Instead of accusing me for having a lack of understanding, please soundly contribute to this debate. I’m not even sure what point you’re trying to make, other than defending Jim Christian as a better basketball coach than he actually is. Don’t you think he’d have a HC job somewhere if the rest of the college basketball world thought so?

You’re also ignoring how much of a dumpster fire JC was at TCU (still Mountain West at the time) with one outlier season. For all the slack Groce got for Illinois, at least he put up some 20 win seasons and post-season appearances. There’s no comparison between the two resumes (if that’s what we’re even arguing here, idk you tell me).

Is anger management provided with medicare?

+1

Hey Jerry....you know what I love about the Groce era and what I think is impressive in his four years....the two NCAA banners he hung in the Convo, which includes one that says Sweet 16.

You keep sending those Christmas cards to Jimmy C congratulating him on that fantastic regular season co-championship with Akron and those three losses that Dambrot handed him that year as well.

JC is 0-7 in post season NCAA and NIT appearances in his career at three different schools.

Not that I want to keep this topic going and watch the blood flow with everyone's defense systems, but to get back on track for a second......

In reality, what Ohio A&M did was brilliant, considering Michigan, IF IN THE CURRENT SITUATION (yes I capitalized this because they have proven to be otherwise, and I got stories for days) has competent administration, Juwan Howard is canned shortly (let alone should have been canned last year). Ohio A&M has a one month head start to their coaching search and getting it over with while Michigan spins its wheels. Factor in the rumblings that this could be Izzo's last year and Woodson's ice is getting thin at Indiana, there are about to be some Big Ten jobs that are very, very, VERY enticing to any coach in the country and arguably could be one of the most intense and exciting off-season coaching changes in the Big Ten in a very long time if two dominoes fall......but I digress.

Realistically, for Ohio A&M, their options are going to lie with a few individuals. Knowing that Bjork will be calling the shots on this hire, do not be shocked to see a P5 coach show up on radars that no one is expecting (based on that theory, do not be shocked if Shaka Smart or a Bobby Hurley show up here). Bjork's record of hiring has proven to lean towards established coaches who have held jobs at a Power 5/6 level prior to ending up at Ole Miss or at Texas A&M. With it being Ohio A&M, the boosters are going to want someone with some ties to the region, but with Bjork, he can be a Crazy Ivan. So with that, my list of candidates of who I think will be in play (note: who I want and who they will choose are two different things, so keep in mind I am not advocating for all on this list, I am just playing with what I know):

1. Mick Cronin-UCLA: Based on the logic mentioned above, ticks a lot of the boxes required. And considering his seat is getting warm at UCLA, definitely someone that can show up.
2. Sean Miller-Xavier: Bjork is not afraid of going after someone a bit risky, but can win and win big. Also has ties to the Matta tree and is definitely someone that can be a candidate. Only thing that'll scare Ohio A&M folks again,
3. Lamont Paris-South Carolina: What he's doing at South Carolina has the faithful already down there excited but nervous for what post-March Madness looks like (been hearing it in Charlotte and Columbia non-stop from colleagues and friends)
4. Brad Brownell-Clemson: This would be the beyond left field hire, as he is someone who has spent a ton of time down south, but got his start at Wright State
5. Will Wade-McNeese State: Guy is proving he can coach his rear end off, and based on the fact Sean Miller is in discussion, do not be shocked to see similar discussion here.

Dusty May will be in the mix as well, but in reality either he's a highest bidder man (unless he makes another Final Four run) or holds out for the job at the dear old Alma Mater in Bloomington.....

Can they stick with Diebler? Not crazy to think, guy did play D-1 hoops at Valpo, brother played there, their dad coached in NW Ohio forever, currently has a win over Purdue, and if they make a serious run down the stretch, not out of left-field. But the guy more than likely has to qualify for the dance, which means 4 days in Minneapolis, and god speed on that gauntlet.

Realistically as well, do I think Boals or Groce have a shot? Absolutely. Do I think they are far below the pecking order of what has been listed above and understand what Bjork is looking for? Oh heck yes. If it gets to this point, then it means Ohio A&M dragged its feet on every hire and lost out on every candidate, established or up-and-coming. That's when you'll see a Chris Jent pop up even though I don't want him as coach....but what do I know.

Hopefully this puts a nice bow on the discussion, but knowing this channel, it'll lead to WW3.

If we all can unite on a candidate that should CLEARLY get the job, it's TOS. Here's to hoping that his application magically shows up here.....

OSU would be insane not to give Oats a blank check.

They are insane.

Indiana and UCLA are, at this point, B-tier jobs that think they're S-tier, no?

I hate being redundant. Groce last how long at Illinois? 5 years? JC lasted 7 at in the ACC.

Anther fact is the 14-2 team quit that year. Do employees quit on their boss in the corporate world?

I'm not advocating anything beyond statistics. Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. Did I criticize the sweet 16 year? If so, let me know what post to look back at. Thx.

+1. Thanks for comprehending a good part of what I was trying to convey. Sadly, a number of posters truly hate we didn't win the NCAA the year after Groce left. Apparently, it was a slam dunk, no pun intended.

I'd not want to compare academics with you since I only have 3 degrees in Math/Stats/Optimization/Engineering.


PS Hate to break your bubble but the Bobcats will not ever win the NCAA. So the drivel you ended with is just that, drivel. Try to stay on topic.

And Boals record versus Akron is stellar, right?

Jerry is back for another "L". Boals record against Akron, along with Toledo and Kent, are well documented in another thread I created. However, you know what Boals has that Jimmy C doesn't have Jerry....an NCAA Tournament appearance as coach of the Ohio Bobcats and an NCAA tourney win as coach of the Bobcats.

I'm convinced Jerry is either JC himself or his mom. Literally nothing else makes sense.

I was going to respond again but then, based on my observation above, I figured why bother?

We're nothing but a bunch of yocals that will never win a championship and should be thankful Jimmy graced us with his presence for 2 years and showed us all how to beat Central Michigan in January. What more can a bunch of ungrateful boobs expect? Boston College was smart enough to not have enough $ to buy out his contract. That and they knew their place as ACC bottom dwellers. They wouldn't dare be so foolish as to strive for NCAA success and try to increase their standing. Bottom dwellers don't get to just intermingle with the elites. They were so smart in fact they kept him around for all 7 years of hoping to not finish dead last. And they liked it. They knew their place.

Unlike you ungrateful lot.

P.S. My 3 Engineering degrees endorse this message.