Since half the team said they wanted Howard to be the coach, it isn't tough to see that his presence could undermine Groce's new plans.

In effect, they replaced him with Mizzou's version of JH with no prior relationship with the team.

Drake SG Rayvonte Rice transferring to Illinois. 6'4", 240 lbs. Averaged 16.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg as a sophomore. Will have to sit out next season. Originally from Champaign. Nice pickup for Groce.

240lb shooting guard? Jesus. Have him play tight-end.

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You know me like that.

He was a high level football prospect that didn't play his Senior year to focus on basketball.

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He could work out well, but why wasn't he recruited by Illinois when he was in high school?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Keep raiding the MVC and those NIT bids are going to be locked down!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

No "major" colleges were recruiting him. Groce offered him at Ohio, though.

or SMU...

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Sam McLaurin from Coastal Carolina will be playing for Illinois next season while persuing his law degree. Big body guy. Should help with the loss of Leonard.

Coastal Carolina?

First the MVC and now Coastal Carolina. What is next? The city rec league?

Groce is rolling.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm not crazy excited about the Drake transfer but the Coastal Carolina player is gone after next season. Either he gets the scholarship or some similarly scrubby player does, or it goes unused.

Groce will be made or broken on the 2013 and 2014 classes. The 2013 class is already decent and Weber's commits seem like they aren't looking elsewhere. If he gets Kendrick Nunn that alone is a solid class. If he gets Jabari Parker I'll make him a bust in his image made of cheddar cheese.

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Fire Phil Emery

Chew bolts for Marquette. Not good.

Now Jalen James decommits.

Program in shambles.

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You know me like that.

The anti-Weber faction is in full swoon over this guy. Weber had to go but this could end up being a disaster. That being said, James isn't that big of a loss; he started as comfortably top-100 RSCI but has fallen like a rock since.

At some point though he needs to prove he can recruit someone who doesn't already go to a community college.

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Fire Phil Emery

Got a guy down here who put up 40 in a church league a couple weeks back, maybe Groce can look him up

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Does he only have two years of eligibility remaining? Because that would be perfect...

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Fire Phil Emery

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

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I've been very impressed by Groce so far.

Why?

I see we got an Assistant Coach from the Missouri Valley. Awesome.

I'm very excited. Look at my excitement. It's palpable.

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You know me like that.

Bump.

I was at a bbq with Chew yesterday. My Gf is good friends with one of his cousins. It's always interesting when you're chatting with someone before you know who they are.

Pretty much said he left because Marquette gave him offer he couldn't refuse, and that Marquette is an easier sell to recruits than Illinois, currently (Big East, closer proximity to Chicago, Jordan brand, etc).

Said Illinois will be good in about 3 years.


Cool dude. So I guess if anyone wants Marquette BBall info, I'm your guy.

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What a steaming pile of monkey crap this is...

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/09/18/ ... -knows-it/

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Boy, I bet this guy went to the University of Illinois!

If nothing else, Dave Wischnowsky is an Illinois boy. Raised in Bourbonnais, educated at the University of Illinois--

yep, the Illini have so much to offer. I'm an offering guy.

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The article was good but I wish he'd really gone for it.

I think he's selling the program a little short.

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You know me like that.

Oh Doc.

Even if what he is saying is true, is that really want you want to sell to recruits?

Hey come miss out on another national championship with us!

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

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You know me like that.

That's not what he's selling. He's selling the chance to be a legend. And I'm OK with him selling that if they are buying and Nunn bought in a big way.

It's actually a pretty strong pitch for Illinois. I've read parts of his pitch before. He talks about how Scheyer won a title with Duke but nobody here cares about him. But, Luther and Dee are legendary local heroes and they didn't even win. That Illinois game in the NCAA was higher rated in Chicago than the Super Bowl that year. It really is a chance to make a mark.

If you go to Kentucky or Duke or, yes, Indiana and win a title, you're still just another guy that did it but if you do it at Illinois, coming out of Chicago, you are a hero, for life.

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You know me like that.

You do realize tho that type of pitch is easily rebutted by other schools though?

Would you rather take a chance on something no one else has ever done and end up just like the rest? Or would you rather come to a place that actually knows how to win a championship?

The whole thing seems silly to me. The author makes it seem like Groce has found something no one else has ever thought of. I am sure all the other coaches at Illinois have tried similar pitches.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

It's a variation of the hometown pitch but it seems very effective. And no kid like that is going to think, "Well nobody else did it so I'm sure I can't do it either." He's playing to their egos - seems like an effective approach to me.

The early word from MY GUYS down at Illinois is that this guy is pretty impressive as a people person. Comparisons to Bill Self on how he can interact with everybody from the players to the boosters. I have no idea if he can actually coach but so far he's gotten something going.

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You know me like that.