I think Groce will take the Illinois job. He's an excellent recruiter, and even if he doesn't win the Big Ten every year, he should be in the top 4-5 in the conference, which will get him an at-large bid every season. Oh yeah, he'll also be making a lot more money.
CBS Sports
has a running list of coaching change analysis. Here are the blurbs for Ohio and Miami.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Out: Ernie Zeigler - The former UCLA assistant was fired after a six-year stint in which he was 75-111 overall and 11-21 this past season.
Potential candidates: Steve Schmidt (Mott CC), Ric Wesley (Grand Valley State)
What we think: We've been told the school doesn't have a ton of money, so look for Schmidt -- who has won a ton of games and a pair of national titles in the junior college ranks -- and Wesley, who has spent nearly a decade at D-2 Grand Valley State -- to get a look.
MIAMI-OHIO
Out: Charlie Coles - The 70-year-old retired after numerous health issues. Coles was 263-224 in 16 seasons at the helm, but the program had started to take a dip recently. The Redhawks were 9-21 this past season.
Potential candidates: Jermaine Henderson (Miami), James Whitford (Arizona), Pat Kelsey (formerly of Xavier and Wake Forest); Dane Fife (Michigan State), Jeff Boals (Ohio State), Dan Muller (Vanderbilt)
What we think: Henderson has been with Coles for nearly two decades as a player and coach, but we're told he likely won't be the guy. Whitford was on the staff at Miami for 11 years -- including for the 1999 Sweet 16 run. Fife could return to the head coaching ranks after a year at Michigan State and Boals and Muller are two rising assistants. This a quality list for thletic director Brad Bates.
And because it relates to Groce and OU:
ILLINOIS
Out: Bruce Weber - Spent nine years in Champaign and went 210-101, but the recent lack of success was his downfall. The Illini were 17-15 this season, 6-12 in Big Ten play and failed to get into the NCAA tournament for the second time in the last three years.
Potential candidates:John Groce (Ohio) Leonard Hamilton (Florida State), Reggie Theus (former New Mexico State coach), Anthony Grant (Alabama), Johnny Dawkins (Stanford)
What we think:VCU's ShakaSmart turned down athletic director Mike Thomas and so did Brad Stevens, so now it'll be interesting to see what Thomas has as Plan C. It looks like it'll be Ohio University's Groce, who led the Bobcats to the Sweet 16. Groce is also the guy who recruited Greg Oden and Mike Conley to Ohio State.