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A Final Analysis on the 2015-16 Hoosiers


IndyHutch
  • For the third time in five seasons, the Indiana basketball season ended in the Sweet Sixteen. Some feel the season was a success while others were disappointed with the finish. Here's my take.

There’s a simple reason why Indiana was eliminated from the 2016 NCAA Tournament by top-seeded North Carolina Friday night in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.

 

The Hoosiers lost to the better team.

 

You can flip this one any way you choose, but in the end that should be your conclusion. In 18 years covering IU basketball, I've seen a lot of seasons end where you were convinced that wasn't the case. Friday night, that's exactly what happened though: IU lost to a better team.

 

This wasn’t 2013 when Indiana was a No. 1 seed and lost to a No. 4 in Syracuse because it couldn’t solve the zone defense.

 

This wasn't a team that lost to Cleveland State or Richmond or Kent State or a host of other opponents where IU was heavily favored.

 

This was a No. 5 seeded Indiana team that beat a good Kentucky team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen and then simply went up against a red hot North Carolina team. A North Carolina team that when it reached the Sweet Sixteen was considered a co-favorite with Kansas to take home the national title. 

 

Indiana didn’t play poorly Friday night. North Carolina just played better.

 

Sure, we all would have liked to have seen a contribution from Nick Zeisloft.

 

We all would have liked to have seen Troy Williams play in the first half like he did in the second.

 

We all would have liked to have seen what Indiana could have done had Robert Johnson been cleared to play.

 

We would have liked to have seen what would have happened if North Carolina wasn't in the bonus in the second half before the first media timeout.

 

We all would have liked to have seen Indiana come charging out of the second half locker room and quickly get the deficit into single digits and get back into the game.

 

But none of that was to be because North Carolina is a really good basketball team. If the Tar Heels play the way they did Friday night against IU, I think they win the national championship.

 

They were that good Friday night.

 

What I don’t get is the people I’ve encountered in message board threads and Twitter today who are taking Tom Crean to task for the way the season ended. They somehow want to place all the blame there for the fact that North Carolina couldn’t miss from the field and was too much for IU inside.

 

A buddy of mine sent me a text after Indiana beat Kentucky and asked me if I thought that victory would silence the Crean haters at least for this season?

 

I gave him my standard, canned answer on that topic: I told him it would silence the critics until Indiana’s next loss. That’s simply the nature of the beast with IU basketball fans.

 

But here’s my take there: I think this was Tom Crean’s best coaching job at Indiana. Hands down. If we go back to the way this team looked through the first eight games, how it played in Maui and how it looked against Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and then fast forward to IU winning the outright Big Ten title by two full games, I don’t know how you could reach any other conclusion.

 

This wasn't a GREAT Indiana basketball team. It was a good Indiana team that played its roles really well. And Crean and his staff are responsible for getting players to accept those roles.

 

Crean got people to buy in. Players did a great job in embracing their roles. And they days of IU playing a turnstile type of defense came to an end. And because of that, this was a fun team to watch. A team that never gave up and had three wins in games where it trailed by 10 points or more.

 

It was a team that got IU fans excited about Indiana basketball again. A few hours before the game, I was across the street from the Wells Fargo Center and saw a crowd of more than 1,000 IU fans packed to a sports bar called McFadden's for the Big Red Warmup. It was a madhouse. People were excited. People believed that IU could do the improbable and knock off the No. 1 seed in the East. They believed in Indiana basketball and that was fun to see.

 

But I think that's because Crean and his staff got this team to a place that few would have expected them to be, especially after that 5-3 start to the season. It was a team filled with the kinds of kids you wanted wearing the IU basketball uniform. It was the kind of team that you truly felt had a chance to win every game they played.

 

That’s also why Friday night was disappointing. Because you got the feeling that Indiana was playing its best basketball at the absolute best possible time. You didn’t feel like the team had run out of gas like you did in the last few years with Bob Knight at the helm, or more recently, perhaps how you felt in 2013.

 

This team had confidence, energy, focus and a cast of characters that you wanted to root for. Players like O.G. Anunoby, Thomas Bryant, Juwan Morgan, Collin Hartman, Yogi Ferrell, Max Bielfeldt, Nick Zeisloft, Robert Johnson and Troy Williams were players who endeared themselves to IU fans everywhere.

 

In the end, however, the Hoosiers went up against a better team.

 

And that’s the reality, plain and simple, coming out of Friday night’s 101-86 loss to North Carolina.

 

Indiana lost to the better team.



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If there's anyone that doesn't think this season was a complete success, then WOW.

Enjoy the damn journey. Yes there were down moments early in the year but who is really going to remember that? You're going to remember Yogi going for the kill at Carver Hawkeye.

This season was one of the best in school history all things considered.

Can you not enjoy a journey without also being disappointed and frustrated by the destination and increasingly insecure about your next trip? Glad you had such a fun car to ride in but concerned the crash at the end was inevitable? Not sure if your driver can take the car rebuilt from the broken pieces to take you on the same or better journey next year?

I'll remember Yogi going for the kill, but will my daughter?

You're right about it being one of the best in school history though, I'd only rank it behind 1940, 1953, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 2002. Easily in the Top 16.

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1 hour ago, MartintheMopMan said:

 

 

 

 

Can you not enjoy a journey without also being disappointed and frustrated by the destination and increasingly insecure about your next trip? Glad you had such a fun car to ride in but concerned the crash at the end was inevitable? Not sure if your driver can take the car rebuilt from the broken pieces to take you on the same or better journey next year?

2012

 

I'll remember Yogi going for the kill, but will my daughter?

 

You're right about it being one of the best in school history though, I'd only rank it behind 1940, 1953, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 2002. Easily in the Top 16.

I'm not saying anything about our history, but in the context of what we've achieved since the '90's? This has definitely been one of our best seasons. Unfortunate, but it's the current reality. The only thing that sucks worse than making three Sweet Sixteens since 2012 is not making it out of the first weekend 11 out of 12 times since 1995.

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It was a good year. Probably Crean's 3rd best. His best was obviously 12-13. 11-12 was a better team as well. But both years we had a possible lottery pick and one of the 10 or 15 best players in Indiana history.. Cody Zeller. The beginning sucked.. we were garbage. But the rest was good except the PSU and UM game.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BtownBanners mobile app

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I'm not saying anything about our history, but in the context of what we've achieved since the '90's? This has definitely been one of our best seasons. Unfortunate, but it's the current reality. The only thing that sucks worse than making three Sweet Sixteens since 2012 is not making it out of the first weekend 11 out of 12 times since 1995.

Once you divide our program between the last 20 years and the time before, then we shouldn't have any expectations at all. We are blueblooded because of the history, otherwise we'd be less notable than Maryland or Oregon. Our history prior to 1995 is inextricably part of who we are and while division may explain why young people are satisfied with a few Sweet Sixteens every few years, it can't make it any more acceptable as a program.

I think you added "2012" as a response to my first point but it's hard to tell on the app. My response however is kind of just "exactly".

Going with the analogy, we fixed up our ride after 11-12 and really tricked it out. Threw a 5.86 L Pushrod V8 in that beast and told the world we were coming. They took note, ranked us high, and we started enjoying the ride. We finally reached the last few laps again and... Son of a botched job the car exploded again! Even worse than before!

We said it would be ok and really next year is when we can win the race. Nope. Didn't qualify. Well, lots of teams have that issue maybe next year. Qualified with bad position and were out immediately. Next year though... Ooo boy! This is the best ride in 20 years but ($&@$;;;&" the engine exploded in the exact same place again! Maybe next year...

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11 hours ago, HoosierCoop said:

Well written and very accurate.

I think many of the IU fans had one foot out the door (including myself) of each game that IU played.

That was the biggest mystery to this team; which team would show up.

I see the team's success from a long time fan viewpoint of faith.  I have faith that we can be great again.

There is definitely an excitement next year that this team will be great.  We should have all the elements to be winners.

Our team got a taste of top level talent and competed.

Our Freshman will mature nicely and we will have upperclass leadership.

We all need to carry this momentum and mindset over to the next season.

Sadly, that is now many months away.

I think a lot of people feel the way you do. I think a lot of people are wondering how much of the current team comes back and what some of the decisions are going to do for this team moving forward. I'll be posting a story about that within an hour or two and we can share some opinions on that.

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I'm sure he's going to explore his options but kind of like Cody Zeller, while I think he could go out and be a top 15-20 pick this year, I think if he waits he moves into the top 10. That is if he can build on the season that he just had.

Couldn't agree more with you on this. Would also like to add. TB has a really smooth and soft shooting touch outside. He puts in the offseason work that he needs on this, he becomes a very dangerous pick and pop/roll player. The better he becomes with his outside shot the more confident/comfortable face up player.

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Couldn't agree more with you on this. Would also like to add. TB has a really smooth and soft shooting touch outside. He puts in the offseason work that he needs on this, he becomes a very dangerous pick and pop/roll player. The better he becomes with his outside shot the more confident/comfortable face up player.

If you're a lottery pick for sure then you should leave. The fact Zeller didn't leave after his freshman year was a surprise because he was a lock in the lottery.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BtownBanners mobile app

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Welcome to Btownbanners. Like I told someone else, I really believe that losing to North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen is better from a perception standpoint with some IU fans than losing to either Wisconsin or Notre Dame in the Elite Eight because both would have been worse seeds and both would have been teams IU had already beaten this season.

I would have gone ape sh*t if we beat UNC and lost to either ND or WISCY. I mean would have completely lost my mind.

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4 minutes ago, IU Hoosier41 said:

I would have gone ape sh*t if we beat UNC and lost to either ND or WISCY. I mean would have completely lost my mind.

Me too. I would have bought tickets to the Final Four on Friday night too. 

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Once you divide our program between the last 20 years and the time before, then we shouldn't have any expectations at all. We are blueblooded because of the history, otherwise we'd be less notable than Maryland or Oregon. Our history prior to 1995 is inextricably part of who we are and while division may explain why young people are satisfied with a few Sweet Sixteens every few years, it can't make it any more acceptable as a program.

I think you added "2012" as a response to my first point but it's hard to tell on the app. My response however is kind of just "exactly".

Going with the analogy, we fixed up our ride after 11-12 and really tricked it out. Threw a 5.86 L Pushrod V8 in that beast and told the world we were coming. They took note, ranked us high, and we started enjoying the ride. We finally reached the last few laps again and... Son of a botched job the car exploded again! Even worse than before!

We said it would be ok and really next year is when we can win the race. Nope. Didn't qualify. Well, lots of teams have that issue maybe next year. Qualified with bad position and were out immediately. Next year though... Ooo boy! This is the best ride in 20 years but ($&@$;;;&" the engine exploded in the exact same place again! Maybe next year...

I get it, our history is a huge part of who we are, but so is the recent history and present time.

To be honest, your analogy has completely lost its ability to demonstrate whatever point you're trying to make.

All I'm saying is that we're seeing the most consistency we've had in over 20 years, and watched our current coach make improvements in his coaching style and philosophy this year. I don't really understand how losing to UNC made you so doom and gloom, but I really think we're getting to a stronger position as a program than we've been in a long time. We'll see how it plays out, but until then, hope you enjoy the ride! (Guess we're kind of back to the car analogy)

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I think Crean has us a step below where I think the program should be. That being consist contenders for B1G championships. 2 outright in 4 years is nothing to put down but those 8th and 7th place finishes are a bit off, a 4th and 5th would be much better. I don't put a ton of emphasis on the BTT but winning more than a game every few seasons would be nice.

The NCAA tourney is a bit of a crapshoot. I like the three Sweet 16s in five years. The one year of missing the NCAA and NIT stings and shouldn't happen going forward. The first round loss is also difficult to be happy about. Going forward an average of Sweet 16s would be nice. A Final Four or more to offset a first weekend loss could have the fan base feeling better too.

I don't think we're too far off from those annual achievements. I do believe that is about the ceiling we will have with Crean. I'm not happy about it but after the last 20 years that's something to build on. If he Crean can get to that level I will be happy until an elite coach is hired by an IU administration stops talking about being elite and shows actions they want to be elite again.

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I get it, our history is a huge part of who we are, but so is the recent history and present time.

To be honest, your analogy has completely lost its ability to demonstrate whatever point you're trying to make.

All I'm saying is that we're seeing the most consistency we've had in over 20 years, and watched our current coach make improvements in his coaching style and philosophy this year. I don't really understand how losing to UNC made you so doom and gloom, but I really think we're getting to a stronger position as a program than we've been in a long time. We'll see how it plays out, but until then, hope you enjoy the ride! (Guess we're kind of back to the car analogy)

Can't help my analogies that I'm mostly on my phone now either.

I'm not doom and gloom, this is just my standard offseason emotion. How can anyone have hope or happiness knowing there is no more Indiana basketball for 7 months? And we are less than a week away from losing all college ball!

At least there are spring games soon and old college football on YouTube.

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