Josh Whitman is still looking for the right head coach to lead the Illinois basketball program. Who will it be? What names still remain? I have your full breakdown.
Anybody else tired of constantly refreshing twitter for a “Werner Bomb” or potentially a “Woj Bomb” (if it is Monty Williams)? I am, but yet here we are. No news has come, but there may be some news on the horizon. I think there could possibly be an announcement after this weekend of tournament action, but much remains to be seen.
News broke that Kevin Keatts, formerly of UNC-Wilmington, took the North Carolina State job according to Jeff Goodman on twitter.
New NC State coach Kevin Keatts contract terms: 6 years, 2.2 million per season. https://t.co/QxcBLTaqwn
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 18, 2017
What does this mean for the Illinois basketball program? Well, money means a lot here. Whitman could have easily blown the door off 2.2 million, but obviously, he did not. So, this should tell fans that Whitman is shooting much higher. How much higher do you ask?
The big names that are being reported now are Tony Bennett (UVA), Gregg Marshall (Wichita State), and Archie Miller (Dayton). Monty Williams has also been in the conversation despite the Woj Bomb that came out about a week ago. Some people in the “Twitterverse” have suggested that Williams may actually be the leading candidate for the job. Other names such as brothers Scott Drew and Bryce Drew have been thrown around, but with Whitman being so silent about everything, it is truly hard to tell.
Every one of those names is an upgrade over John Groce. The Illini have lost their fallback options in Cuonzo Martin and Keatts, and the Indiana job just opened up. Whitman might want to move fast, and maybe he already has. He works quietly, and he may just have his guy ready to go.
The Illini nation should know soon enough. I just ask to hang tight, and please make sure you are reading trustworthy information. We are all clamoring for as much info as we can get. Make sure you follow the Writing Illini account on twitter for the real breaking news regarding the coaching search.
Next: Don’t put too much stock into Chris Holtmann’s words
Candidates Remaining:
- Tony Bennett
- Gregg Marshall
- Archie Miller
- Tim Jankovic
- Monty Williams (maybe)
Candidates Off the Board:
- Cuonzo Martin (Missouri)
- Kevin Keatts (NC State)