When Illinois upset Northwestern last Tuesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena, their head coaches left the gym confronting contrasting realities.
Illini coach John Groce pondered the promise implied by a road victory over his rivals and Wildcats coach Chris Collins braced himself for the panic felt by almost everybody outside his locker room.
What a difference a weekend makes.
On Monday, Collins woke up the frontrunner for Big Ten coach of the year after arguably the biggest victory in Northwestern basketball history while Groce faced an uncertain future in the wake of another insipid Illinois loss Saturday to Penn State.
Start with Northwestern, deservedly so, a local story that will continue to capture national curiosity by Selection Sunday on March 12. By the time that momentous day arrives, Collins should have the Wildcats focused on winning a couple games in the NCAA Tournament — more than just making it for the first time in 79 years. That says how much beating No. 7 Wisconsin in Madison without leading scorer Scottie Lindsey can change Northwestern’s mindset.
With the win came legitimacy, tangible proof that the Wildcats can beat a good team in a hostile environment under difficult circumstances. Guard Bryant McIntosh carried the Wildcats over a Badgers team that had won 19 straight at home with the kind of heady, all-around effort that suggested March could be his month. Northwestern defended Ethan Happ as well as any opponent had, demonstrating a toughness that reflected its coach.
Nothing could diminish the Wildcats’ effort, not even Wisconsin coach Greg Gard whining over a dunk by Sanjay Lumpkin with four seconds left that can be excused on a team experiencing this kind of enthusiasm for the first time. Northwestern should take the boos as a compliment after stamping itself an NCAA tournament team and playing as hard and smart as Collins hoped.
Northwestern coach Chris Collins on win over No. 7 Wisconsin
Northwestern coach Chris Collins reacts to the team’s 66-59 win over No. 7 Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)
Northwestern coach Chris Collins reacts to the team’s 66-59 win over No. 7 Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)
See more videos
It was the kind of inspired effort that changed the way you view a team, from wondering whether Northwestern will make the field of 68 to thinking the Wildcats could sneak into the Sweet 16. Collins won’t let his team get ahead of itself, but preparing everybody for a tournament run rather than just an entry could relieve any pressure that might mount amid the hype over Northwestern’s six remaining regular-season games.
Lindsey’s uncertain status poses some unwelcome adversity, and perhaps anxiety, but if he receives medical clearance in the next week that will leave Collins enough time to get Northwestern to peak at the right time.
Illinois, meanwhile, appears headed in the opposite direction.
Only one Big Ten team, in fact, has more league losses than Illinois — Rutgers. Nobody should be surprised if Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman considers the Illini’s performance in Groce’s fifth season unacceptable and fires a coach currently 32-52 overall in the Big Ten. It boggles the mind why the Illini keep regressing under Groce, a likeable, indefatigable coach with his priorities in the right place. But even he knows major-college athletics come down to winning and getting the most out of talent, neither of which Groce has done consistently enough.
Illinois, 14-12, plays enough winnable games in its final five to eke out a record above .500 and qualify for the NIT — but should have higher standards at this stage of Groce’s tenure.
Photos from the game on Feb. 11, 2017, in Champaign.
Fred Hoiberg rumors already have made their way into print downstate — it wouldn’t be the first time Whitman hired a former pro coach from Chicago, and he seems happy so far with Illini football coach Lovie Smith.
The former Iowa State coach fits better in Champaign than he does with the Bulls but, as soft as a landing as Illinois would provide Hoiberg, nothing indicates he is going anywhere but back to the United Center. A potential Illinois vacancy would attract interest from established coaches with Big Ten connections — speculation surrounds California’s Cuonzo Martin — especially with a highly regarded recruiting class next year and an arena that just underwent a $170 million renovation.
Unfortunately, the Illini have given crowds little reason to flock to the State Farm Center. The Illini play five seniors but too often resemble an inexperienced team prone to inexplicable ups and downs. They oddly lack an identifiable trait for a team under a fifth-year coach. As evidence of that elusive identity, they have used four different starting lineups the past four games. But perhaps the most indicting proof of the need for change came from Groce himself when he called out his upperclassmen after the Penn State game for lacking competitiveness.
"I’m disappointed we didn’t have it as fully as we did Tuesday night,” Groce said. "I thought the older guys would be better. I’m not trying to point a finger at them because we’re all in this together…I just expect more from those older guys. I’m not picking on them. It’s just reality.”
Keeping it real, the end appears near for Groce.
And this looks like the start of something special for Collins and Northwestern.
dhaugh@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @DavidHaugh
(Shannon Ryan)
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
