The backlash against Illini basketball Head Coach John Groce was extremely strong.
How strong? Well, once news of his dismissal was officially made public at 2:45 PM CST on Saturday March 11th, 2017, the term “John Groce” quickly shot up to the #2 overall trending term in the United States on Twitter.
So much for the idea that the Illini basketball community was apathetic. Despite the very poor attendance, and relegation to much lower profile television broadcasts of Illinois games in recent years, Illini basketball nation is very much engaged and zealous.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/840667389234688001
The backlash against Groce only grew stronger this past week as Illinois lost a contest at Rutgers in which they were the heavy favorites, and then got blown out by Michigan in the #8 vs #9 game of the B1G Tournament.
The Illini matched-up against a Wolverines team that was both traumatized and sleep-deprived from a plane accident that occurred the day before the contest.
Still, had Illini basketball won both the Michigan and Rutgers games, a NCAA Tournament berth was very likely waiting there for them. The two losses cost Illinois any chance at an large bid, and thus Groce missed the tourney four straight years, and every season except his first, when he had a roster composed of his predecessor Bruce Weber’s players.
The only real parallel of fan sentiment against the current coach that one could draw, at least right now, in the global sporting landscape is how Arsenal FC fans feel about Arsene Wenger.
An excerpt of the official release sent out by the school reads:
University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Saturday that John Groce has been relieved of his duties as head men’s basketball coach effective immediately.
Groce averaged 19 wins per year during his five seasons at Illinois, compiling a 95-75 record overall and 37-53 in Big Ten play. He led the Fighting Illini to 23 wins and an NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance in his inaugural season in 2013, followed by consecutive NIT bids in 2014 and 2015. He is 180-131 in nine seasons as a head coach, following an 85-56 record in four years at Ohio.
Assistant Jamal Walker has been named the interim coach, should Illini basketball accept an invitation to play in the NIT. Current NIT bracket projections (yes, those are things that actually exist) have Illinois a #2 or #3 seed in the National Invitational Tournament.
John Groce will receive a $1.7 million exit package, as Illini Athletic Director Josh Whitman exercised the option to buyout the remainder of his contract.
Whitman held a press conference and at this link you can read the major takeaways from it.
In terms of who the next Illini basketball coach will be, California Head Coach Cuonzo Martin is widely considered to be the early favorite, while Illinois did reportedly approach San Antonio Spurs Vice President and former New Orleans Pelicans Coach Monty Williams. He declined, despite the fact that Illinois offered him a lot of money.
He supposedly wants to focus on a return to coaching in the NBA.
Sources: Illinois willing to make Monty Williams one of NCAA’s top paid coaches, but he'll pass. He’s focused on prompt NBA coaching return.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 11, 2017
Here’s a link to our list of five candidates, and another link to a list of six more.
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.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube