Welcome back. Time to talk women's hoops. If you haven't seen them yet, check out my Big Ten predictions for 2010-11 on the blog. Also, keep in mind Illinois likely will receive a WNIT bid late Monday night. Keep it on IlliniHQ.com for the latest info. So, let's get started.
Jim from Urbana, IL — 01:00 PM on Fri, 03/12/2010
As I watched Ohio State this year, I remarked several times that you can slow Lavender or Prahalis, but you cannot stop both.
Illinois will not have any high-talent seniors next year unlike other teams in the Big-10. Two years from now, that will be different.
Will Illinois be that threatening in two years?
JIm,
Very good question. I wish my crystal ball wasn't quite so fuzzy. I think the potential is there for Illinois to be much improved in two years, but I don't know if I can say they'll be on Ohio State's level. You're talking about a Top 10 program, one that's been built through many years of hard work and talent. Illinois has a ways to go to reach that type of achievement, but there's at least a start, given the young talent that's on the team. The key, clearly, is how well that talent develops. They need to get better, and how fast -- and how much -- will determine Illinois' success in the coming years. I don't know the answer to either of those points, but at least there is reason to be optimistic. The bottom level of the foundation is in place.
Efrem from Gilberts, Il — 01:03 PM on Fri, 03/12/2010
Hey Tony,
I still think Coach Law deserves more time. This year was her first year with her great recruiting class. I would think she needs at least two more years to prove that she can coach.
You seem to be saying next year is make or break for Coach. Is that fair?
Efrem,
I'm looking at it strictly from a practical standpoint. Here's what I mean: Jolette signed a five-year contract when she was hired, so there are 2 years remaining on that deal. Obviously, anyone who follows basketball to any degree would agree that there has been no reason so far to extend that deal beyond its original terms. Unquestionably, Illinois significantly underachieved in 2008 (all five starters back from a team that finished fourth in 2007) and in 2010. (The 2009 squad is hard to gauge because it was faced with an impossibly difficult nonconference schedule.) Even the players on those two teams would tell you that the team underachieved. This year's team, for example, believed it should have been in the NCAA tournament, yet it finished in a tie for 8th place in the Big Ten. So, obviously, the next two years are crucial in whether Ron Guenther will be able to extend Law's contract.
So, in that respect, next year becomes very important. It would seem, just from a logistical standpoint, that progress needs to be made next year in order for a contract extension. If the team finishes near the basement for the fourth straight season, an extension again wouldn't be warranted, and then Law would enter the 2011-12 season on the final year of her deal. That would put her in a very, very, very difficult spot. Just ask Cindy Stein, who coached under the final year of her contract at Missouri this season and talked about how rival coaches were using that uncertainty against her in recruiting. I can give you a bunch of other examples of coaches who had to work under the final year of their deals and how hard it was for them. You're putting your coach in an impossible situation under those conditions.
Welcome back. Time to talk women's hoops. If you haven't seen them yet, check out my Big Ten predictions for 2010-11 on the blog. Also, keep in mind Illinois likely will receive a WNIT bid late Monday night. Keep it on IlliniHQ.com for the latest info. So, let's get started.
As I watched Ohio State this year, I remarked several times that you can slow Lavender or Prahalis, but you cannot stop both.
Illinois will not have any high-talent seniors next year unlike other teams in the Big-10. Two years from now, that will be different.
Will Illinois be that threatening in two years?
JIm,
Very good question. I wish my crystal ball wasn't quite so fuzzy. I think the potential is there for Illinois to be much improved in two years, but I don't know if I can say they'll be on Ohio State's level. You're talking about a Top 10 program, one that's been built through many years of hard work and talent. Illinois has a ways to go to reach that type of achievement, but there's at least a start, given the young talent that's on the team. The key, clearly, is how well that talent develops. They need to get better, and how fast -- and how much -- will determine Illinois' success in the coming years. I don't know the answer to either of those points, but at least there is reason to be optimistic. The bottom level of the foundation is in place.
Hey Tony,
I still think Coach Law deserves more time. This year was her first year with her great recruiting class. I would think she needs at least two more years to prove that she can coach.
You seem to be saying next year is make or break for Coach. Is that fair?
Efrem,
I'm looking at it strictly from a practical standpoint. Here's what I mean: Jolette signed a five-year contract when she was hired, so there are 2 years remaining on that deal. Obviously, anyone who follows basketball to any degree would agree that there has been no reason so far to extend that deal beyond its original terms. Unquestionably, Illinois significantly underachieved in 2008 (all five starters back from a team that finished fourth in 2007) and in 2010. (The 2009 squad is hard to gauge because it was faced with an impossibly difficult nonconference schedule.) Even the players on those two teams would tell you that the team underachieved. This year's team, for example, believed it should have been in the NCAA tournament, yet it finished in a tie for 8th place in the Big Ten. So, obviously, the next two years are crucial in whether Ron Guenther will be able to extend Law's contract.
So, in that respect, next year becomes very important. It would seem, just from a logistical standpoint, that progress needs to be made next year in order for a contract extension. If the team finishes near the basement for the fourth straight season, an extension again wouldn't be warranted, and then Law would enter the 2011-12 season on the final year of her deal. That would put her in a very, very, very difficult spot. Just ask Cindy Stein, who coached under the final year of her contract at Missouri this season and talked about how rival coaches were using that uncertainty against her in recruiting. I can give you a bunch of other examples of coaches who had to work under the final year of their deals and how hard it was for them. You're putting your coach in an impossible situation under those conditions.
Anyone have anything else? You guys are making it easy on me today ....
OK, then, it's time for lunch. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Enjoy the basketball.