You can cross Butler’s Chris Holtmann off the potential Illinois Fighting Illini coaching candidates. Not that he was ever really was in contention to begin with, but there have been a lot of know-nothing blowhards in Illini nation claiming through their “sources” that Holtmann was in the mix.
Those sad “insider” wannabes can take a seat now, upon hearing what Chris Holtmann had to say about the Illini program “they don’t care,” as he stuck up for his very close friend, the recently fired John Groce.
Just minutes before Butler tipped off their NCAA Tournament against Winthrop, Indiana announced the firing of Tom Crean. That announcement was made minutes before Notre Dame commenced their march madness journey against Princeton too.
Thus, IU released this news on the same exact day three other teams in the state (Purdue) were playing their first round games.
Following Butler’s 76-64 win over Winthrop, Chris Holtmann held his postgame presser, and here is the transcript of the exchange pertaining to Illinois and John Groce; as well as Indiana and Tom Crean.
Q. Coach, we know what a tough business college basketball can be. Just wonder what your reaction was to Indiana firing Tom Cream today or if you even knew that that had occurred?
COACH HOLTMANN: Did that happen?
Q. It happened right before the tournament started.
COACH HOLTMANN: I don’t know what to say to that. I’ve got a lot of respect for Tom and how his team plays. I had one of my closest friends lose a job not too long ago at Illinois and listen, we all get into this knowing the deal. Do I disagree with those decisions? Absolutely. Absolutely I do.My bias — do I disagree with the decision at Illinois? Absolutely. They don’t care. But I know how hard that guy works, and I know how committed he was to his players, and I believe he was really close to turning the corner.
We know what we bargain for in this whole deal and everybody wants to be here now, and when you’re not here, people get upset.
related: list of five Illini coaching candidates
related: list of six more Illini coaching candidates
Groce was Head Coach at Ohio from 2008-2012, when he was then hired by Illinois. Holtmann served as an assistant under Groce from 2008-2010, before leaving to take the Gardner-Webb job. It’s safe to say his agent hasn’t received any phone calls from Illini Athletic Director Josh Whitman; nor will he any time soon.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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