What will happen to him given his recent success at Ohio?
Will he stay at OU or leave?

BlueDevil11;1126318 wrote:What will happen to him given his recent success at Ohio?

He will be overcome by his newfound Oedipus Complex and will murder his father and try to sexually possess his mother. He will then probably be arrested.

Or that mysterious boulder will roll him over.

Given that Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart are still at their respective team, I'd expect Groce to stay pat at least one more year. He's got a good team coming back and is probably looking at another MAC championship at the very least.

The only real desirable job I see out there is Illinois. And I don't think he's "diverse" enough for them.

Mississippi State might pursue him, but I wouldn't jump at that job. I could see someone like Steve Prohm there.

hoops23;1126357 wrote:Given that Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart are still at their respective team, I'd expect Groce to stay pat at least one more year. He's got a good team coming back and is probably looking at another MAC championship at the very least.

I agree

hoops23;1126357 wrote:Given that Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart are still at their respective team, I'd expect Groce to stay pat at least one more year. He's got a good team coming back and is probably looking at another MAC championship at the very least.

This isn't the path that Stan Heath took after leading Kent State to the Elite Eight in 2002. I do agree that the scenario changes a bit with everyone coming back, but, then again, after leading the Golden Flashes to a first round win over Indiana in 2001, Gary Waters left Kent State for Rutgers even though everyone was coming back. And, look what Waters ended up missing out on.

If the right job offer comes his way, he'd probably take it and leave the MAC. JMO.

His first recruiting class (aka DJ Cooper) will be seniors this year...I think he stays one more year then bolts.

But it's risky; cuz if they don't have a good year next year, he could be at OU for longer.

SportsAndLady;1126363 wrote:His first recruiting class (aka DJ Cooper) will be seniors this year...I think he stays one more year then bolts.

But it's risky; cuz if they don't have a good year next year, he could be at OU for longer.

Exactly. I think that's why Waters left Kent even know the Golden Flashes were predicted to be a much better team than Rutgers the following year. Rutgers was Waters' ticket to the Big East. Don't ever underestimate that.

What Stevens has been able to do at Butler, and Smart to a somewhat lesser extent at VCU, is something so rare that it's hard to compare it to any other situation.

reclegend22;1126367 wrote:Exactly. I think that's why Waters left Kent even know the Golden Flashes were predicted to be a much better team than Rutgers the following year. Rutgers was Waters' ticket to the Big East. Don't ever underestimate that.

What Stevens has been able to do at Butler, and Smart to a somewhat lesser extent at VCU, is something so rare that it's hard to compare it to any other situation.

I think they're just two really smart guys lol here's my theory:

Attractive coaching gigs are ranked either a 1, 2, or 3.

1=elite program, blue blood
2=average to above average power conference program
3=mid major program

Shaka and Stevens are currently (obviously) at level 3. it used to be "oh I'm doing good at level 3, I'm going to jump to level 2."

Well, Shaka and Stevens realize that being at level 2 you can fail. Staying at level 3 you'll almost always have a good year and still be attractive to that level 1 athletic director.

You don't blow your load over a jump from level 3 to level 2. You wait at level 3 until a level 1 comes calling. Sort of "cutting out the middle man" type thing.

Oh and level 4=missouri

SportsAndLady;1126368 wrote:I think they're just two really smart guys lol here's my theory:

Attractive coaching gigs are ranked either a 1, 2, or 3.

1=elite program, blue blood
2=average to above average power conference program
3=mid major program

Shaka and Stevens are currently (obviously) at level 3. it used to be "oh I'm doing good at level 3, I'm going to jump to level 2."

Well, Shaka and Stevens realize that being at level 2 you can fail. Staying at level 3 you'll almost always have a good year and still be attractive to that level 1 athletic director.

You don't blow your load over a jump from level 3 to level 2. You wait at level 3 until a level 1 comes calling. Sort of "cutting out the middle man" type thing.

Oh and level 4=missouri

Haha about Mizzou.

And I think you've nailed it. While Stevens and Smart are definitely holding out for Blue Blood jobs -- unlike Mark Few, who is never leaving Gonzaga as it has become a very unique school and the best team in all of the West outside of Arizona, Stevens and Smart aren't turning down offers because they are satisfied with where they are at -- the rare success they've had at their respective schools is what has allowed them to stay longer. My point was just that Groce's situation at Ohio just isn't comparable to the other two, as a poster above was trying to say. If Oklahoma State fired Travis Ford today and offered Groce a gym bag full of dead faces (not sure why they'd pay him Mafia style haha), there'd be a U-Haul on his lawn in a matter of hours.

reclegend22;1126376 wrote:Haha about Mizzou.

And I think you've nailed it. While Stevens and Smart are definitely holding out for Blue Blood jobs -- unlike Mark Few, who is never leaving Gonzaga as it has become a very unique school and the best team in all of the West outside of Arizona, Stevens and Smart aren't turning down offers because they are satisfied with where they are at -- the rare success they've had at their respective schools is what has allowed them to stay longer. My point was just that Groce's situation at Ohio just isn't comparable to the other two, as a poster above was trying to say. If Oklahoma State fired Travis Ford today and offered Groce a gym bag full of dead faces (not sure why they'd pay him Mafia style haha), there'd be a U-Haul on his lawn in a matter of hours.

Yeah I agree, OU and Butler/VCU are a bit different. Stevens and Shaka can literally just add 2 top recruits and be reloaded. That's why my theory is only for basketball--cuz football you take the level 2 job, because it takes too long to rebuild a football program. In bball, you add 2 recruits and boom, championship.

I wouldn't be surprised/pissed if Groce left, but I really think he should. (as an OU alum, I obviously want Groce to stay. The guy is fucking awesome).

When I worked in their athletic department when I was there, they needed 2 of us to practice with them because their managers were all gone for summer break. I obviously jumped on that.

When we showed up to the first practice, me and the other kid walked in and he goes HEY GUYS, THANKS FOR HELPING, WHATS YOUR NAMES?! I say Andrew, he goes ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW, K I GOT IT. and did the same for the other kid. Then goes AT THE END OF THE DAY ASK ME WHAT YOUR NAMES ARE; I NEED TO GET BETTER AT THIS. Screaming this entire conversation. And yes he remembered the names. He was just a fucking awesome coach and a blast to watch run a practice.

If you can take a 3rd place MAC team and turn it into a $5mil contract you have to do it. Stevens isn't really a fair comp, he's making about a million a year there right now at a private school, far from mid major public MAC school.

SportsAndLady;1126383 wrote:Yeah I agree, OU and Butler/VCU are a bit different. Stevens and Shaka can literally just add 2 top recruits and be reloaded. That's why my theory is only for basketball--cuz football you take the level 2 job, because it takes too long to rebuild a football program. In bball, you add 2 recruits and boom, championship.

I wouldn't be surprised/pissed if Groce left, but I really think he should. (as an OU alum, I obviously want Groce to stay. The guy is ****ing awesome).

When I worked in their athletic department when I was there, they needed 2 of us to practice with them because their managers were all gone for summer break. I obviously jumped on that.

When we showed up to the first practice, me and the other kid walked in and he goes HEY GUYS, THANKS FOR HELPING, WHATS YOUR NAMES?! I say Andrew, he goes ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW ANDREW, K I GOT IT. and did the same for the other kid. Then goes AT THE END OF THE DAY ASK ME WHAT YOUR NAMES ARE; I NEED TO GET BETTER AT THIS. Screaming this entire conversation. And yes he remembered the names. He was just a ****ing awesome coach and a blast to watch run a practice.

That's awesome. Haha.

dave;1126387 wrote:If you can take a 3rd place MAC team and turn it into a $5mil contract you have to do it. Stevens isn't really a fair comp, he's making about a million a year there right now at a private school, far from mid major public MAC school.

Yeah definitely agreed. We already mentioned OU and Butler/VCU are not the same, and we didn't even mention the whole money thing.

SportsAndLady;1126363 wrote:His first recruiting class (aka DJ Cooper) will be seniors this year...I think he stays one more year then bolts.

But it's risky; cuz if they don't have a good year next year, he could be at OU for longer.

Very risky. If he is ever thinking of moving "up", you strike while the iron is hot! Sweet 16, an almost win vs UNC, I am not sure the iron can get much hotter at OU.

actually didn't work out that well for Heath, who got the boot at Arkansas and was fortunate to land at S. Fla. Jim Christian hasn't exactly set the world on fire after leaving Kent, either.

Surprised Smart turned down Illinois, and I think Groce would have to consider it. One of top 2 conferences in nation, plus a great base for recruiting right in its home state.

Columbus radio reporting Groce to Illinios. Possible announcements coming soon.

All the blue bloods will be replaced by their sexier cousin soon enough, the Scarlet bloods.

And they'll win more BCS bowl games then all the blue bloods combined for the next 1000 years.

Groce has to go to Illinois if he gets the chance. He would probably win 30 games next year with OU, but you can never guarantee that! Also, unless some of the guys leave, which would be ill-advised, there is talent in Champaign. It just needs to be coached.

Unless OU wants to up the ante Groce would be a fool to pass on Illinois.

It's a good job for him if he can close the border and get the in state guys

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7743933/john-groce-ohio-bobcats-negotiations-take-illinois-fighting-illini-sources-say

Looks like its a done deal.

Can't blame him for taking that job at all. I expected him to stay at OU, but I didn't expect him to get a big 6 offer either.

He'd be stupid not to take the Illinois job.

Looks like a deal was reached this evening. Press conference tomorrow most likely.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7749743/ohio-bobcats-john-groce-agrees-coach-illinois-fighting-illini-sources-say