DISQUS

John Galt · 2 months ago

It's amazing, isn't it? The head coach of the Hoosiers is evidently the only member of Hoosier Nation that has no clue what the Hoosiers basketball team needs. I mean, it is clear that every person that participates in these forums is an expert on constructing a winning, successful basketball program. And yet, we are stuck doing boring jobs like accounting, engineering, construction, health care, etc., while Coach Crean, who has clearly demonstrated a lack of basketball knowledge with these outlandish scholarship offers, gets the job of a lifetime as coach of the Hoosiers. I watch more basketball on TV than anyone I know of....and that alone makes me more qualified to take the reins of the IU men's basketball program. I'm submitting my resume today.

Signed,

Sarcasm

because it's Indiana · 2 months ago

I'll be honest I think I'm pretty special. Thanks to me everyone in the United States is safe to get together to share ideas and opinions. Without me this forum might not even exist. In fact, because of me John can tell everyone here that we shouldn't talk. Believe it or not, I'm cool with that! John is right, most of the commenters are just regular joes that don't have all the information. But isn't that what makes it fun? I'm proud to give America that right.

Signed,

The First Amendment

CreamandCrimson · 2 months ago

I don't think there are too many of us claiming to know more about Tom Crean or the coaching staff. Nor are we saying we are experts that should have a job running a basketball program.

People are just questioning why another guard is being offered a scholarship when we have decent depth at that position and scholarships appear to be tight.

Again, we don't need to worry about the scholarship situation, it always works itself out. We are all fans of IU and everyone wants the best for the Hoosiers. Fan sites are a chance for fans to voice their opinion.

aerialM · 2 months ago

you're so clever. get over yourself. these message boards and websites exist for the opinions of the laymen. I don't think anyone on here claims to know more about what IU needs than our head coach and his staff. It's just, like, you know, our opinions, man...

illinoishoosier · 2 months ago

Haha...I couldnt have put it better myself

James · 2 months ago

I know people like to flip out because we are not getting a top 5 class every year...but just be patient. We have a great class of freshman who arent going anywhere (all will more than likely be 4 year players). We need competition in practice, and roleplayer/depth for the future. When this class comes in Creek an co will be juniors and be playing together at an extremely high level (hopefully). Although there is a need to bring in the best recruits every year...we have a hell of a class and they are going to be great players for a while. The reason we have the class we do this year is because they are a special group of kids who want to rebuild a program. It is hard to push that same idea on the next couple classes because the playing time will be a little more scarce and those positions are filled. Just remember that we are 6 win team, we are not going to get the best recruits. We have to win games first.

BGleas · 2 months ago

Everyone listen carefully...People are not questioning this offer because the kid isn't a 5-star!!

It's a combination of scholarship crunch and the fact that Sheehey's skill set seems redundant compared to what is already on the roster and have committed verbally in the next two years. His ranking does come into play because of the scholarship situation though, when we have people like Selby, Kendrick, Zeller, Christmas and Davis interested. Plus, those guys play positions of greater need.

That's why people are questioning this offer. It's not blindly shouting because he's not a 5-star player.

hoosierclarion · 2 months ago

I've always liked Steve Alford but his successes in coaching at NM, SWM and NM are in conferences against lesser competition. At Iowa his record showed he is human. I do wish him great fortune at NM.

nllspc · 2 months ago

There is evidently a self control problem when our staff enters Florida.

stevealford · 2 months ago

Maybe we have decided not to wait for Selby or Kendrick to make a decision.

Name · 2 months ago

David Williams, from what I have read, does not even start for his AAU team. The only way I would be happy about this offer being accepted is if it replaced David Williams, who seems to be a "mid major" at BEST. I'm sure he's a great kid but there is no way that he contributes to Indiana's accent back into national significance.

There are too many studs waiting in the next two classes for us to waste a scholarship on anyone to simply fill space. They HAVE to be contributors to warrant any consideration at this point.

aerialM · 2 months ago

hmmm...never had I heard his name mentioned. so, selby & kendrick out? or does crean know something we don't (david williams?) in any case, another guard, recruited by some highly academic schools. he'll help the apr score for sure...

gregmquinn · 2 months ago

I'm baffled. I realize that the coaching staff knows a lot more than I do, but do we really need more guards?!?

stevealford · 2 months ago

No we do not need guards, we need bigs and need them in a bad way soon. 2 of our 3 big men are foreigners who do not even know how to play the game.
At this rate hopefully we even have an oversign spot for Zeller if he decides he wants to come here.

CreamandCrimson · 2 months ago

Just like all of you, I am pretty puzzled by this. However, I don't think we need to worry a lot about the scholarship situation. Jody said in his chat with ITH the other day that the coaches always work this out and he has never seen it be a problem anywhere.

This is confusing but we don't need to worry about this taking a scholarship from Zeller or Jeremiah Davis.

phillip · 2 months ago

Well I guess we know where to find a new coach when Crean is done, which by what I'm hearing should be soon. Wow he has only coached one year give him a break!!!!!

stevealford · 2 months ago

I will be honest. I am not a fan of Tom Crean being the head coach. He went 6-25 for crying out loud. I am not a big fan of playing small ball and I am not a fan of his recruiting. (Jobe, Muniru, David Williams). Steve Alford went to New Mexico and led them to 24 wins his first year. We should have hired him.

Alex · 2 months ago

You're not serious, right?

GFDave · 2 months ago

I believe he is.

because it's Indiana · 2 months ago

Wow that certainly is...an opinion.

Even though the Big Ten was supposedly down last year I still think it's slightly easier to win in the Mountain West Conference. I wish Alford well, but I think his tenor at Iowa showed that he wasn't ready for a position at Indiana. It should also be noted that Alford inherited a future NBA PG in Justin Giddens during his 24 win season. They still lost in the first round of the NIT.

I personally will stick with "naturally caffeinated" Tom Crean.

stevealford · 2 months ago

Yes, I am serious. We need a Bob Knight disciple at the helm. Steve Alford has performed miracles with New Mexico. He performed miracles at SW Missouri St, He was unbelievable at Manchester College. Tom Crean was carried to one final four (which he lost) by Wade. Outside of that he has never been out of the 2nd round of the tournament. He has only made it out of the first round twice. I remember a time when IU fans would not accept a 6 win year no matter what the circumstances. Bob Knight would have won more than 6 wins with strictly walkons.

GFDave · 2 months ago

I like top ten recruiting classes. That's what Crean has signed so far. I like energetic play. That's what Crean espouses and delivers. I like the type of kids he's brought in. I like it that he gets what we're about. I like his openness and friendliness with the media and his approach to bringing the fans in on the program. I like it that he is a proven winner in a major D1 conference. I like it that he isn't going to cheat. I'll stick with the guy we got and not worry about the ones that we don't.

Alex · 2 months ago

He's been a DI coach since 1995 and has made four NCAA Tournament appearances. I'd hardly consider him a juggernaut.

stevealford · 2 months ago

So what do you think about Crean's resume that I just laid out? Steve Alford took SW Missouri St to the sweet 16. Crean has only been to sweet 16 one time in his career and it was because of Wade and it wasn't a team like SW Miss State.

BGleas · 2 months ago

Maybe Alford is better off at a lower level conference. Unlike Tom Crean, Alford has never taken a team from a major conference to the Final Four. Most of his coaching accomplishments seem to be at Manchester, SW Missouri and New Mexico.

because it's Indiana · 2 months ago

I never understood this argument. I went to IU when Bob Knight was coaching but I still don't get why we need a "Bob Knight disciple." Coach Knight was a legend, but now he is gone. Don't we just need a great coach period? Most people would say that Abraham Lincoln was a great president, but does every other president need to be a Lincoln disciple?

GFDave · 2 months ago

My take is that Crean has already offered schollies to a fair number of bigs: Zeller, Christmas, Plumlee, Jurkin, Murphy and Perea. Who knows who else will emerge later, especially in 2012 where 6' 7" kids that we're recruiting like Burgett and Kaminski might spurt up to 6' 9". I think we're okay. Crean isn't trying to field an under 6' 4" rec league team.

cooper · 2 months ago

I don't follow recruiting I have no clue if these high schoolers are good or not. Right or wrong, I rate how good an offer or commitment is by who else was interested or offered. NU, Stanford and GW don't exactly rank as the cream of the crop.

chihoosier · 2 months ago

So what happens when the next round of rankings come out and this guy is a top 100 recruit, would everyone before it then? 6-6 athletic kid, grade A student, that has a reputation for getting after it on the boards and playing defense and can knock down 3's.

While you are free to speak when you are basing your arguements on rankings that are done by 1 or 2 people per site, I will take a college coach who will get fired over taking a bad recruits as opposed to a ranking service where their jobs aren't on the line.

BGleas · 2 months ago

The objections aren't based solely on his rankings. The objection is that with limited scholarships remaining, we have plenty of similarly talented players at a similar ranking that play the same position already in the queue. What does this kid bring that some combination of Carlino, Ethrington, VO, Creek, VJIII and Williams don't already bring?

The general opinion is that we have bigger fish to fry (Zeller, Selby, Kendrick, Christmas, Davis) at positions that are more of a need (PG and PF/C).

Ben_M · 2 months ago

I haven't herd this name before and I have been looking up arcticles about Sheehey on the internent. Some list him as a gaurd at 6'5 others a small forward at 6'6. I'm sure the kid can play ball or else we wouldn't be recruiting him. I just feel we may be getting a little to hasty in dishing out scholarships. I could see it last year but Crean has a solid group of freshman now and things are going to get better. I think we have well rounded depth in the back court and would rather see the scholarship go to a kid that can just flat out do it all. I think that is the finishing piece to our puzzle. Well that and time to mature. Now I wasn't sure about Oladipo at first, but after I saw him play on youtube I really think he has some great abiltiy to attack the rim. He is ranked 133 but could probably just as easily be ranked 75. I really liked what I saw with him, but we should of stopped there with the 3 star players. I don't even know where David Williams came from. If he isn't starting for his AAU team that doesn't sound to good to me. Indiana hasn't been able to keep in state talent. Crean addressed this when he was hired but other than Hulls we haven't seen any signatures from in state kids yet. I really feel this recruiting class will make a good enough stride to land a 4 or 5 star big man and a 4 or 5 gaurd and that is what we need. I guess what I'm saying is that IU needs to let the program develop this year and it may catch the eyes of more talented prospects. In today's game its easier to rebound from what happened to IU because most great players leave after 2 years. I would just like to see IU go after some more talented prospects, if we continue to recruit mediocore recruits we will continue to be a mediocore program.

stevealford · 2 months ago

Do you guys feel that 6 wins is acceptable at IU under any circumstances?
It is amazing to me how complacent our fan base has become.

BGleas · 2 months ago

You literally have zero comprehension of the situation.

Alex · 2 months ago

The program was decimated by Sampson. The fact that IU won six games is a credit to Crean. Had he not brought in the recruits he did for last season, IU would have fielded a team of walk-ons and not won a game.

because it's Indiana · 2 months ago

Okay now I get it...another poser (imposter) IU fan trying to stir up trouble. I'm new to this blog, but I'm starting to think this happens frequently. It's sad really. No more energy wasted on "stevealford." Even non IU fans applaud the effort by Crean and our Hoosiers last year under ridiculous circumstances. What the team did last year was inspiring regardless of the record. "Complacent?" why don't you try, Excellence in the face of adversity. What would a Bob Knight disciple say about our "scrappy, nasty" team?

stevealford · 2 months ago

You are sorely mistaken if you think I am not a real fan. I only say what I believe to make our team better. I also said Mike Davis was a bad hire and I did say Kelvin Sampson was a bad hire and people like you defended them. But look how they turned out. I like Crean as a person, but he is just not the right coach. IU seems incapable of making a good hire since Knight. Knight should never have been fired.

Diesel · 2 months ago

I've accused stevealford in the past of not being and IU fan based on some of his comments, but he hasn't seemed to go away. I'm guessing he's one of the "I'm not an IU fan, I'm a Bob Knight fan" types.

GFDave · 2 months ago

Diesel is on to something. What these Knightettes don't get is that the vast majority of the fan base wants to put the whole thing to bed and move on. Knight isn't coming back and Alford is not our coach; insisting that it should have been otherwise isn't going to make it so.

because it's Indiana · 2 months ago

Can we start a new blog for him somewhere else so he can have a proper home? Maybe call it "insidetheblind."

GFDave · 2 months ago

In response to Ben_M:

You make some goods points and I think a number of the other posters here feel more or less the same way. I'm not as concerned, but I get why people are.

But I must respectfully disagree regarding your take on in-state kids. Crean managed to hold on to Elston. He signed Hulls. Dumas is a hoosier state kid he brought in. All of the walk-ons are too. Etherington and Carlino (naturalized hoosier) are going to sign. He's hot after a lot of in-state kids for 2011 and 2012. I think Crean knows what he's doing and will make sure we have hoosiers playing for the Hoosiers.

Ben_M · 2 months ago

I keep forgetting about Etherington. I'm sorry for that, but matt is from Arizona. I guess you could say he did hold on to Elston, but he really isn't a true Crean recruit. (Not that I'm not glad we have him either!). I guess what I'm saying is really is that d. williams is from florida and kind of off the raday...sheehey is from florida...and oladiapo is from Maryland. We have davis, zeller, patterson, ect. right here in Indiana. We need to connect on these home state recruits because not only do they have more of a sense of what is Indiana Basketball, but they are flat out great players! Other teams are winning championships with our kids!!!! Could you imagine if we would of had Oden, Conley, Randolf, Gardner, May, ect....You guys know the list as well as I do. If we were to sign these kids Indiana would have more championships in the last 15 years. The thing is.....is that these kids in this state are still going to go to college and win championships...and I would like to see them won at IU by Indiana kids!

Ben_M · 2 months ago

didn't mean to say i'm not glad we have eltson I meant to say I was glad we have him sorry for the confusion!!!

Diesel · 2 months ago

Can't say I'm particularly excited about the offer, but I'm not going to dis it either. I think this goes to show and I've said it in the past that Crean is definitely going to take another player in the 2010 class. He is the ABC man. We were behind from a recruiting standpoint in this class

Parallel our 09 class with Purdue's 07 class of Hummel and Johnson and the bunch, Purdue didn't sign top 10 classes the next 2 years, and we aren't going to either. But now, given their success they arleady have 2 studs for the 2012 class because those recruits know what they are going to get in Painter as a coach and Purdue as a team. I think getting Carlino and Etherington shows that IU is at a better place then Purdue was in a comparable time frame.

John Galt · 2 months ago

Hey Steve, do you recall that your hero, Bobby Knight, lost in the first or second round of the NCAA tourney the final 6 years of his tenure at IU? And many times, those losses were to much lesser teams.

Yeah, he would have won a whole bunch of games with last year's talent. Hell, he couldn't even win with Top 10 talent anymore. So go hop in your Delorean and set the Flux Capacitor to 1985. Say "hi" to Doc Brown and George McFly for me.

Ben_M · 2 months ago

I loved Bob Knight and I think it would have been interesting seeing what Alford could have done at Indiana. We kind of give him a bad wrap for his stint at IOWA! but really had Alford gone straight to Indiana and not to Iowa it would of made a huge difference in the way his career played out. I mean Steve Alford's name means something in Indiana, but not so much elsewhere. He couldn't really take the IU job when Knight was fired. It was the whole respect for Knight thing mostly I think, but still there isn't really much respect to change coaching jobs in the same conference either. Plus there were big shoes to fill and the pressure would of been emense. I think had Knight retired the winningest NCAA div 1 coach ever at Indiana and things were good.....I really think Alford would have took the job and I think he would of done far better at Indiana then he did at Iowa. All in all, it means nothing though. Tom Crean is our coach. He respects the traditions at IU. He will get kids that aren't embarrassing to the program or university. He respects his job and we should all fully support him. The guy has energy and a never give up attitude those are both things we needed desperately with the mess we were in. Lets get behind our coach and our program.

stevealford · 2 months ago

Bob Knight built this program so I don't understand why you are disrespecting him. You must be an imposter. I have heard no valid points yet on Crean's lack of success as a coach. He's made one sweet sixteen in his career and that was with Wade.
You can blindly follow every coach this organization hires, but the bottom line is they have all been mistakes since Bobby. I am tired of hearing excuses for a 6 win season. Steve Alford has never had a 6 win season and he has never had the advantage of coaching at a school like IU.

Kelin Blab · 2 months ago

Wow I go see a movie and all hell breaks loose...(Couples Retreat 3.5 stars, good laughs)

I use to be on the "we need bigs" bandwagon but I am off now. Someone pointed out, Bawa, Elston, TP, Bobby C, and Wateford ARE BIGS. My ITH faithful, don't expect Crean to recruit the back to the basket Patrick Ewing types....Hell Zeller isn't even that type of player.

Will we get bigs yes...a bunch of them...no.....
I think we will see more this year on what type of team Crean will have where kids like VO, Etherington, Bobby C, and MAYBE Sheehey could play a huge role. I expect an uptempo, create match up problems type of offense.....and an uptempo defense.

Secondly...IU recruiting in Florida is a good thing, Stacy Poole considered us, Will Sheehey is on the TOP florida AAU team, to build a national powerhouse, you have to recruit nationally ....and I have heard Crean say...get ON the train now or the train is leaving....

Sure we want JK, Selby etc...but IU should not stop looking for talent that WANT to be at IU and are ready to make a decision....

Finally ..I do NOT believe for a second stevealford is legit.....which is why I really don't bother....

stevealford · 2 months ago

Why do you say I am not legit? I love IU and have been a die hard fan since the 80's. I don't like Crean as a coach. I think he is a great guy and I love some of the stuff he has done like bring back the mop lady and reach out to former players. He is better than Davis or Sampson , but I believe IU deserves a top notch coach from within the family. CREAN HAS MADE 1 SWEET 16 IN HIS CAREER (WITH WADE). You will probably never see this though because my posts are now not being included for some reason.

Alex · 2 months ago

If your sole purpose here is to instigate and argue that Steve Alford should be the coach and not Tom Crean, you're probably not going to win many friends in this community.

And the reason your posts aren't showing up immediately is that you aren't registered. If you registered with Disqus or logged in with Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo! or Open ID, then your posts would be published in real time without moderation.

GFDave · 2 months ago

The 1980's? Do you think that's the start of IU basketball history? I was watching IU on a black and white Zenith with my dad in the early 60s, years after Branch and years before Bob. Branch McCracken won 2 titles! We also had many, many good teams that didn't dance in the NCAAs because of the one team per conference rule. IU basketball isn't about a single person.

BaseballBuc · 2 months ago

Agreed. As much as everybody wants IU to lock up all the talented indiana players, it just isnt possible to take them all. I agree that we need to do better at closing the borders, but theres talent everywhere you just have to have the right coaches to go and find it. Crean wants and is still searching for that BIG guard that can score from anywhere and defend anyone. I like who he is recruiting, for example Derek Elston, he isnt your typical PF/C in the Big Ten, but he REALLY runs the floor well and is very versatile. These players combined with Great point guards and and role player shooting guards (like Sheehey) will produce great teams. Lastly, if we hold schollies for Selby, Kendrick, etc. what happens if they committ elsewhere, and we are left with nobody?

Kelin Blab · 2 months ago

I agree 100%, I don't want IU to be in another KI situtation where we are holding schollies and our breath for a kid who hasn't decided. Will that happen, sometimes yes, but at some point and I will keep saying it...either you are on the train or the train is leaving......

stevealford....I can't begin to even discuss how your arguments don't hold any merit...IU deserves a top notch coach??? Like steve alford ofcourse......or wait I agree maybe Roy Williams would have come to IU and dealt with sanctions, less scholarships, and recruiting restrictions...oh and a starting PG who is 5'9 and a walk on.....For these reasons, I know why are are here, your team (Purdue, KY, or Illinois) does not have a fanbase that is as passionate as IU and you have nothing better to do.....

Diesel · 2 months ago

Kelin, this is a great point here. We will have a better idea what type a team Crean will put on the floor this season, and based so far on his interviews and the open practice it appears that is a running team or as he put it trying to establish a "running mentality". In order to do that, we need athletes and finishers, and lots of them. And even though a Will Sheehey may seem like a piece we already have, we need to be able to go 10 deep easy. Just picture MSU in the NCAA last year....

Nothing gets the IU faithful in an uproar like offering a 3-star big guard since the "steaming pile of 2 guard" comment...

Diesel · 2 months ago

Jody Demling reporting that Will Sheehey has an IU visit set for Nov 6.

hoosierclarion · 2 months ago

I became an IU fan between the two titles Coach McCracken's teams won. Hard to believe I am entering my seventh decade still excited to be an IU fan. I'll always be a staunch and loyal supporter of Coach Knight because I think he is the best. Tom Crean is the right coach for IU. Starting after the exodus with near nothing, his energy and motivation to recruit and coach the team he assembled late for last year is hell of an achievement. Now in only the second year we are going to see big dividends with adding his new class of recruits. I like his coaching style, his energy, his recruiting skills and the image he is projecting of IU has been needed for a long time. Like RMK he also has read the rule book. When RMK came to the B10 there was no way his methodical offense and man only defense could be successful against racehorses. After two seasons other teams started to experiment with those styles that just wouldn't work in the B10. Results are the only thing that count. The good results count and the bad results count. I am excited about Coach Crean, his present recruits and his future commits to attain the results he envisions to hang more banners. My thoughts on how to do it can be just that or wasted words.

iumarine · 2 months ago

Everyone has a right to their opinion. Somebody mentioned the 1st amendment the other day. As for me I am a CTC supporter. Based on the state of the program he inherited from KS, I gave him a pass on last year's record. The state of this program was worse than that of a program that got a death penalty. Based on the lack of talent on the team when CTC took over, I think it would be fair to look back in 3 years determine whether or not he has been successful. Keep in mind that he pulled in this current top 10 class while under a NCAA penalty cloud. I am amazed that he was able to pull this off. Now he is battling the record from last year which is hurting recruiting a little. Keep in mind all of the negative recruiting that other coaches do. Don't you think they remind potential IU recruits about our rebuilding process and how long it might take!

The difference is that some fans want to live in the past and some of us know how to move on. I remember from the CBK era teams in the 80's and 90's that we were always short on the bigs and don't forget the transfers. As far as Knight disciples don't forget Mike Davis and Dan Dakich. Gotta love them.

Go Hoosiers!

hoosierclarion · 2 months ago

Dakich is a well regarded college BB warrior. Davis well..................I'll leave it to UAB fans.