gatnom

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Apr 5, 2017 -> 03:43 PM) You can't get out of an NLI if your coached stayed, so the whole "groce couldn't keep him" shtick doesn't quite work. But I agree, long term we are in a good position with Underwood. There's no guarantee for either Illinois or Mizzou with our coaches, but I like our position. Ah, I figured the school could release you from the agreement whenever. Obviously, would look a bit shadier without having the cover of the coach leaving.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Apr 5, 2017 -> 03:29 PM) Come on now bmags. This is the default setting for some portion of EVERY fanbase. To state that it's unique to Illinois is silly. As to Tilmon, I'll echo what plenty of people on here already have said. THIS recruitment was dirty when Illinois got his verbal. It was dirty when they fought off Ford and SLU on Signing Day. And it's dirty now when he wants out. It's ridiculous that Illinois has had to go through this with Tilmon three times. Honestly, I'm not even that mad about it. We knew that firing Groce had a good chance of causing Tilmon to leave, and quite frankly, it's hard to even imagine him staying with Groce at this point. Does it suck that Tilmon strung us along for so long? Of course. But, I'd take Underwood over Cuonzo Martin + whatever recruits he could guarantee, and with that point of view, I'm not worried about short term losses like Tilmon, 5* or not.

I've been on the losing end of "Illinois fans aren't any worse than other fans" battle enough to know I should stay out of that argument haha. But, I will say that the Braggin' Rights game should be pretty fun this year.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 01:34 PM) I like this deal more than most of the Astros deals thrown around here, but man, WE NEED BATS! I'll be honest, outside of Meadows (which is not happening obviously), the Pirates are an awful match for Q, IMO. Glasnow screams reliever, and Newman seems like a lower ceiling Tim Anderson to me. Just don't see a realistic fit with them that makes sense with what we want. Obviously, you take the most talent you can get and let it work itself out, but I'd be shocked if that was coming from the Pirates.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Mar 16, 2017 -> 10:32 AM) Source? Derek Piper posted something like that on the Premium boards.

I have to say, I like the "Blight Sox" tag.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 15, 2017 -> 05:22 PM) That is my current state for sure haha Tilmon would also be in play if they can nab Jamall Walker from Illinois.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 15, 2017 -> 03:37 PM) Snelling is a mizzou sbnation writer and he does have a pretty good connection of coaches and agents for rumors. But, even so, I just can't see Bennett leaving UVA. I've heard similar things from more Illinois connected news outlets (though their sources could easily overlap). I will say this does sound a lot like the hubris that was spewed from the donor crowds during the search for the new AD. "I'm going to go out to Rick George with a blank check, and I'm not going to take no for an answer!" And then he publicly denied them several times.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 15, 2017 -> 03:04 PM) If that is the actual price that seems like a huge overreach in terms of money. I don't think Illinois was very interested in him and NC State certainly isn't. Plus Cuonzo seemed desperate to get out of Cal since he knows he is leaving a garbage roster in his wake next year. 2 NCAA tournaments in 9 years for 3.5 mil when he was worse than his predecessor at both Tennessee and Cal? Yikes. In his defense, the situation at Tennessee was toxic. And, a lot of people think he will kill it in recruiting back in this geographical area. $3.5 mil is an overpay, but I like the hire in general for Mizzou. That said, I want him nowhere near Illinois if possible.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2017 -> 02:35 PM) I wonder where he places in the Illinois top 5? Obviously the usual caveats about internet rumors apply, but this is something that's been floating around:

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 10:48 AM) He makes 3.3. I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong if he goes to Illinois but I don't see it. But I've been wrong in this thread once or 428483928492 billion times. I don't think so either, though it does sound like they're going to try.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 10:42 AM) Good point. When Wichita State can pay a coach 1.5 million, you are basically only leaving for a good situation. Marshall always listens, but now that his kids are in college, I think he would leave for a big payday. I believe he actually makes more than double that, due to the Koch brothers.

I think Illinois getting turned down a lot is more a function in how the coaching game is different today than it was 10+ years ago. Guys at lower level schools can make millions while still being able to make deep tournament runs every year. You don't need to be at a high major school to be a wealthy or successful coach anymore, so guys have extremely short lists of "dream job" type locations that they would leave their comfortable situations for. I've heard Gregg Marshall is actually pretty open to listening after his current team got snubbed with a 10 seed. Will that mean he ends up at Illinois? Probably not. Wouldn't be surprised to see him end up at an Indiana or something, though.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Mar 9, 2017 -> 01:24 PM) No one associated with this coaching staff should stay, regardless of the recruits they can or can't keep. This program needs a full on rebuild. I want no stink left on the program from this terrible staff. It wasn't just the lack of development, it was the complete no shows time after time after time. They just had 2 play in, must win games and they couldn't get up for either of them. That's pathetic and directly attributable to the coaching staff. Either they can't coach or the players have tuned them out. Either way, they all have to go. Should be 100% the next coach's decision. If he wants to clean house, you absolutely let him. If he thinks keeping a coach around to keep the recruiting class together is a good idea, you let him do that.

Word on the street is that assistant coach Jamall Walker has the keys to Tilmon. So, if the new coach retains him, it's possible that Illinois could hold on to Tilmon. Hard to say what a guy like Frazier would do.

Classic Groce.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Mar 2, 2017 -> 12:09 PM) The only thing I'm worried about is some of the chatter that Illinois has had zero success in gaining interest from a top level coach (Bennett, etc). So then it leaves us with Cuonzo Martin and Monty Williams as the leading targets, both have HUGE questions marks. I'm not thrilled about keeping Groce, I still think it's the right move to get a new coach, but I think we are learning very quickly between the Groce hire and those who are interested now that this is not a top job anymore. So we are really going to have to rely on Whitman's ability to find the next guy, not so much as "guy x fell into our laps" or "pay this man what he wants". I'd love Monty Williams, but I don't think that's a realistic scenario. I didn't like Martin as a candidate before his team started playing its way off the bubble, and it's even harder to get excited about him now. Hate to see him go to Mizzou, though.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 02:33 PM) Whoa, missed that Glasnow featured as one of their best starters. Considering how willing they are to part with him, I don't think the Pirates agree. Put me in the "Pirates are a bad fit" camp.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 02:56 PM) What's the initial take from people regarding the return? Fair, overwhelmed, underwhelmed? Fair trade for the most part. A little disappointed they weren't able to get a fifth player in the deal, though.

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 24, 2016 -> 05:28 PM) Not sure how much it would've mattered but Kendrick Nunn seems missed. I still can't believe Tate is on a D1 roster. Yet somehow Groce looks at him every day in practice and thinks "this guy should get starter's minutes."

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Nov 21, 2016 -> 09:00 PM) John f***ing Groce. With 22 turnovers against Winthrop at home, the West Virginia game could get ugly.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 10, 2016 -> 10:31 AM) I saw a tweet from another exec who stated the same. That being the case, who knows...I think if someone gets proactive and offers something we really like for Sale or Q, it might just happen at any time. My fear is we start moving Melky and others, and in the meantime, while we are putzing around, the Rays move Archer to the Dodgers, or the Tigers move Verlander to Boston, and suddenly, we have no market anymore. Plus, I'm not sure just moving Melky, etc. does a whole lot in terms of our long term outlook. Are we really going to get back much of anything for these guys?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 9, 2016 -> 04:33 PM) You really think they are paying him? More than Illinois is, at least.

It's happening. The Gregoning is really happening.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Nov 8, 2016 -> 09:28 PM) What a terrible f***ing year. Lebron wins, the Cubs win, Trump may win, and we have Snyder 2.0. If he walks goodbye Groce. No reason to keep him around without a program changing recruit in the fold. Why not just let the players have 2016? You can fire him when all the other coaches are available.