http://thehoopshouse.com/2011/06/18/ohio-states-brandon-miller-resigns/

Prez situation summed up by Dakich if anyone is interested...taken from the ever growing and fascinating Illini now 423 page thread...

"One thing going on at Illinois is the president situation," Dakich said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "As a coach, that's unsettling, particularly when you have a great job. For someone who doesn't have a great job, you go to Illinois and don't care about the president situation.

"But the whole president situation is really, really big for coaches. You have to have two things in place when you're a coach -- you have to have a great AD that you trust and you have to have a president you trust. You want the president and AD to be the guys who hired you. What exactly is going on there, I would imagine both Brad and Shaka looked at that, and that was probably as big of a factor as anything else."

Dakich: Illini prez situation a deterrent

I am pretty convinced that Coach may really get the riches but short of multiple Final Fours and a National Championship coming out of a meat grinder of a league he is set up to fail in the eyes of a rather fickle fanbase that has never really recovered from the recruting loss of Eric Gordon (courtesy of JG's bro Travis Steele) *ironic*

First off let me say I understand what Ohio fans are going through. You have a solid coach in coach Groce that appears to have the support of the Bobcat fans. Something Bruce Weber didn't have in his last 2 seasons.

I know what a pain it is to have another college come in and try to pry your coach away. When Bill Self was at Illinois, things were great. Then, Kansas comes lurking around. I knew, even though coach Self said he was staying, that he was going to leave.

I think what bothered me even more was the hatred towards Self that is STILL there among Illinois fans. My hope is that IF coach Groce comes to coach Illinois, that Ohio fans don't resent him.

Ok, now what really amazes me is that Illinois fans are so down on coach Groce. I feel he is EXACTLY what the Illinois basketball team needs. Illinois is a team that needs to be "coached up". I think coach Groce would do just that.

A good part of the fan base is of the belief that Illinois is a top 15 job and they can't understand why an "elite" coach wouldn't jump at the chance to come to Illinois. I could give MANY reasons, but I don't have an hour to spare.

Bobcat fans...as many of you have posted, it's the burden of being a mid-major. I understand (Illinois stole Tim Beckman as its' football coach as well).

Reading your posts, I have to commend you, I haven't seen the venom I thought I'd see. That speaks volumes.

IF coach Groce leaves, I'm sure with the talent you have, your next coach will succeed.

Besides, as crazy as this search has been for Illinois...they may end up with one of the 2 other guys being brought up for the job. Chris Collins and Reggie Theus (God forbid either one gets it).

The job is Groce's if he wants it. My guess is he is sleeping on it tonight. Tomorrow Ohio will be in discussion with a counter offer.  And we'll learn his decision tomorrow afternoon and possible presser set for Wed AM.

Fair enough! I was just thinking something besides Boals or Holtmann, not that Boals would be bad in my opinion.  

sigh....


http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-03-26/illinois-interested-in-ohios-coach-and-feeling-is-mutual 

Even though Kansas is one of the choice jobs in all of college basketball it's still a similar level to Illinois.  If the rumor was John Groce going to Illinois State I think our fanbase would be less forgiving.   The reality is that you can't fault a man for getting a salary about six times the salary he is currently making.  And it's not just about taking care of himself. He also can pay his assistants considerably more. If he's smart with his money his family is set.   I'm sure some people will be bitter towards him. I won't be one of those. I'll be rooting for him to do well. He's earned it.

And it's not that we are an easy fanbase to please either. Our last coach had a respectable record, took us to the NCAA tournament and we danced a jig when he left.  Your fanbase doesn't recognize it because they haven't paid attention but we know that John Groce was building a program not just a team. 

Unfortunately, the success of the next coach is hardly assured. Just ask Kent State. 

Via Twitter...

@tsnmike @AndyGlockner As Illinois grad and longtime follower of program, agree that John Groce is good fit. Illini might have lucked out.

@RealLennyChrist: Illinois fans grossly overestimate that job.” No. Grossly underestimating Groce.

@illinifan1280 No. Best fit, period. None of the real candidates had his combination of recruiting, coaching success.

Kansas is well above the level of what Illinois ever hopes to be.  While yes they did make a it to a final four in 2005 and 1989.  They can't compete in the B1G with the current one and done rule.  Coach Groce should hold out for something more stable.  Otherwise he may end up like Tommy Amaker who should also be considered for this job but due to his failure at UoM won't get a look.

WGN news just reported an offer was made to Groce and a decision should come tomorrow.

Kansas fans still haven't gotten over Roy Williams leaving, so...

What is?