Illini Rivals site says Weber should fire assistant coaches

[tornado]

It is an ongoing discussion that comes up every time Illinois misses out on a recruit.

But there is a discussion on the Illinois Rivals Premium site in which one of the most prolific posters and well respected ILLINI fans with over 40,000 posts is going on record as saying this:

"my feeling is that Wayne McClain has given his best effort at Illinois, for the Illini but needs to move on. Fresh blood on the staff is needed"

It goes on from there.....the discussion is long and interesting, and on the premium site.

http://illinois.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1737&tid=81246354&mid=81246354&sid=922&style=2

But in effect he says that Illinois had always gotten the Peoria kids anyway, going way, way back to Derek Holcomb and Doug Altenberger, and so the only area that McClain is given credit to recruit is one they feel they have sewn up. What they need is better recruiting in Chicago and suburbs, and in surrounding states.
The discussion then goes on to others who feel Webster isn't helping the recruiting either, but one guy who claims to have inside connections in Chicago said Webster is the only guy on the Illini staff that has any effect in Chicago.

Other Wayne McClain discussions have spun off as well

http://illinois.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1737&tid=81272339&mid=81272339&sid=922&style=2

[BradleyBrave]

I mentioned this same thing on some boards and to some friends of mine. Bruce Weber doesn't have a 'closer' on his coaching staff, and it's really starting to hurt them. Not every head coach is going to be a smooth and savvy recruiter, and when that's the case, they need an assistant to take on that role. Matt Painter played that role to perfection at SIU, and Weber has never been the same recruiting-wise since he and Painter split ways. Painter meanwhile is landing some big time recruits at Purdue, and looks to be building a winner, while in the meantime Weber continues to fall short, especially when it comes to recruiting guards.

As far as Illini assistants go, it seems that it may be time for an overhaul. IMO Wayne McClain might have outlived his usefulness to the program. He doesn't recruit, and Peoria doesn't have enough difference-making talent like it used to have to necessitate keeping him on the staff. Also, Jay Price is NOT a closer when it comes to recruiting. He is more likely to do your taxes than lure you to Champaign. That leaves Tracy Webster and Gary Nottingham. Webster is the only thing close to a savvy recruiter/program salesman, and he still leaves a bit to be desired.

Yes, the Illini basketball braintrust might be one of the tops in the country. Bruce Weber can match X's and O's with anyone. But it doesn't matter if you don't have the kids. The 37-2 year obviously isn't selling itself, so they need someone who can go out there and sell Illinois basketball to these kids. I don't see that guy on the current staff, and therefore I think some changes should be made.