John Groce Will Be Back At Illinois Next Season

[LuteHawk]

After the new Athletic Director at Illinois fired the football
coach yesterday, he endorsed John Groce as the basketball
coach next season. The A.D. said that Groce had to deal
with major injuries on the team this season, yet he has a
great recruiting class coming in this Fall.

Bottom Line: The Illinois Basketball team will survive with Groce.

 

[hawkeyemark]

After the new Athletic Director at Illinois fired the football
coach yesterday, he endorsed John Groce as the basketball
coach next season. The A.D. said that Groce had to deal
with major injuries on the team this season, yet he has a
great recruiting class coming in this Fall.

Bottom Line: The Illinois Basketball team will survive with Groce.

Have a friend an Illini fan who thought that Groce might get fired with the new AD but felt that he deserves to stay on as he had a very young team that should only get better as they get more seasoned. From an Illinois perspective this looks like good news on all fronts as the football coach needed to go. Groce seems in many ways a similar coach to Fran coming up through the mid-majors. I know that most Hawks fans by nature hate the Illini but it will help the Big Ten if Groce can stabilize and build that program.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Have a friend an Illini fan who thought that Groce might get fired with the new AD but felt that he deserves to stay on as he had a very young team that should only get better as they get more seasoned. From an Illinois perspective this looks like good news on all fronts as the football coach needed to go. Groce seems in many ways a similar coach to Fran coming up through the mid-majors. I know that most Hawks fans by nature hate the Illini but it will help the Big Ten if Groce can stabilize and build that program.

It helps Iowa that he's staying and that's all I care about!

 

[And1Hawk]

If Groce does not make hay next year he's gone. With Hill & Nunn being super experienced and quality ballers combined with a post presence in Morgan and several nice young complimentary players (Coleman-Lands, Finke, DJ Williams, etc) they could be a surprise team. But this is Groce we are talking about and they typically go into pro-longed scoring droughts. Sometimes there is just a lot of stupid jack up bad shots ball and his offense/system does not have a lot of dimensions to it. They need some heady glue guys too. They will be interesting next year.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I approve.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

Illinois has some talent on the team. They are the ultimate wildcard. If they get their crap together despite their coach lookout. Just like Indiana this year.

 

[Ronman]

I think if Groce is going to spend so much time on the court, he ought to put on a uniform.

 

[Vbeachawk]

The inmates run the Illini program, not Groce. They are undisciplined and completely rely on their bball athleticism.

 

[Letsgohawks411]

Didn't he sing "Operator"???

 

[hooper56]

Will that little pg who tore up both his knees in consecutive years return for his last season?

 

[4th & 9 inches]

I called the AD's office and campaigned for Groce to be retained.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Great news!

 

[redbirdhawk]

 

[KeyWest Tim]

You can't fire everyone.

The template of the future looks like the football hire.

Unless he turns it around next year.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Fired the wrong guy.