March 06--Illinois basketball coach John Groce can breathe a sigh of relief -- for now.
On the same day Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman fired football coach Bill Cubit, he declared support for Groce.
"I'm very confident in John's leadership in our basketball program," Whitman said Saturday at a news conference in Champaign. "I feel very good about the leadership he's giving our young men. He has gone through difficult circumstances this year. I'm really excited about what the future looks like."
Groce has come under pressure as the Illini appear headed toward a third straight season without an NCAA tournament appearance, barring a Big Ten tournament championship. The Illini made the NCAA tournament in 2013, Groce's first season. They earned a spot in the NIT last season.
Three years would be the longest the Illini have gone without an NCAA tournament bid since 1978-80.
A rash of injuries has hurt the Illini, who are 13-17 overall and 5-12 in the Big Ten entering their regular-season finale Sunday at Penn State. The Big Ten tournament begins Wednesday in Indianapolis.
In 2014, Illinois gave Groce a contract extension through 2018-19 and pays him about $1.7 million annually.
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