RockRaines

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 29, 2012 -> 09:07 AM) Averaging 10 assists a game in college basketball is almost impossible. Add in the fact IU plays in the Big 10 with a lot of quality defenses, and I would say it would be impossible for Ferrell to average 10 assists a game. Kendall Marshall is one of the best passers I've ever seen in college basketball, and he averaged 9.7 assists per game for a run and gun offense with NBA quality players around him. As for the McDonald's game last night, the talent level continues to dwindle it seems. Shabazz was pretty impressive, but after that, the talent level quickly faded. Never seen so many missed dunks by players simply not elevating high enough. Scouts absolutely ripped on this class all week, saying they've never seen so few potential pros on the McD roster. This class is pretty weak after the first handful.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 09:21 PM) Is Matta really going to retire that soon? He's not that old. He was almost done mid year this year. He's in a ton of pain, couldnt even climb the ladder to cut down the nets without two guys holding him up. He is grooming Chris Jent to take over.

Mike Thomas only hires from the OSU coaching tree apparently. I kid. This is a hire where you hope the guy is here a LONG time if he's successful. Unfortunately like I said before, this probably means Jeff Boals is gone to OU from our bench.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 07:16 PM) Anyone see the story on Fox yesterday about DePaul possibly building an arena on the NW corner of Fullerton and Sheffield? I don't know where they would put the cars, but I'd go to games. Yeah, where would an arena go? The NW corner is a strip mall, and not nearly a large enough plot of land. It would be easy access to the EL though.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 07:09 PM) Well I'd say that's just semantics. The guy has done well in tournaments. I've given him that. But if were going for a non exciting hire I would like some more stability and the greater picture doesn't seem to reflect that. Right, but thats the way champs are crowned in that league, kind of like the new Big Ten in football. And I get the frustration, like I said earlier I prefer Chris Jent taking over for Matta when he's done in the next couple of years over someone like Groce. I would be incredibly disappointed to hire Groce.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:59 PM) Those places are actually better than what Groce has done, considering Groce has finished at best third in his division, I believe once. Yeah but in the MAC the champs are crowned in the tourney so actually he has 2 to the previous staff's one.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:32 PM) It finally just clicked in my head that the Final Four will be played in the Superdome. I understand the need to sell as many tickets as possible, but these huge football domes just seem like awful basketball venues, for players & fans alike. How f-ing hard do you think it is to shoot in that place? I would airball every shot.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:44 PM) Fwiw, Groce didn't inherit a mess. He inherited a program that won 80 games the previous four years(he's improved on that, but just saying) 3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd in their half of the MAC under the previous coach. 1 tourney appearance and first round exit. Ohio was an afterthought in the MAC. Groce is trending up big time at least in that conference. Doesnt make him a great hire, but he didnt take over even a halfway decent program, they were improving from bottom of the barrel, but thats about it. They are my alma mater's main rival FYI.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:29 PM) I'd rather not lose Jerrance for John Groce, that's for sure. I dont get this at all. Groce has shown to be as good of if not a better recruiter than Howard. What does Howard bring to the table that Groce doesnt other than he played for Illinois.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:19 PM) So he's a great basketball mind and a great recruiter, how come no other schools are interviewing him for a head job? I think his popularity is back up QB syndrome. Why did Weber get fired? Coaching? Recruiting?My google search says he was turned down or not considered for the Bradley job.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 05:17 PM) I was using RSCI. Anyways, it takes some perspective. We were landing absolutely nothing before he came in. He alone has landed 3 CPL kids, which is about as many as we have had the previous 15+ years. Jerrance is going to land some top kids too. That's clear. Mind you this was his very first assistant job. Do you think Groce comes into OSU and starts landing top classes without creating prior contacts? Nope. There's a reason people love him. Even on the radio today, they had a few people on from the high school basketball scene talking how great Jerrance has been. They didn't know Groce. Fair enough, I dont know enough about your recruiting to be honest. The Chicago recruiting scene is so f***ing dirty, I always worry about "insiders." There is a TON of money exchanging hands, and alot of it is coming from schools that are from out of state.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 05:11 PM) Jabari Parker said he was considering Illinois under Weber... Pfff. I hope to god nobody actually believes that. Some OSU fans actually believe that he's considering us too. In this case, $$ talks.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 05:04 PM) He had the number 7 class two years ago, 13th class last year, and 15th class 3 years ago. The greater thing is that people love him, particularly in Chicago, and there is no better ambassador to sell the school. Obviously, it's baseless speculation, but I think Groce is an idiot if he does not Jerrance Howard on his staff at Illinois. Scout has them 11th. There probably are other area HS coaches that you could hire at a cheaper price that would give you similar inroads. I also see zero top Chicago players in those classes (unless you count Richmond), most of those guys went elsewhere. There is always the possibility of getting someone who can actually convince the Anthony Davis and Jabari Parker's of the world to go down to Champaign. That may be why guys like Groce are looking to bring in someone instead of him. s*** camp someone out at Whitney Young each year and you can have 2-3 D1 players.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 04:53 PM) Basically everyone. We might have sucked, but we did land three straight top 15 classes because of him. No offense, but I see zero top 10 classes which he apparently recruited all of. Now this is a guy people would rather have coaching instead of a guy who was recruiter of the year, delivered, as an assistant, the #1 class in the country (or #2) and has head coaching experience as well as tournament victories. I hope to hell the people calling for him to be head coach are kidding.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 04:47 PM) Former Illini, connects well with the players, recruits well in Chicago. He has the chance to be a solid coach in the future, but he is very very young at this point. Recruited who exactly?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 04:38 PM) Completely unreputable message board sources say the holding point is the staff that would be put together. If he wants Jerrance out, then I would be really upset. Jerrance is the best asset we have right now. I know nothing about that person, why is he such an asset?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 03:59 PM) Of course I would love to win a conference tournament. The fact that its a relative criteria for a new coach is hysterical, especially considering the conferences we are talking about. Well, its not like perennial conference champions are hopping at the idea of being Illinois head coach right this second. You have to look at something to pick a coach with the hope of him hopefully picking the school and continuing to win with superior talent. There just isnt anyone out there that is overwhelming. This is exactly why I think they could stand to wait several months. You have a decently young team, dont need to crush recruiting right off the bat. Might as well wait and get it right. Honestly, I hope they dont take a mid-major guy mostly because Matta is just about retired and I am hoping nobody cherry picks Chris Jent from our bench, especially if Ohio loses Groce. Jent is basically a coach in waiting on the bench. Jeff Boals is probably in line for a head coaching job soon as well.

We can all remember that 2005 team together:

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 12:43 PM) I'm tempted to get HBO again, but I might just wait, re-up for a month and bust through them marathon style. Since nothing else is on right now, I started up Borgias, the Showtime period drama about the Vatican/Pope. It's basically on the same level as The Tudor's - cool costume's, lots of TnA, some political intrigue. Not great but worth the watch. I'm 7 epi's deep in 3 days. Just a great show.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 03:44 PM) If we are making a hire based on the hope of winning a conference tournament, then oh boy we are in even worse s*** then I thought. Its been since 2005 since you've won anything in conference. The tourney would be a start. Illinois fans live longer off of a near championship than Sox fans do after a real championship.

Nice article on Matta's condition, something he barely ever talks about. http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories...stent-pain.html

I love it One fan base is donating its money to keep its coach The other wants to donate money so they dont hire the coach. Which one of these teams actually made the tourney? Which one has actually won its conference tournament in the last 5 years?

Maybe they are holding off for Geno Auriemma

Game of Thrones=awesome

But they didnt have an issue with hiring an Ohio-based MAC coach for football.....