I think that Marshall is very happy @ WSU and in Wichita. It is one of the better if not the best job in the MVC. The coach's and players have all of the benefits of most BCS programs. Mens' BB is the premier sport in the city. WSU is a great job.
IMO, if Marshall stays, WSU will be viewed like Butler, Gonzaga, and the other top non BCS. The media doesn't call those programs mid major anymore.
I would be mildly suprised if he were to leave and I would be shocked if he went to Illinois. He said last year that it would take an unbeleivable offer...I guess $2,000,000, upper half ACC school, close to home, a storied program that won a national championship in the modern era, and did I mention $2,000,000, isn't unbeleivable. The stars were lined up last season and he didn't jump.
Marshall isn't like a lot of the coach's who go thru the MVC. Most of those guys come in looking at the MVC as a stepping stone and jump at the first BCS offer they get (see ZO). He didn't jump easily at Winthrop either. DA stayed at Creighton for a long time and it took an "unbeleivable" offer to get him to go. I would like to think Marshall has similar loyalty.
If and I mean
IF he leaves, I highly doubt that he goes anywhere that would have a colder climate than Wichita. That would be a strike against Illinios.
Also, BW has not been a total failure @ Illinois. Expectations are very high there and they are not an elite program like KY, Duke, KU, NC etc. Strike 2
BW came from the MVC....do you think they want to go down that road again ? Strike 3
Then again.......he could go to Illinois.