I think this is a better hire than the football coach.

This guy at least has been at a successful Big Ten program and contributed and had postseason success. I don't think Beckman's history is quite as strong in that regard.

But IMO it just seems like you got Bruce Weber lite with this hire.

Smith won't come as an assistant, certainly not for Groce.

Well this is fun.

Here's what has happened from how I understand it. I have two people who are relatively close to the situation, though they contradict sometimes so who the fuck knows. This is the best I can piece together.

Weber was DOA pretty much as soon as the slide began. Thomas and Weber had a chilly relationship (much chiller than Zook and Thomas) and there was a good chance Weber was gone even if Illinois somehow snuck into the tournament as a low seed. Because of that Thomas had been searching for quite some time and had an understanding--through back channels, of course--that Shaka Smart was at least receptive to the idea of coming to Illinois. They'd still have to negotiate the finer points but he wasn't going to be shot down.

Fast-forward to after the first week of the tourney. Indiana beats VCU and Smart is done. Pretty much from the time VCU lost until the following Tuesday Smart and his people were talking with Illinois. Smart wanted serious money, but more importantly, he wanted freedom of operation and a healthy buyout clause in case things didn't work out. Maybe scared by the $15 bajillion the school just paid in buyouts Thomas was reluctant on that score.

It's possible that could have been overcome but around that same time a few prominent and semi-prominent head coaches starting telling folks not to take the job. Izzo probably has the most clout within the group but nut Cronin, who hated Mike Thomas at Cincinnati, didn't help either. The combination of this and negotiating stuff led Smart to turn the job down, which wasn't shocking but did leave Thomas a bit exposed.

Stevens was another obvious candidate but he was practically a no-go from the beginning. Izzo and the gang hurt here as well, and Gene Keady apparently had a talk with Stevens at some point.

Feelers were put out to Hamilton, Romar, and Grant, but none except for maybe Grant were really seriously considered. They denied interest but a lot of that was just due diligence. People are assuming they are a much bigger part of this than they really were, maybe because of their race and the stink over Beckman. Buzz Williams has never really been contacted, maybe because they don't think they will get him.

Frank Martin was never a serious consideration because of shadiness issues. Illinois could have had Martin in a heartbeat but there was no mutual interest there. Thomas has no interest in hiring Reggie Theus, maybe for the same reasons, and partly because his qualifications are lacking, but also because he doesn't believe he'll be here for more than a year or two.

Groce really was a target from early on, more so than some of the other names, though obviously a fallback. Of the two trustees that complained about Beckman, one gave the thumbs up after the Smart failure. One stayed silent. He is now complaining about Craig Robinson, who will absolutely not be the next head coach of Illinois unless Mike Thomas resigns.

I'd be shocked if John Groce wasn't the next head coach. I'd also be shocked if Mike Thomas survives the 2012-13 academic year, whether through his own volition or because acting President Easter clears him out after the abortive Hogan presidency. Beckman is reasonably safe because despite the complaints the board didn't really have a problem with him. Groce--or whomever will be the next coach--is almost certainly not safe. This could be a very short reign for whomever is selected. Oh, and Groce might have cold feet now for that very reason, although that could be a negotiating ploy as well. The document is not signed.

Illinois athletics!

There is no conceivable universe in which Groce is a better hire than Beckman. That's insanity. Carry on.

There is no conceivable universe in which Groce is a better hire than Beckman. That's insanity. Carry on.

Who would have ever thought that the University of Illinois would have to reach down to the MAC for both their Football & Basketball head coaches? Both hires are most likely one contract hires & there is a good chance that neither finishes his contract with the Illini if Thomas doesn't survive more than a couple of years.

Well, plenty of legendary football coaches got their start in the MAC. The same can't be said on the hoops side.

Well, plenty of legendary football coaches got their start in the MAC. The same can't be said on the hoops side.

Do they usually get a promotion with .500 records?

The Boekman hire will most likely keep them out of last place while assuring them never finishing in first place. He will have a perpetual 5-5 conference record, which will seem good the first couple of years and then get incredibly frustrating with no significant wins.

Tim Beckman went 14-2 over his final two seasons in the MAC. He took over a program recovering from a point shaving schedule and turned them into the favorites to win the conference next season. Most of his bad overall record is from 1.) his initial 5-7 season, where he nonetheless went 4-4 in conference; 2.) Toledo renting itself out as a punching bad to Boise State (twice), Ohio State, and Arizona; 3.) shitty Big East officials (http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball ... did_r.html). He was a main recruiter at Ohio State under Tressel, and he was bringing in low-Big Ten level classes at Toledo. Realistically speaking, that's the best Illinois football is going to do.

Jim Groce is two coin-flip MAC tournament games against Akron away from no one knowing who he is. He has gone four games over .500 in four seasons, and Ohio basketball wasn't all that awful. They were ninth in the conference the season they upset Georgetown in the tournament. He is returning almost everyone next season so maybe he has built a decent program going forward, but the results haven't been there on a game by game basis. In fact, he has just about the lowest conference winning percentage of any MAC coach hired by another program, and coaches to come out of the MAC have almost entirely sucked.

But, Beckman, as a defensive specialist, was routinely giving up 50 and 60+ points per game in the MAC - including back-to-back 60+ defensive performances. So, I'm not awed by his geniusness either.

Do they really have a chance of retaining Howard?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/br ... 4438.story

Jerrance Howard has not been retained by Groce.

Missouri's Isaac Chew to be Groce's lead assistant.

Someone down in Champaign will use the headline "Chew on This"...