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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Head Coach Candidates If Groce Is Gone

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 28, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jaylon Tate (1), guard Malcolm Hill (21), guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5), guard Kendrick Nunn (25), and center Maverick Morgan (22) look on from the court against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at State Farm Center. The Buckeyes won in overtime 68 to 63. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jaylon Tate (1), guard Malcolm Hill (21), guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5), guard Kendrick Nunn (25), and center Maverick Morgan (22) look on from the court against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at State Farm Center. The Buckeyes won in overtime 68 to 63. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Stony Brook Seawolves head coach Steve Pikiell during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gym. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Stony Brook Seawolves head coach Steve Pikiell during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gym. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Coach #4

The Stony Brook Seawolves sound like a ridiculous team that is a little too low for Illinois to go and get a head coach from, but this isn’t just an ordinary head coach.

Steve Pikiell has brought this Stony Brook program from the depths of the D-I basketball world all the way to a contender to make the NCAA Tournament.

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The Seawolves are currently 23-5 overall with a 14-1 conference record.  This season they nearly knocked off No. 17 Vanderbilt but fell just short in overtime on the road.  They also played Notre Dame tough until the middle of the 2nd half as well.

Another great win for the program was last season.  Stony Brook went to Washington and defeated the No. 13 Huskies 62-57.

Pikiell took the reins back in 2005-06 when this team was a just 4-24.  He has implemented his plans throughout the last decade and now Stony Brook is a team vying for an NCAA Tournament berth with a record of 23-5.

Pikiell might not be my first choice but he sure is a solid candidate for new AD Josh Whitman to consider.

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