Bruce Weber, who underachieved at Illinois the last few years, is going to be named the coach at Kansas State, replacing Frank Martin. What in the Wide Wide World of Sports is going on here?

Bruce Weber may be a big name because he coached at Illinois (and was fired), but his recent history suggests this is not a good hire. He was at Southern Illinois. He took over for Bill Self at Illinois, having initial success with the players that Self recruited, as Illinois went to the Championship Game in his second season. When he then had to build his own program, he failed.

At a press conference after the Purdue loss, he talked about now building a winning culture–in Year Nine! His last six seasons, since 2007: #12 seed, first round loss; missed tournament; #5 seed, first round loss; missed tournament; #9 seed, second round loss; missed tournament. Three misses and only one win in the NCAA tournament over six years. This year's team lost 12 of its last 14 games.

Now, he gets to go against Bill Self's players rather than get to coach them for a few years.

Former Kansas State star player Jacob Pullen is not a fan of the move, either, to say the least.

Reaction in Kansas State nation is likely to be negative. Frank Martin was very popular. In recent days, ESPN Analyst Doug Gottlieb had even popped up in conversations and was interested in the job. That would have been a risk, but at least something different. Bruce Weber's last six years don't inspire confidence that he will continue what Martin started after the dust settles in a few years. The main thing to look forward to is what shade of ugly purple jacket Weber will sport.

[US Presswire]