM.  They didn't, he didn't,  he's in Arizona and he wishes he was back at WVU.


I agree!  I hope Coach does well at UoI but that school does not deserve a man like him.  The way those fans have acted over the past few days gives a poor reflection of their whole school.  I give this thing 4.5 years as the over under and will end poorly due to over inflated expectation by fans who believe their school is Duke.  Wake up Illini fans you are not Duke, UNC, KANSAS or even Minnesota.  Good Luck Coach, you are going to need it!


I've accepted many of the jabs i've seen at Illinois on here, but what i bolded/underlined was over the top.

Illinois, historically, is 13th in winning percentage, has 29 NCAA Tournament apperances, 11 Sweet 16's, 9 Elite Eights, 5 Final Fours, and one National runner up, and 19 Big Ten Conference championships.

Minnesota - 7 NCAA Tournament apperances (Illinois has 22 more), 4 Sweet 16's (Illinois has 7 more), 1 Elite Eights (Illinois has 8 more), 0 Final Fours (Illinois has 5 more), 8 Conference championships (Illinois has 11 more)

Even if you count all of Minnesota's vacated stats, Illinois has more accomplishments. Sorry, I just can't let you get away so easily with that one.

Regardless of this, Best of luck to Ohio basketball as it continues into surely another great season. 
Last Edited: 3/28/2012 11:17:54 PM by Illinoisfan
anorris
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:17 PM
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OhioStunter wrote:expand_more


I wanted to bump this awesome graphic up and also share some breaking news relevant to this: 

http://www.eonline.com/news/anchorman_sequel_will_ferrells_coming/304806
Will Ferrell is playing jazz (soft J) flute on Conan right now.
Chicken George
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:22 PM
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NCAA Selection Committee likes to have some fun at times with matchups.  How about #8 seed OHIO vs. #9 Illinois next year?  Now that would be fun!
Last Edited: 3/28/2012 11:23:44 PM by Chicken George
Power 105
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:25 PM
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PODCAST: Athens Messenger beat writer Jason Arkley and Ohio color broadcaster Rob Cornelius discuss the wacky week that has been #GroceWatch, give their takes on the Illinois side of things, and the impact on the Bobcat Hoops season: http://wxtq.com/?p=8337
CATman
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:25 PM
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illinidrew wrote:expand_more
Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?  Historically we are top-15 at worst. 


I keep hearing Illinois fans say this and I'm still having trouble understanding why this is even remotely the case. 

I have a lot of respect for their tradition but top 15? Illinois has never won a national championship in basketball. How are you a "top-15 at worst" program when you have only been to a single national title game? And have zero national championships? 

I suppose you're in the conversation but Illinois has been on a slow decline for 7 years now. Double digit losses in 6 straight seasons, 3 of which were 15+ loss seasons. A (50-56) conference record since 2006, 2 NCAA tournament appearances in 5 years (one of which was undeserved), only 2 NCAA wins since making the 2005 Final 4, 0 sweet 16's and what appears to be a rather fractured administration.  

Illinois is kind of teetering on that precipice where they could vanish in to obscuurity if everyone doesn't get behind JG. 


mf279801
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:25 PM
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Looks like I picked a hell of a day to quit smoking 
Jerry86
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:25 PM
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Sounds like players still have not been told.

From a couple of minutes ago:

RT : I wish someone would tell me something... "We" deserve it! -- This. Bummer man.

If true then I'd say JG made a mistake by not informing the guys who played so hard for him these past few years. They do NOT deserve to hear this as we do.
Bobcat Debate 73
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:26 PM
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I am assuming that our AD has been working behind the scenes on a Plan B.  I would love to get our new coach in quick order.  Would be nice to have our presser on next Monday with someone 73 miles away.  Did well last time pulling someone off Ohio A & M's staff. 
mf279801
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:27 PM
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...or drinking...
OhioStunter
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:28 PM
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anorris wrote:expand_more


I wanted to bump this awesome graphic up and also share some breaking news relevant to this: 

http://www.eonline.com/news/anchorman_sequel_will_ferrells_coming/304806
Will Ferrell is playing jazz (soft J) flute on Conan right now.


That's just true serendipity.
born2bleedgreen
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:28 PM
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Illinoisfan wrote:expand_more
Most of the details are very different, but UM hiring RichRod from WVU, does have one potential similarity to the feel of this.  UM fans/alumni didn't want him from day one and he wasn't one of them.  Consequently, they didn't give him a chance and was eventually run out of town.  And like JG, RichRod was great with the media, charismatic, well spoken and had won everywhere he'd been.  No doubt had they embraced him, he would've won at UM.  They didn't, he didn't,  he's in Arizona and he wishes he was back at WVU.


I agree!  I hope Coach does well at UoI but that school does not deserve a man like him.  The way those fans have acted over the past few days gives a poor reflection of their whole school.  I give this thing 4.5 years as the over under and will end poorly due to over inflated expectation by fans who believe their school is Duke.  Wake up Illini fans you are not Duke, UNC, KANSAS or even Minnesota.  Good Luck Coach, you are going to need it!


I've accepted many of the jabs i've seen at Illinois on here, but what i bolded/underlined was over the top.

Illinois, historically, is 13th in winning percentage, has 29 NCAA Tournament apperances, 11 Sweet 16's, 9 Elite Eights, 5 Final Fours, and one National runner up, and 19 Big Ten Conference championships.

Minnesota - 7 NCAA Tournament apperances (Illinois has 22 more), 4 Sweet 16's (Illinois has 7 more), 1 Elite Eights (Illinois has 8 more), 0 Final Fours (Illinois has 5 more), 8 Conference championships (Illinois has 11 more)

Even if you count all of Minnesota's vacated stats, Illinois has more accomplishments. Sorry, I just can't let you get away so easily with that one.

Regardless of this, Best of luck to Ohio basketball as it continues into surely another great season. 


I'll be watching Minnesota tomorrow night in the NIT.  While you count the number of appearances you had in the past.  Hope Groce does well, but I would bet your weekly pay at McDonald's that OU does better than UoI next year.
mf279801
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:29 PM
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...and it was definitely a bad day to stop sniffing glue


GoCats105
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:30 PM
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Just to rattle off 15 or so programs before I'd even start thinking about Illinois...

-Duke
-UNC
-Kansas
-Kentucky
-Syracuse
-Ohio State
-Michigan State
-UCLA
-UConn
-Louisville
-Arizona
-Indiana
-Florida
-Wisconsin
-NC State/Wake Forest/Marquette/Memphis/Gonzaga/Xavier/Purdue............I could probably go on...
born2bleedgreen
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:31 PM
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Chicken George wrote:expand_more
NCAA Selection Committee likes to have some fun at times with matchups.  How about #8 seed OHIO vs. #9 Illinois next year?  Now that would be fun!


I think UoI owes us a 1 for 1 where they come here first.  Would take that over the 200K buy out!
Illinoisfan
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Posted: 3/28/2012 11:32 PM
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CATman wrote:expand_more
Really?  Illinois is not a GOOD high-major?  Historically we are top-15 at worst. 


I keep hearing Illinois fans say this and I'm still having trouble understanding why this is even remotely the case. 

I have a lot of respect for their tradition but top 15? Illinois has never won a national championship in basketball. How are you a "top-15 at worst" program when you have only been to a single national title game? And have zero national championships? 

I suppose you're in the conversation but Illinois has been on a slow decline for 7 years now. Double digit losses in 6 straight seasons, 3 of which were 15+ loss seasons. A (50-56) conference record since 2006, 2 NCAA tournament appearances in 5 years (one of which was undeserved), only 2 NCAA wins since making the 2005 Final 4, 0 sweet 16's and what appears to be a rather fractured administration.  

Illinois is kind of teetering on that precipice where they could vanish in to obscuurity if everyone doesn't get behind JG. 




Groce won't have support until he earns it here, not everyone is going to be behind him. Many feel he isn't ready for the job, myself included. It's not going over well with a lot of fans, It's about 50 - 50 % depending on who you ask, but generally most people feel like our AD struckout for the 2nd time.

If this guy is as good as you lot think he is, it should be fine, and maybe some of the disapproval of him is not warranted, but nonetheless he is the coach of Illinois basketball and will have the fans behind him in the stands.
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