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What's that popping noise?

realcatfan

Well-Known Member
Dec 2, 2014
229
12
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I'm in downtown Chicago and I heard a loud pop. What could it be? It's Illinois bubble bursting.
 
I love watching IL lose because ...

a) I generally love watching the panic and poor decisions that will follow based on the misguided, self-important fan base.

b) All of this is good for NU. I hope CC can take advantage.

I know it's only his third year, but I've been surprised by the blind loyalty that was somewhat given to him. Well, today's loss should stop that.
 
Re: I love watching IL lose because ...

I swing like a pendulum on Groce....just like the team itself.

Some weeks I think he's great...and others I think he's average (for the Big Ten).

I would have like to see Egwu play in the tournament this year but that doesn't look to be the case. Ken Pom had them 53 before this loss. I think a whole bunch of good teams have to lose for them to get in.
 
Great??

From what we've seen so far, I'd never say "great." Good? Sometimes.

Let's put it this way. I've always said I liked Weber. He's not the greatest, but he was good for Illinois (no Illinois is not an "elite" program like many would have you believe).

Having said all that, I try to look at this objectively and ask, "Is Groce really that much of an upgrade over Weber?"

And that's what makes me smile. There's no way he is a distinct upgrade.

That program is just running in circles at this point.
 
Re: Great??

They had some nice wins against MD, MSU, and PU this year. I don't know if you consider them great though. MD was top 15 when UI beat them.
 
Re: Great??

They had the misguided delusion that a young, sophisticated, intelligent head coach like Shaka Smart could be lured to Champaign. I forget who their second choice was. Groce was 3 or lower, and only emerged because of a fluke Ohio U Sweet 16 run.

I liked Weber there, though K-State is on the wrong trajectory, it would appear.
 
Re: Great??

I really liked Weber. I'm so happy Illinois got rid of him.

What you see across all the Illinois coaching changes is that there's a ton of in-state talent and Illinois gets its fair share regardless of who is the coach.

Illinois should have been patient with Weber.
 
Re: Great??

Illinois is always going to get good talent from Chicago, but Groce has yet to land a big fish, and that really showed today. Michigan, on the other hand, has regrouped after their injuries and are playing well the last couple weeks. I remember Felis calling our win over Michigan not so great because it came against "against a below average" team. They sure didn't look that way today to Illinois. They ran an offensive clinic and defense was pretty good too.
 
Re: Great??

Originally posted by Catreporter:
Illinois is always going to get good talent from Chicago, but Groce has yet to land a big fish, and that really showed today. Michigan, on the other hand, has regrouped after their injuries and are playing well the last couple weeks. I remember Felis calling our win over Michigan not so great because it came against "against a below average" team. They sure didn't look that way today to Illinois. They ran an offensive clinic and defense was pretty good too.
On the contrary, a big problem has been their inability to get the cream of the Chicago market. Sure they get some nice players, but the standouts tend to go elsewhere. Coach K/Duke does better at recruiting Chicago than Illinois.
 
Re: Great??

exactly. illinois hasn't done so well in chicago with the great guys for quite a while. ever since they stopped paying so much $$ it's been a problem.
 
Re: Great??


Point I was making, Illini haven't been able to land somebody like Okefor, Parker or Brunson this year. And you're right, it's been a while since they've done that.
 
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