Bruce Weber fired

[Bravesfan]

Comcast Chicago's David Kaplan has his list-

http://www.csnchicago.com/pages/the_kapman

VCU's Shaka Smart
Kansas State's Frank Martin
Marquette's Buzz Williams
Butler's Brad Stevens
Reggie Theus
Duke's Chris Collins
Wichita State's Gregg Marshall
Baylor's Scott Drew
Alabama's Anthony Grant

Not Marshall! I don't think I can take several years of "the refs have it in for me" type of comments!

[Bravesfan]

Here is an article that lists a long list of possibilties, including Geno Ford!

http://collegehoops.scout.com/2/1166030.html

It is probably a subscription article, but the way they come up with Geno on their list is that they link Illinois AD Mike Thomas to the Parker Executive Search firm. Thomas himself was hired at Illinois by University President Mike Hogan using the Parker Executive Search firm, and the writer speculates that Thomas will likely use that same search firm to get coaches names. The following are listed as coaches linked to the Parker firm:
"Herb Sendek at Arizona State, Geno Ford at Bradley, Ron Hunter at Georgia State, Tom Crean at Indiana, John Calipari at Kentucky, Matt Brady at James Madison, Trent Johnson at LSU, Chicago native and former Cal coach Ben Braun at Rice, Mark Gottfried at NC State and Mark Montgomery at NIU.
Also, Joe Scott at Denver, Mark Fox at Georgia, Jim Larranaga at Miami, Cuonzo Martin at Tennessee, Fran McCaffery at Iowa, Tubby Smith at Minnesota, Lon Kruger at Oklahoma, Mike Anderson at Arkansas and Larry Shyatt at Wyoming....one of the coaches in the Parker Executive Search firm is a possibility if its advice is sought."

Oh, I'm sure U of I fans would just "love" to see Geno hired after the year he had here!

[Bravesfan]

Interesting. I had never head of that school. Do you think Illinois will hire a high school coach? We all know why his name is even in this discussion (Jabari Parker), and it has little to do with his ability to coach.

I'm probably wrong, but that school sounds like one of those online "universities" like the University of Phoenix.

[bradleybraves1]

Oh, I'm sure U of I fans would just "love" to see Geno hired after the year he had here!

Can Geno and his advisors stand to take on another contract lawsuit?

[lake Camelot]

Time to watch all the UIUC fans squirm. I work with a lot of Illini fans and when I mention that the Chicago media is pumping up Shaka Smart for the UIUC job, they all ask who is Shaka Smart? (insert puzzled look to go along with the question). Now I get to mention Reggie Theus!!!!

They must not be real intense basketball fans. Just from running across comments on Illinois forums, they have been talking about him for two years now. He is the biggest name on U of I forums. Almost to the point of me being sick of hearing his name. I can't belive an Illinois basketball fan would not know who Shaka Smart is. But then again I spend way too much time on sports forums.

[Old Coach]

Interesting. I had never head of that school. Do you think Illinois will hire a high school coach? We all know why his name is even in this discussion (Jabari Parker), and it has little to do with his ability to coach.

I don't think there's any chance they would hire a high school coach. I also believe the job listing will indicate a preference for a master's degree.

[InMnBob1]

What if

What if we kept Jim Les this year do you thin BW would be interested in th BU coaching job?

[MacabreMob]

Time to watch all the UIUC fans squirm. I work with a lot of Illini fans and when I mention that the Chicago media is pumping up Shaka Smart for the UIUC job, they all ask who is Shaka Smart? (insert puzzled look to go along with the question). Now I get to mention Reggie Theus!!!!

They must not be real intense basketball fans. Just from running across comments on Illinois forums, they have been talking about him for two years now. He is the biggest name on U of I forums. Almost to the point of me being sick of hearing his name. I can't belive an Illinois basketball fan would not know who Shaka Smart is. But then again I spend way too much time on sports forums.

There's your fan base in a nut shell. A bunch of uneducated and uninformed arrogant pupils.

[Chico]

They must not be real intense basketball fans. Just from running across comments on Illinois forums, they have been talking about him for two years now. He is the biggest name on U of I forums. Almost to the point of me being sick of hearing his name. I can't belive an Illinois basketball fan would not know who Shaka Smart is. But then again I spend way too much time on sports forums.

Maybe others don't spend their time on forums like we do.

[MacabreMob]

Surprised Jeter hasn't been brought up. Must not fit with the mold.

[lefty]

There's your fan base in a nut shell. A bunch of uneducated and uninformed arrogant pupils.

I think it's more that there are some who have been Illinois fans a long time and that's the only team they really watch. They don't watch much outside their team and maybe the Big Ten. My dad watches Illinois every time they are on and gets just as mad as everyone else when things don't go right...but if you mentioned Smart or Grant he wouldn't have any idea who they are...

I know many Bradley fans that don't know anything about recruits unless they read it in the paper or see the sports on TV.....they are still fans and go to all the games....doesn't make them uneducated and they are as informed as they want to be.......we are the nut jobs

[Chico]

I think it's more that there are some who have been Illinois fans a long time and that's the only team they really watch. They don't watch much outside their team and maybe the Big Ten. My dad watches Illinois every time they are on and gets just as mad as everyone else when things don't go right...but if you mentioned Smart or Grant he wouldn't have any idea who they are...

I know many Bradley fans that don't know anything about recruits unless they read it in the paper or see the sports on TV.....they are still fans and go to all the games....doesn't make them uneducated and they are as informed as they want to be.......we are the nut jobs

Good post Lefty. Until I found out about BradleyFans.com I was the same way.

[SFP]

What if we kept Jim Les this year do you thin BW would be interested in th BU coaching job?

No! BW will take his paycheck and take it easy I bet! College coaching takes a ton out of you from dealing with the players, recruiting, parents, practice, game preparation, scouts, media and fans. Oh I forgot one The Administration!

[bradleybraves1]

FWIW, Chris Collins will be a top candidate. Will Coach K let him take the job?

[Old Coach]

Feel bad for Coach Weber but he will come out of this ok. Good coach, good person who will find sucess else where. Led Illini to NCAA Championship game, but in the what have you done for me lately society, that wasn't enough. Illinois is a middle of the road Big Ten program, a step above their football program. MSU, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State and Purdue all better basketball programs year in and year out. Illinois is not the "elite" program that so many of their fans think it is. Go PANTHERS

I don't know what your qualifiers are, but historically, Illinois has been a top tier Big Ten program. They are the 13th winningest program in NCAA history, and only Indiana is ranked higher (12th). Over the past 30 seasons, Illinois has won 669 games (68%), 6 Big Ten Championships, and has averaged a conference finish of 3.85. In more recent history, Illinois has won 5 conference championships in the last 15 years. I'm not sure how you consider that "middle of the road". If you're simply referring to only the past 5 seasons, that's why the coach was just fired.