I'm not coming here to make excuses for BU or this year's team - he's responsible for putting together the roster and for the results as they stand YTD. With a whole new roster with the exception of DGL (a non-starter in previous seasons) I don't think any Illini fan knew what to expect. After a few games we could all see the talent and potential and our expectations rose. These last 3-4 weeks have been extremely frustrating and disappointing. But here is the point I am making: how many fan bases in the B1G conference are happy with their MBB HC? Certainly not IU, and pretty certain not PSU, UW, MN. What about Rutgers? - Pikiell has two Top 5 draft picks and they're NIT bound unless they win the B1G tournament. Think IA fans are pleased with McCaffery? USC is 6-8 in conference, OR 7-8, and NE is 7-8. How much more patience are NE fans going to have with Hoiberg? Altmann and Musselman might get passes this year due to past performance but I doubt their fan bases are giddy with excitement. Collins probably gets a pass from the NW fans due to injuries to key players. So we're not alone in questioning our HC.
I would guess there are only two fanbases truly pleased with their results YTD: Michigan and Wisconsin. Maybe Maryland. Izzo, Painter, and Cronin aren't feeling any heat because of their past track records but I'm guessing a good portion of their fanbases had higher expectations earlier this year.
Outside of the B1G, how do you think ND fans feel about Shrewsbury who was a boy wonder at PSU just 2 years ago? How about Arkansas, North Carolina? What if Kansas or Duke don't reach the E8, or even the FF with the expectations those fanbases have on an annual basis including this season? How about UConn and Hurley this year? Look at the records at Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia, Miami, NC State, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU. Those are not slouch programs if you look at the last 15-20 years. Bad years happen. BU will need to prove (again) next season that he has the coaching chops to keep the Illini at/near the top of the conference and as a viable S16 tournament team. HIs past track record says he is capable - time will tell.
I would guess there are only two fanbases truly pleased with their results YTD: Michigan and Wisconsin. Maybe Maryland. Izzo, Painter, and Cronin aren't feeling any heat because of their past track records but I'm guessing a good portion of their fanbases had higher expectations earlier this year.
Outside of the B1G, how do you think ND fans feel about Shrewsbury who was a boy wonder at PSU just 2 years ago? How about Arkansas, North Carolina? What if Kansas or Duke don't reach the E8, or even the FF with the expectations those fanbases have on an annual basis including this season? How about UConn and Hurley this year? Look at the records at Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia, Miami, NC State, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU. Those are not slouch programs if you look at the last 15-20 years. Bad years happen. BU will need to prove (again) next season that he has the coaching chops to keep the Illini at/near the top of the conference and as a viable S16 tournament team. HIs past track record says he is capable - time will tell.
