Buddy and I were saying today that Martin is the slam dunk 5 that's at the bar but you got your sights on the drunk 10's that are still hanging around.
Yeah I know. He's apparently been choice #1, which is insane to me. Sterk hired Tony Bennett @ Wazzu and apparently has been using him as an advisor of sorts. Bennett has really pushed Martin. Sigh. but at least he's not Kim Anderson, so there's that.
Not surprising that today is the day for the craziest rumors. Hoiberg, Martin, Bennett, etc probably all bullshit
Hoiberg is just silly, that's not happening. I think things will start leaking out come Saturday as some of these targets start getting bounced. That's when I'll start giving credence to any rumors.
Spoiler Per Werner: So yesterday, I was told by a source that Illinois had their guy. Couldn't get enough to feel that's true. Just got a text from a pretty in-the-know source that "Illinois has its guy and it's a splash." I don't know who it is.
The lessoned to be learned for the cuonzo Martin hire is 99% of this stuff is done behind closed doors. He lost last night and has a job today. That deal has been done for a while. Similarly there's good reason to believe Whitman has his guy and is biding his time
Yep. I think Martin's a threat to us right now. Not sure I'll be saying that in 3 years. Losing those two recruits would suck, so we really have to hope that our guy loses in the tournament by Sunday. We don't need 2 weeks going by before those two guys know who their coach is. It's also important that we continue to win in the NIT so Walker stays as long as possible
100% agree about winning, one of the subplots I was watching for last night. Should be able to beat boise state which would keep walker until at least next week
Level of concern from 1-10? Bennett is a Midwest guy but not sure what he wants that he doesn't already have in Cville
Not that I feel a tiny bit confident it's Bennett, but I think it's almost a certainty that whoever the coach is, he's coaching in the tournament.
With the Bennett rumor coming up, he's far and away the best candidate and my #1 choice. Still not buying it as a realistic rumor. I'm guessing it's going to be one of the Drew's
Obviously huge homer opinion, but that's not a Bennett move. Can't imagine it. You guys should hire Buzz Williams IMO JMO
Top 5 coach money? Nah, not for dominating a bad conference year in and year out. Dude is a good coach, but he hasn't earned 5 million a year at this point.
Supposedly Whitman told the BOT today he needs $25 mil for the hire, they have some private donors. Wouldn't have fired Groce if he didn't have a plan (think cubit) and that the belief is whitman thinks he can get 3 guys right now. Probably can start figuring out who by who is still coaching next week and a hire hasn't been made.
I think people forget Marshall is already making 3. It's not that he's "worth" top 5 money, but he really likes where he is, and is already being paid very, very well. So understandably, it will probably take a massive raise to get him.
Supposedly Dayton is willing to go up to 3 to keep Archie, and with the Kochs backing Wichita there is good money in the mid major market right now.
As someone who grew up going to every Illini game played at the UC and many at Assembly Hall I just don't know where the figure of $4+ million could possibly be coming from. Illinois basketball is not that big of a brand. Im not sure UNC or Kentucky basketball is even that big of a brand. That's a shit load of money for a college basketball coach. Right? Right?? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I see that number
IL is a stupidly wealthy school with the backing of the B1G TV Money They just spent what $100 mil on the stadium and facilities? They better not cheap out on the hire
Right, you don't spend $170 mil on renovations and then have the stadium half empty because you spend $2.5 mil a year on a coach. That's bad business.
So the word on the street is the Illini are offering 4.5 million to Bennett. Any confirmation or thoughts?