Yes...even long time Bruce Weber supporters are saying things like:
"I hate to admit it ........but I have finally.....
been worn down. As much as I like Weber....the coach......I don't think he is going to make it here. No...I wouldn't fire him. But....if he can't recruit....eventually he won't win enough to be the coach of this program.
At a certain point.....you have to stop with all the excuses....and you have to get it done. In recruiting.....we just haven't gotten it done. Scheyer, Collins, Rose, Humpherey, Dunigan, Liggins, Gordon, Suggs, Beverley, Schumpert. Have there been reasons....sure.....but at some point.....you have to get it done. Even the blind squirrel theory...no?
This staff....and I mean the whole staff.....is just AWFUL at reading people and situations......AWFUL. They never seem to know when they have issues with kids.....or if kids want to go somwhere else. You can't always listen to what people say.....because people will tell you what you want to hear....it is a gift to be able read people.....and this staff just CAN'T do it. As a Staffing Manager for a Fortune 100 company.....this is what I do every day....and it pains me how bad Bruce and Co. are in this area.
Going forward....they need to fire an assistant coach today. They need to hire someone that is a well-known....big-time (that plays within the rules) recruiter (pay what it takes). If they can't get that....they need to hire the CPL Coach...or the AAU coach in Chicago....that can mend the most fences for this staff.
Because they can't close....can't read people......they need to cast a wider net.....and I mean with full blown committable offers. First come gets it. Can't be choosy......every good 2009...2010 player should have an offer.......forget about holding out for 1st or 2nd choice. And yes....you will miss on more kids this way......but you will also get more kids this way also.
I would be on the phone this minute offering the 3 Whitney Young kids.....they would all have offers today.....selling 3 amigos, etc. Paul, Diamond, Walker.....all would have offers.
Sorry to have sunk down this low......but just can't fathom that we can be this bad at recruiting.....at the University of Illinois."
They are getting tired of losing the Scheyers, the dunnigans, the Shumperts, the Suggs, the Gordons, etc...and settling for the semraus, Jamars, Mike Davis, Calvin Brock, and junior college kids that are basically all they have coming in but are really 2nd line 2-3 star recruits.
Weber will have to do something soon to stem the tide of discuntent, especially if they start losing games the fan base thinks they should be winning. Look for a full fledged mutiny if they lose games like Northeastern, Hawaii, Loyola, Tennessee St, etc.
