Yay, my turn.

If memory serves, Rich McBride, Jamar Smith, Brian Randle, Chester Frazier, Brian Carlwell, and possibly others, all missed games due to injury or other dubious behavior. How does a coach succeed like that? I don’t want to sound like Dusty Baker, but these aren’t just Weber’s “horses,” this is four-fifths of the Illini’s best starting lineup.

Despite the injuries and felonies, Bruce Weber mustered a 21-10 overall record with a 9-7 Big Ten record. That’s a lot to be proud of.

On the other hand, the recruiting mishaps make Weber a less desirable coach. Let’s get right into it:

Bruce Weber can’t coach

Definitely false. We’ve seen that Bruce Weber can coach. I think Roy Williams is the only guy with the inability to coach to reach the NCAA finals. Weber was one incredibly lucky shot away from a perfect season up to the finals. His teams are getting progressively worse now, not because he can’t coach, but because he can’t recruit. But, again, to do what he did this year, with THAT team, is impressive.

Bruce Weber will leave if another offer comes

I have a hard time seeing any other offers coming, but should one come along, I do think Weber would take it. He’ll move on where talent already exists, a la Roger Clemens. Sure, I respect him for turning mediocre teams into good teams, but wouldn’t he (and shouldn’t he) go somewhere and turn a good team into a great one? I think so.

Ron Guenther will re-evaluate Bruce Weber’s job status after the 2007-08 season

I guess. The Illini are going to get worse again, probably A LOT worse. That sort of downward trend is the type of thing “ownership” likes to get rid of, regardless of whose fault it is.

Bruce Weber will lead this team to a Big Ten title next year

Well that’s just silly.

Bruce Weber will lead this team to a Final Four in the next five years

I thought the questions were going to get harder.

Bruce Weber is the right guy for the Illini

My heart is saying YES, YES; my mind is saying no, no.