Inside the Hall - Latest Comments in Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

The Fake Gimel Martinez — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:23:54 -0000

You're kinda right, but kinda wrong. Last year, Joe Crawford had difficulty getting into Billy Gillispie's system. But his progress was hindered by an injury he had early in the year, AND the fact that the whole friggin' team had problems getting into Billy Gillispie's system. Joe was accused of acting stubborn by members of the media, but Gillsipie defended him. Once the team finally caught on -- and Billy adjusted his system to fit the personnel better -- they really took off. Joe Crawford said this at our NCAA loss to Marquette:

"He's done more for me than a lot of people in my life," Crawford said. "He changed the outlook everyone had on me. He changed me as a person. He got me believing. He's done so much for me and I love him for that. I don't know how I could repay him, ever."

That was after just one year with Gillispie. So maybe the Crawford family was impressed by Joe's turnaround and want the same with Jordan? I don't know that. I think Jordan might fit the "lead guard" type responsibilities Gillispie wants, but I'm not for sure about Jordan's assist and court management ability. And Kentucky has plenty of depth at the 2-guard spot.

Edit: I forgot to mention one thing. If Jordan comes to UK, I honestly fear for his life in 2009-10 when we return to Assembly Hall. I don't see how he makes it from the bus to the locker room without two gunshot wounds. (I keed, I keed!)

So, a couple of tasteless jokes as I part:

* You think CBS is trying to shuffle this year's UK/IU game off national TV? Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

* Those chants of "Jor-dan's Bet-ter" back in Assembly Hall will be really, really stinging if Jordan chooses UK. Just sayin'.

Stay strong, Hoosier faithful. I may passionately want your team to lose, but I take no joy from you guys suffering from the aftershocks of a cheater.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Uncle Joey — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:26:21 -0000

wow. next year is going to be interesting, to say the least.....

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

CBinOR — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:40:01 -0000

this from our friends at the Hoosier Report:
Returning scholarship players: former invited walk-on Kyle Taber (Sr.).

Incoming scholarship players who will be eligible in 2008-09: Tom Pritchard (F/C from Ohio, freshman); Matt Roth (G from Illinois, freshman); Devan Dumes (guard from Decatur Central/Eastern Michigan/Vincennes, junior); Nick Williams (guard from Alabama, former Marquette recruit); Verdell Jones (Illinois); Tijan Jobe (center from Olney Central JC, junior).

Returning walk-ons: Brett Finkelmeier (sophomore guard).

Incoming walk-ons: Daniel Moore (guard from Carmel); Kory Barnett (guard from Rochester); Broderick Lewis (guard from Lafayette Jefferson)

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

woodpecker — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:23:45 -0000

Blah, Blah, Blah! ... poor kids they had no leadership, what did Dan try to do? And look what it got him. TC is no fool, he is cleaning house and I love it! Keep making excuses for these poor missled "kids"

yours truly
w. bowling

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Hoosiergirl — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:21:05 -0000

Mine is of my dog! (or at least one of them)

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

hoosiergal — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:06:17 -0000

My avatar my granddaughter and myself at Midnight Madness (Hoosier Hysteria) last fall. Kicks butt with me!

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

jgon86 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:02:58 -0000

Listen to relief the tension here, why don't we have an avatar/picture contest. I think mine kicks butt. I mean when you can combine elvis with Mr. Met you could never go wrong.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

hoosierfan27 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:59:58 -0000

Jobe is NOT starting

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

hoosierfan27 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:58:56 -0000

Whoa 76,81,and 87. Its way early to even be mentioning this team in the same sentence with those teams.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

SB_Hoosier — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:42:40 -0000

Not that he couldn't go to another Big 10 school, but I believe if he does, he has to pay his own way.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

MikeinNC — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:46:16 -0000

I think this gives the program the completely fresh start that is needed. Regardless of how next year turns out, we are bringing in the right kind of players and we have the right coach to mold this into a team we can all be proud of....I am not bothered by this at all, next year was going to be a huge challenge with or without Crawford.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

JerryCT — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:01:59 -0000

Looking at the potential bright side, DRAKE last year had a great season with little more than high character kids that did not give up on anything on either end of the floor , in practice and in games.

I cannot wait for the kids to start working out together to find out:

1. who will be their leader ------> Dumes ? Taber ? Jones ?
2. who will get the points ------> Dumes, williams , Jones, Pritchard
3. who will lead our defense ------> Jobe , Jones , Dumes ?
4. what will the team be good at ------> ball pressure ?
5. What will we be bad at ------> rebounding ?
6. How does TC handle losing -------> with optimism ?

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

ALH_00 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:02:57 -0000

"lethargic" was referring to JC's hustle on defense. I seem to recall many transition buckets (particularly 3's) when JC either failed to get back, or got back, but didn't man-up. I'm not reviewing tapes or anything, just my general impression...one that I believe was held by most posters on this site throughout the season.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:39:14 -0000

well put.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:38:41 -0000

Well, both of those programs have the stink of, as a certain former coach put it, 400 hundred pounds of butter sliding up and down the sidelines.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:32:59 -0000

Gilchrist might have some serious baggage being toted around behind him, too.

Of course, if it wasn't for the situation in Bloomington, Maryland's defections would be more in the spotlight.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:31:32 -0000

He doesn't have any four star recruits because there weren't any left by the time he was able to get in here and get things rolling recruiting-wise, not because of any failure on his part.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:30:13 -0000

Yeah, but Gordon also had no leash on him, no one saying "Look, son, that 30 footer with someone in your face, might not be the shot we need right now."

And the entire team was sloppy and lethargic, not just Crawford or Gordon. That's a coaching failure more than a failure in the player. And I think we'll all agree that the coaching situation was suboptimal this year.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Alex Bozich — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:28:48 -0000

Two programs known for their outstanding citizens -- right?

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:26:47 -0000

"these are not missled individuals they are grown ups."

Yes, because we all know that adults never ever get misled. Peer pressure ends shortly after middle school, right?

"The problem with to many college athletes today is that they feel they are entitled to something."

They are entitled to something: not having to suffer the insults of morons on the internet with whom they've never had any contact and who hide behind assumed names, insulting them for making a decision that they feel is right because it doesn't fit in with anonymous poster's archaic view of the world.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

hoostheman — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:24:22 -0000

HA! I can't be the only one that sees humor here...

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:23:00 -0000

And this clearly was all Crawford's doing. No outside forces working on him at all. Crawford was the cancer that caused this team to fall apart down the stretch. Yep.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Seth — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:21:32 -0000

I don't see why its a shock he would leave. He probably would like the chance to win a championship and that isn't happening at IU for the next couple of years. Not to mention maybe he doesn't fit with the way Crean plays. Think about it, Crean has been able to recruit a number of guards to add to this team, and I'd assume they are players that fit his system. He may not be a fit for this team. All you people that trash these players for leaving or whatever are pathetic, your like the guy or girl that got dumped and now bashes their ex....grow up

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Matt_J — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:19:08 -0000

Yeah, because getting ten scholarship players over two seasons in an abbreviated recruiting cycle with self-imposed recruiting sanctions is definitely a sign of piss-poor recruiting. Not to mention the invited walk-ons who now look a little less like they'll just be fingers stuck in dams.

Yep, time to fire Tom Crean. This man just cannot connect with the types of athletes Indiana needs in order to become once again one of the top programs in the nation. Hey...I hear Sean Sutton's not doing much these days.

Re: Jordan Crawford not returning to IU

Alex Bozich — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:16:28 -0000

To answer your question, Dumes is more of a scorer than he is a point guard. However, I would expect him to split time between handling the ball and putting points on the board. I think he has a chance to surprise a lot of people next season and he's a great kid.