Sports Illustrated: "The Decline of the Illini"

[tornado]

This sure helps recruiting!!!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/basketball/ncaa/2007/09/decline-of-illini.html

(don't forget to read the comments left at the bottom by viewers)

[Beninator]

Ouch! That article will leave a mark.. SI even threw in a very whinny picture of Weber as well... (not difficult to do I realize)

[bigdaddystuck]

Like they said....give him the talent and he can coach it...however he doesn't seem to be able to get the talent on his own!

I think that BW is a very good coach...not so much a recruiter, it will be very interesting to see how the Illini season goes and what the fans have to say IF it goes south!

[Beninator]

Like they said....give him the talent and he can coach it...however he doesn't seem to be able to get the talent on his own!

I think that BW is a very good coach...not so much a recruiter, it will be very interesting to see how the Illini season goes and what the fans have to say IF it goes south!

very true

[MacabreMob]

This sure helps recruiting!!!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/basketball/ncaa/2007/09/decline-of-illini.html

(don't forget to read the comments left at the bottom by viewers)

The schadenfreude in me loves reading an article like this.

[bert notorius]

Illinois is the winningest college basketball program in the nation during Weber's tenure, totaling 112 victories over the last four years to tie for the national lead with Duke and Florida. Weber's 112 victories also rank as the most wins ever by a Big Ten coach in his first four seasons and are tied for the second most wins ever by a Big Ten coach over any period of four-straight seasons. He owns the best winning percentage in the 102-year history of Big Ten basketball, having won 80 percent of his games while in charge of the Fighting Illini (112-28 ). Weber also ranks as the third winningest coach in the nation over the last six seasons, totaling 164 victories.

Weber has won 215 games during his nine-year coaching tenure, which are the fifth most wins by a head coach in NCAA Div. I history through nine seasons. He has won 72.4 percent of his games overall (215-82), which is the 11th best winning percentage in the nation among active Div. I head coaches.

While standing at the North pole one has but two choices, stay or head South.

[SFP]

There are a few coaches that have not taken advantage of their final four appearance when it comes to recruiting. Maryland was one of those teams. Garry Williams may get a 5 star player every other year but his best teams have been a bunch of under-achievers (Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter). I believe the same will probably be the same for Webster. He probably over shot his recruiting ability for now, but will, if given a chance find his groove again. He has been to darn successful not to achieve success again.

On that note I believe JL is a top notch recruiter and if he was with at a major school or if Bradley had better facilities and a national TV schedule (which I believe he is striving for) he would be able to pick up those 5 stars. If JL stays, I predict in 3-4 years we will have a bunch of 2-3 stars and yes a 5 star.

[tornado]

Illinois is the winningest college basketball program in the nation during Weber's tenure, totaling 112 victories over the last four years to tie for the national lead with Duke and Florida. Weber's 112 victories also rank as the most wins ever by a Big Ten coach in his first four seasons and are tied for the second most wins ever by a Big Ten coach over any period of four-straight seasons. He owns the best winning percentage in the 102-year history of Big Ten basketball, having won 80 percent of his games while in charge of the Fighting Illini (112-28 ). Weber also ranks as the third winningest coach in the nation over the last six seasons, totaling 164 victories.

Weber has won 215 games during his nine-year coaching tenure, which are the fifth most wins by a head coach in NCAA Div. I history through nine seasons. He has won 72.4 percent of his games overall (215-82), which is the 11th best winning percentage in the nation among active Div. I head coaches.

While standing at the North pole one has but two choices, stay or head South.

All of which is good, but surely you have noticed the grimacing, moaning, and gnashing of teeth among Illini fans, so definitely there's something BAD happening and no matter how much you review those old records, it won't go away.
Now that BW has such an entrenched reputation as a poor recruiting coach, the top prospects won't take him seriously.

[bert notorius]

You of all people must understand what it is like to support a good coach while those around you peese and moan. Weber is just not cool enough or hip enough. He's the Kumbyah of Krannert Center. He's a Chevy when you really want Beamer. What kind of knuclehead fan can just overlook that record?