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Topic: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Topic: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

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Donuts
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Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 10:57:55 AM

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brooklyns-caris-lev...

LeVert was his latest podcast guest.

He explains early in the episode how John Groce basically ghosted him from a few days before the NCAA Tournament until they ran into each other the next season when Michigan played Illinois.

LeVert says there is no hard feelings towards Groce, but for him to just abandon him and never say a word is not a good look.

It all ended up working out for LeVert a bit more than Groce in the Big Ten.

Last Edited: 4/29/2019 11:03:14 AM by Donuts

GoCats105
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 11:29:34 AM

Sooooooo can we conclude from this that Groce had a new job lined up before Ohio even made its run in 2012? Speculation or reading between the lines?

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 12:02:20 PM

Not necessarily lined up or even the works but it must have been something he was at least thinking about and did not want to have to discuss with a recruit.

Donuts
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 12:22:47 PM

UpSan Bobcat wrote:

Not necessarily lined up or even the works but it must have been something he was at least thinking about and did not want to have to discuss with a recruit.

LeVert was committed. The coach leaves and never says a word to him until he�s basically forced to 9 months later. Don�t most coaches at least give a quick call in basketball to tell their recruit personally that their plan might now be altered?

In the pod, LeVert sounded like he was left just with no information. Groce didn�t have to recruit him to Illinois. I�d at least just want a call, even if it�s just to confirm he was leaving and to still wish him luck. Groce addressed the team, right? He can�t contact 3-4 signed recruits (whatever number we had).

IceCat76
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 12:41:40 PM

Donuts wrote:

UpSan Bobcat wrote:

Not necessarily lined up or even the works but it must have been something he was at least thinking about and did not want to have to discuss with a recruit.

Couple things to keep in mind.

1. People are assuming that LeVert is remembering precisely the timing. It could easily be Groce stopped talking around the Final 4, not the Sweet 16.

2. Coaches, at least those with some integrity, typically avoid talking to signed recruits when they take a new job. Trying to flip a signed recruit is not well thought of let alone a potential NCAA violations for tampering.

I never interacted with Groce so I can't speak to his people skills. But do you think Saul called his new recruits when he left? Or did Christian call his? I doubt it. Coaches have a hard enough time talking to their current players let alone calling a HS kid and saying I'm out of here but you're stuck.

Donuts
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 3:21:28 PM

IceCat76 wrote:

Donuts wrote:

UpSan Bobcat wrote:

Not necessarily lined up or even the works but it must have been something he was at least thinking about and did not want to have to discuss with a recruit.

He said he never heard from Groce during the NCAA Tournament (wouldn't figure he would), and learned about Groce leaving by watching the ESPN bottom line. Woj even asked him again to clear up what he said, and LeVert said he never heard or spoke to Groce again until the next year. As important as the college decision is, I don't think this is something LeVert would misremember.

I'm not talking about Groce recruiting him to go to Illinois. I think the bigger sign of integrity is leaving kids who are signed out to dry, not saying a word to them again. Once signed, they are part of the team just as much as the players in class. LeVert's college career was turned upside down by Groce's decision. No explanation, no quick call, no text even. To me, that's bad form, and Woj seemed to react the same way to that information.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 4:33:06 PM

I remember reading when Levert was at Michigan that he would not have hesitated to follow Groce to Illinois if he had just asked. I remember some on this board speculated that he did not want to make it seem like he was trying to empty the cupboard of the team he was leaving and the program that gave him his first head coaching opportunity.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

longtiimelurker
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 4/29/2019 4:45:56 PM

I think if you go back to the thread and take a look back in time you will see that Groce did not talk to him at all. There were ample reports in articles and internet reports that Caris was out there waiting for contact. None came. I suspect the supposition that Groce was not wanting to tamper or influence was correct and presume that he hoped the next coach would re recruit LeVert.
I am curious if there were any recruits at Xavier or Butler when Matta and he moved that were treated similarly. Does anyone have real information on Coaching Changes and how the athletes they have NLIs from are treated and what the institution will pursue as far as blocking an athlete from following a coach? I would assume the AD has the final say on release.

In any case, there is a gray area where a coach should probably not contact an athlete he has recruited that intersects with the area where the family and the athlete have a relationship that has been built over time with phone calls, visits and "selling" the program and the school. The school is where the athlete signed and has a vested interest as well as resources consumed in recruiting the athlete. In this case one would think an assistant coach remaining (Fuss at the time) would contact the athlete and express Groce's regrets and maybe thoughts on the next step.

EDIT. To echo Andrew's thoughts, I think that is correct and can be found in the articles that ensued that he would have followed to Illinois but was not asked. I am pretty sure Groce states somewhere in those that he was pretty sure Caris would have followed but he was trying to stay above that particular drama.

Last Edited: 4/29/2019 4:48:46 PM by longtiimelurker

Ohio69
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/3/2019 8:25:17 AM

Pretty much America believes several P5 coaches who still have their jobs are involved in bribing players to play for them.

And then we have a coach who doesn't want to call a recruit to tell him he's taken another job due to NCAA issues?

Hmmmmm..... Strange times.

Anyway in an alternate universe Lavert and Nance Jr. led OHIO to the Final 4. I'm sure of it....

Last Edited: 5/3/2019 8:26:26 AM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

The Better Ohio Bobcat
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/3/2019 9:47:23 AM

Ohio69 wrote:

Who is Nance Jr.?

shabamon
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/3/2019 11:44:57 AM

Larry Nance Jr. Went to Revere high school near Akron and then Wyoming. Was probably attainable for us.

The Optimist
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/3/2019 12:23:24 PM

My take: this proves Groce didn�t actually want to leave and felt bad about it/couldn�t take the heat of telling admins/fan/players who cared about program. So why leave? Wife must have hated Athens

I've seen crazier things happen.

FearLeon
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/3/2019 12:27:05 PM

[QUOTE=The Optimist] My take: this proves Groce didn�t actually want to leave and felt bad about it/couldn�t take the heat of telling admins/fan/players who cared about program.

Why leave? He had a million ($$$$$$$) reasons. When you get a chance to make that big of a jump financially and take care of your family....it's hard to say no. And it might be the only chance you get. And in Groce's case, he might never get another opportunity coach in a Power 5 again and make that cash again.

I always wondered if Larry Hunter ever regretted not taking the Kansas State job. He never got another opportunity like that the rest of his career.

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

longtiimelurker
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/6/2019 7:51:51 AM

The Optimist wrote:

This is how fiction becomes fact. Anyone here that knew and interacted with Mrs Groce knows she loved and still loves Athens. Shameful post even in jest.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/6/2019 8:05:18 AM

Pretty sure Optimist was very much joking, I believe it was a subtle jab at Mrs O'Shea or at least the perception of Mrs. Oshea.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

GraffZ06
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RE: Caris LeVert Podcast With Woj (Talks about Ohio recruiting)

Posted: 5/6/2019 9:50:15 AM

Anyone remember the video clip - not even sure it was on YouTube - could have just been a video on ohiobobcats.com - where TOS was shooting layups after practice in the background...and he missed like 5 in a row, and even air-balled one or two? That my friends was high quality entertainment. I remember laughing so hard at that.

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