Hopefully, Groce and Illinois right for each other
Sometimes the right coach turns out to be the wrong coach and the wrong coach turns out to be the right coach.
Hello, John Groce.
Sometimes the right job turns out to be the wrong job and the wrong job turns out to be the right job.
Hello, Illinois basketball.
They can only hope this is a match made in mayhem. Athletic director Mike Thomas apparently is in the process of hiring Groce to succeed Bruce Weber as Illini coach.
Or is he?
Tuesday, reports indicated that Groce was hired and then he wasn't and there was a news conference to introduce him and then there wasn't.
Situation normal down there, folks.
Assuming Groce is the man, it's never good to have to ponder whether he settled for the Illini, they settled for him, or each settled for the other.
The hiring process has become a crapshoot at Illinois, from the university president down to the football and men's basketball coaches.
Maybe that's why I agree with the black trustees who hoped it was time for Illinois to hire the first black head coach in at least one of those sports.
Wouldn't Chris Rock at least provide some giggles on the way to the NIT or Hard Times Mississippi Bowl?
The pale Groce isn't a bad choice. Watching him coach Ohio in the NCAA Tournament, he reflected more energy than Illinois basketball has been accustomed to … even if the reflection was off his shaved head.
Either way, I might be complimenting Groce simply because he isn't Weber. Also, let's face it, I feared that after so many other coaches turned down Thomas he would wind up with Tim Beckman coaching both football and basketball.
Come to think of it, that's still possible until Groce is introduced.
What a shame that Illinois fans have to try to laugh to keep from crying when Illini basketball should be one of the top 10 or 15 programs in the country.
College basketball royalty traditionally consists of UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana and maybe Duke. Kentucky doesn't count because it's an NBA team, albeit one over the salary cap.
Beyond those, places like Connecticut, Syracuse, Florida, Michigan State and Ohio State are on the next level. Illinois belongs in that group.
The turmoil in the school administration … the black-white issue in coaching … the recent basketball slump under Weber … to say nothing of the price of beer, uh, make that gas on campus.
Those elements have conspired to stunt Illinois' basketball growth.
Trust me, the Illinois job's potential isn't getting worse. Leadership down there is getting more Animal Housesque.
With the high school talent in this state and region, Illinois should be one of college basketball's premier programs. That isn't the Illinois homer in me speaking because I never would suggest it about Illini football.
Illinois hoops aren't starting from zero. Until the past few years, for a quarter-century they were consistent qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament and twice reached the Final Four.
The step up from there isn't steep. That's why the state of Illinois' stumbling, bumbling, fumbling search for a basketball coach has been so maddening.
This is a better job than Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens turning it down might indicate.
Insert the right head coach — whoever that is — in the right environment and Illinois basketball will become all it should be.
mimrem@dailyherald.com