Bobcat Attack - Ohio Basketball - Nebraska eying Groce?

Ohio Basketball Topic

Topic: Nebraska eying Groce?

Page: 2 of 3

JSF

General User

Member Since: 1/29/2005

Location: Houston, TX

Post Count: 6,580

mail

JSF

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 12:09 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Brian Smith wrote:expand_more

Matta will steer Groce towards a spot he can succeed. Illinois is a great job, and as Self showed it can be a leap pad to a dream job. Nebraska is not that place.

Yep. There is something to the whole "play against Thad" thing. He'll do it for Illinois. Not for Nebraska.

OhioCatFan

General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Location: Athens, OH

Post Count: 15,699

mail

OhioCatFan

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 12:11 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Ozcat wrote:expand_more

. . . Given Groce's past, I think he will wait it out in Athens until the perfect job opens. I have a feeling it's not just about $$ with him. That will come with winning, but he wants a place that has tradition, history, and a commitment to winning. I just don't see that at all in Nebraska, where you'd always be second fiddle to football. {Emphasis Mine]

I have this same feeling, and have since he started here. I must admit it's not based on a whole lot of facts, just some little tidbits of information I've heard from locals who know him much better than I do. I think it's possible -- perhaps this is based on hope more than actual reliable information -- that he could turn out to be a Jim Snyder who turned down many an offer from bigger programs. Of course, he was an alumnus and JG is not. I do, though, get the sense that JG is less motivated by money than any coach we've had since Gentleman Jim. Time will tell if your "sense" and mine are correct or not. Until we find out differently, we can certainly hold out hope.

Last Edited: 3/14/2012 12:13:14 PM by OhioCatFan

MonroeClassmate

General User

Member Since: 8/31/2010

Post Count: 2,325

person

mail

MonroeClassmate

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 12:16 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Minnesota>Illinois opportunity wise?

Ozcat

General User

Member Since: 1/4/2005

Location: Gahanna, OH

Post Count: 820

mail

Ozcat

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 12:28 PM

settings_applications edit_note

MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more

Minnesota>Illinois opportunity wise?

Not a chance.

cc-cat

General User

Member Since: 4/5/2006

Location: matthews, NC

Post Count: 4,016

person

mail

cc-cat

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 1:29 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Illinois makes great sense if he is offered the job. as someone noted, it is not a "destination" job like the top teir: Kansas, UNC, Duke, Kentucky - but anyone who thinks any of those schools would ever offer their job to a mid-major coach is crazy. Short of a Mark Few like resume - no one would get a sniff - and that would have only happened when "he was the man." A move to the upper tier such as Illinois is a no-brainer.

lovebobcat

General User

Member Since: 12/23/2004

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Post Count: 548

person

mail

lovebobcat

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 9:59 PM

settings_applications edit_note

What none of us is mentioning is that other jobs will come open this offseason. They always do. There's always a flurry of movement after the tournament ends. April is when the coaching merry-go-round cranks up.

medler

General User

Member Since: 12/21/2004

Location: Chicago, IL

Post Count: 197

mail

medler

mail

Posted: 3/14/2012 10:21 PM

settings_applications edit_note

A problem with Illinois is that U of I alumni do not see themselves as a stepping stone. They claim to be a part of the elite. Therefore, they are banging down the doors for a big time name. While we know Groce and know of his passion, U of I fans will probably scorn at his name being mentioned.

Plus...U of I is a big mess right now. What remains are guys who have not been held accountable for anything and have difficulty staying the course. The alumni want every single kid to come from Chicago ti play for the Illini...even at the expense of the school's reputation. It's going to take a guy...ironically...like Groce (enthusiasm, passion, accountability) to turn the ship around.

I don't think he will go to U of I because there seems to be dead focus on a BIG name. This doesn't discount Groce as a candidate, but there's a lot of pressure to bring a name into Champaign that assures the alumni that Illinois is an important stop and not a step.

intrpdtrvlr

General User

Member Since: 7/8/2010

Post Count: 177

mail

intrpdtrvlr

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 11:28 AM

settings_applications edit_note

medler wrote:expand_more

But they also need a guy who's very good with stability and water-calming. Like you said, it's a mess over there. For all his success and merits, Groce doesn't strike me as that guy.

ou79

General User

O79

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Post Count: 671

person

mail

ou79

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 11:40 AM

settings_applications edit_note

Unless I am incorrect and I do not think I am, why would anyone want to go to a program (Nebraska) who has made only 6 ncaa tournament appearances in the last 74 years, and won zero. Of course, it could be for the money, but if you do go, save the money because that place is a coach's graveyard.

medler

General User

Member Since: 12/21/2004

Location: Chicago, IL

Post Count: 197

mail

medler

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 11:58 AM

settings_applications edit_note

intrpdtrvlr wrote:expand_more

medler wrote:expand_more

But they also need a guy who's very good with stability and water-calming. Like you said, it's a mess over there. For all his success and merits, Groce doesn't strike me as that guy.

It's not quite water calming, but I get what you're saying. I think it's bringing in some youthful energy to a program that has acted old and nostalgic for years.

U of I wants a big name to put a face on their nostalgia, but they need a guy to wake the fan base up and make them see their future in an enthusiastic light. They need a guy who wears his emotions in the open...because U of I loves the guy who is stoic in the storm. (it's a weird fan base)

Brian Smith (No, not that one)

General User

BSNNTO

Member Since: 2/4/2005

Post Count: 3,057

person

mail

Brian Smith (No, not that one)

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 2:25 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Did Groce pulling Cooper out of Chicago give him any inroads to Chitown recruiting? It doesn't seem like it's opened any sort of pipeline.

At least nothing like the rich stream of talent TOS pulled out of Minnesota.

cbus cat fan

General User

CCF

Member Since: 12/3/2011

Post Count: 1,169

person

mail

cbus cat fan

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 2:51 PM

settings_applications edit_note

One might want to consider the number of Division I basketball jobs compared to football jobs (I think is something like 3-1.) For example, schools like Dayton or Xavier that don't have Division I football programs probably pay their men's basketball coach 2-4 times what Coach Groce makes. I guess what I am trying to say is why would he leave for a perennial Big 10 dormat school when he could wait another year for a bigtime program or even another mid major that pays a lot more. Rarely has the cupboard been this full in Athens.

If he decides to stay, Coach Groce could have his pick of the lot next year. Even if he does leave, we surely can't descend into the depths of madness that we did when Coach Nee left us with two future NBA players and Coach Hahn somehow let us finish in the bottom of the MAC. At least if Coach Groce leaves, Coach Boals might be persuaded to return home. However, I sincerely hope that Coach Groce stays another year.

Voice of Reason

General User

Member Since: 7/29/2010

Post Count: 249

mail

Voice of Reason

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 3:34 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Perhaps Groce's relationship with Kendrick Nunn is of interest to Illinois? After all it couldn't hurt Illinois recruitment of Jabari Parker if Groce could come in and land Parker's teammate. With that said, I don't think Groce is at all a legitimate candidate at Illinois!

Lash

General User

Member Since: 2/16/2011

Post Count: 130

person

mail

Lash

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 4:56 PM

settings_applications edit_note

lovebobcat wrote:expand_more

It will be a tough offseason. I assume Groce will be a popular pick for any job.

Maybe we can agree that there is a ok chance that he won't take the Nebraska job if offered, but would take Illinois.

But what about Mississippi State or South Carolina???? There are more to come this month.

But for now, we should shut down this post while OHIO is still alive in the tournament.

brucecuth

General User

Member Since: 12/21/2004

Post Count: 1,855

person

mail

brucecuth

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 5:21 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Should Groce leave (I hope he doesn't) I would make the case that Schaus and co. should do a national search for the next h.c. Boals may very well be the guy--and in fact I hope he is! But we should not make assumptions.

Much as I would like to see Boals in Athens, I remember there were those 4 years ago who felt that there was no need for a search, that we had the man for the job on hand with ass't coach john rhodes. Hard to imagine that he could do a better job than Groce has done and he would have been hard pressed to just be his equal. We would have really missed out if we had just handed the job to him.

Again, Boals could be the guy. But this program is in such good shape now that we are gonna have good people willing to crawl here to take it. A thorough, unrushed search would be the best path to take, should the h.c. job become open.

Jerry86

General User

J86

Member Since: 12/19/2010

Post Count: 656

person

mail

Jerry86

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 5:50 PM

settings_applications edit_note

Lash wrote:expand_more

lovebobcat wrote:expand_more

South Carolina is looking at Gregg Marshall -- with his ties to Winthrop and being a native of SC. Capel and Amaker are also on the radar with Smart and Alford mentioned as more long shots.

OU_Country

General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005

Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County

Post Count: 8,401

mail

OU_Country

mail

Posted: 3/15/2012 11:29 PM

settings_applications edit_note

I would think the Illini also would be looking at Marshall.

brucecuth

General User

Member Since: 12/21/2004

Post Count: 1,855

person

mail

brucecuth

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 6:57 AM

settings_applications edit_note

does Iowa State's Fred Hoiberg, whose team took out defending champ UCONN, now become a viable option for either Nebraska or Illinois?

bornacatfan

General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006

Post Count: 5,752

mail

bornacatfan

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 8:37 AM

settings_applications edit_note

Isn't he an ISU alum?

My guess is they will do what they can to keep him in a highly competitive conference. I am not sure ISU is not greater than Nebraska anyway....those Iowans turn out and support their teams well, especially if they are winning.

colobobcat66

General User

C66

Member Since: 9/1/2006

Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO

Post Count: 4,744

person

mail

colobobcat66

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 8:52 AM

settings_applications edit_note

athena wrote:expand_more

Nothing against our HuskerCats, but go away, Nebraska.

When you see guys wearing Nebraska and Ohio gear at Ohio games at Missouri and Wyoming, I say more power to these guys.We need all the fans we can get.

intrpdtrvlr

General User

Member Since: 7/8/2010

Post Count: 177

mail

intrpdtrvlr

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 9:42 AM

settings_applications edit_note

bornacatfan wrote:expand_more

Yeah, I don't see that as a clear step up.

Attention and appraisals of people are fickle things. I think what sort of jobs Groce gets looked for will be strongly influenced by what happens this weekend.

colobobcat66

General User

C66

Member Since: 9/1/2006

Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO

Post Count: 4,744

person

mail

colobobcat66

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 9:56 AM

settings_applications edit_note

All this discussion about Nebraska BB being a graveyard for coaches reminds me of a few years ago and a discussion about Baylor football that was going on. They were looking for a new football coach and everybody on here was talking about what a hopeless job that was. How ironic that a few years later they win the Big 12 I believe, have the Heisman trophy winner and are fixing to build a new stadium. Definately not saying this is the right job for Groce,but I would not be so sure about their future in BB. Did anyone catch the Colorado score last night?

Last Edited: 3/16/2012 11:09:51 AM by colobobcat66

CATman

General User

Member Since: 11/17/2005

Post Count: 89

mail

CATman

mail

Posted: 3/16/2012 11:22 AM

settings_applications edit_note

I'd be hard pressed to see Groce jump at Nebraska. There's got to be a better job out there for him, if many of these AD's are starting to look at Groce as a "hot list" type of young coach.

Staying at Ohio in 2012 isn't going to hurt his coaching stock. The Bobcats are likely to easily win 20 games and will be a favorite to return to their 3rd NCAA tourney in 4 years. If anything, it will only give him more options.

Now, if he emerges as a candidate for Illinois (which I have no clue about), then I'd tell him to go. Illinois is a job you can win a national championship at. Those types of schools don't come calling every day.

Last Edited: 3/16/2012 11:24:14 AM by CATman

Tim Burke

General User