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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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Dec 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Monmouth Hawks head coach King Rice (center) talks to his players on the court in the first half against the Georgetown Hoyas at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Monmouth Hawks head coach King Rice (center) talks to his players on the court in the first half against the Georgetown Hoyas at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Coach #3

One of the hot teams in the country is the Monmouth Hawks.  This is in part because they have a bench that has went viral with their dance moves, but also in part because they are a really good team this season.

The Hawks are led by head coach King Rice.  Rice is a former player at North Carolina under legendary coach Dean Smith.  He went to the Final 4 back in 1991 so he knows how to win.

Rice has now brought that winning mentality to Monmouth.  He is now in his 5th season with the program and has them on the right track.

Rice took over the Hawks after a 9-21 season.  He began rebuilding the program and had a record of 12-20 his first year.  Monmouth is now 23-6 overall and they still have 2 games remaining.  This is the most wins in a season in program history.

The success this season isn’t just from playing cake-walk programs either.  Monmouth has defeated UCLA and Georgetown on the road and they also beat USC and No. 17 Notre Dame as well.

In just 5 short seasons Rice has molded a team that was regularly beat by 30+ points into a team that now competes on a national level.

Monmouth is on the verge of clinching an NCAA Tournament berth and possibly being a very dangerous team come March.

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