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There are 50+ former IU players who feel betrayed and who are bitter about what's happened down there.  There is a long story behind all of this; and I don't know that I've got every detail right; but I promise this is pretty close, and the Pitino point I'll make is absolutely 100% fact, though I doubt many know about it.   Many don't know the story, so here it is...   When Knight was fired and replaced with Davis, many former IU guys thought after that season, IU should have done a search and included a few of them.  At the time, Alford was the name flying around, but Woodson was mentioned, Wittman was mentioned, and I think others were suggested.  Smart, maybe....don't remember.  Alford was never contacted, and I have heard multiple times he and Wittman both contacted IU, but were not called back.   Then, when Davis quit, again, they felt like an IU guy should be considered or at least be given an opportunity.  At that time, the overwhelming name was Wittman, and many of the old players contacted IU on his behalf including many on the 1976 team.  You may have heard Kitchell's dis-pleasure at the time, but he in particular was very vocal.   Another guy IU could have had at the time was Rick Pitino, who absolutely knew what he was asking for, and he'd have been okay with most of the former players because he would have had several IU guys involved.  His best friend was and is very active on the IU Foundation, and Pitino pro-actively called IU telling them he wanted our job.  Indiana instead says no thanks, and hires Sampson because he's a minority.  That's what happened.  Adam Herbert wants to keep the NAACP off his back and show the world Davis' forced resignation was not racial; but in reality, he never should have been the permanent coach in the first place.  Since he was, Herbert (who is an abject moron) felt he had to make a statement.   Sampson gets hired, and you all know the mess that happened with Benson, etc. Dakich was as upset as anyone both times because he too felt Indiana should have kept things in the family, but was upset - as many players were - because the administration kept making decision after decision NOT to.  But...Sampson comes calling when the sparks start to fly.  Needs stability on his staff, and Dakich swallows the sword.  Takes a job on Sampson's staff.      Sampson's situation explodes, Dakich is there to break the fall and takes over a complete mess of a program, which he begins to clean up because he knows it needs to be done...and most importantly, understands WHY.   What was going on is not okay at Indiana, and he knew it.  Goes to work on hitting the reset button, even though he knows it'll cost IU games and probably a season.   Gets rid of bad apples (guys smoking pot in the locker room, not going to class, etc) like Armon Bassett, etc..  Turns everything over so the cupboard is bare, and Indiana can start over.  Only he's not given a chance at the job.  No "IU guy" is granted as much as a phone call, let alone an interview.   So he's upset...as are many former players, and they have every right to be.  Hell, I'M upset.  And I understand without question of any issue at all.  I agree with all of them.   You all can make this solely about Dakich, but it's not.  It's not about his being the right fit or not.  It's about how things have been handled, and how the program's been handled and dealt with since Knight was fired.  These guys all built the program all of us want back.  They feel like they should have some voice in how the program moves forward, and it can be argued whether or not they deserve it; but the way they've all been treated is flat disrespectful in their eyes, and I agree with them 100%.     The fact is, Indiana's decision to hire Mike Davis was a bad one, and IU has never recovered.  They've continued to make bad decisions, and the Sampson hire was the straw that broke the camel's back.  More and more former IU players came out against it and many said they'd never return...including Benson and Scott May, who was also unhappy with the way his son Sean was or was not recruited by Indiana.  The players are very upset at past and current administrations; and even Crean's hiring and devoiding his bench of IU guys was not well received, until he hired Calbert Cheaney.  He has since reached out to most all of the former players, but the reality is most still see the off court crap and lack of discipline, along with the lack of local recruiting focus and kids coming here who have no clue where they are; and they're still upset.  And I don't blame them.  I know a few personally, and they feel the same way Dakich does.  Dakich just has a radio show and is on TV a lot.  Brian Evans is not.  Michael Lewis is not.  Tom Abernathy is not.  Etc.     This is not about Dakich being the coach or not being the coach.  His coaching record is 159-144 and he has zero post season victories.  He's smarter than that.  He knows his resume does not qualify him.   But he DOES understand Indiana Basketball and the culture it used to promote.  He DOES care about getting that back.  This is about an administration making conscious decisions to go away from their roots and away from their culture.  The more it fails and the more time that passes; the more they (and I, and many others) get upset because it's embarrassing.   Indiana is a special, unique place.  Dakich beliieves it, I believe it, and I know lots of others believe it.   Then you have the group that thinks he's pissed simply because he didn't get the IU head coach's job.  Most are likely younger and don't really know the whole story.  This ain't about Dan Dakich.  It ain't that simple;that's not why he's upset, and it's a lot deeper than that. 

I honestly don't understand how anyone can make any form of the "local kids" argument in a thread about the defensive failures of a local kid. Good and bad kids come from everywhere, it has absolutely nothing to do with recruiting Indiana or Florida and everything to do with recruiting the right kids from everywhere. It's more about the right kids than it is local kids.   If it's not about geography, then there is no need for you to mention recruiting locally at all.   Not even going to mention the "local kids" all love and admire other schools, they don't have some magic love for IU. See Grant Gelon's favorite college team and players.

  He's not bashing a college kid, he's just criticizing his ability to play defense, which is something he is paid to do.   If he said, "James Blackmon is ugly and has no friends," then yeah, that'd be different.

If I'm remembering correctly, two of JBJ's offensive rebounds were the on the same play (got his own offensive rebound twice) and it was a play where he made an awful drive and he had Bryant wide open for a dump-off dunk, but he instead drove into two guys and threw it up. That's an instance where stats alone don't tell the story.   

Turned on the game late yesterday to watch the final 10 minutes of the half. After 5 minutes I turned it off and went to a museum instead.   I'll watch more once B1G play starts, but even the wins just aren't satisfying. I'm sick of watching Crean coach and the product he has developed. Regardless of where the blame falls, coach vs. players, I'm sick of the inconsistency and rollercoaster style of play.   Pretty bummed that I feel this way, but IU basketball puts me in a bad mood win or lose this season.

Look, I don't care if people agree with Dakich or not.   I happen to most of the time, but that's not the point.   This is a guy who knows more about this program - the one we all care about - than almost anyone in the world.   He's got 100x more invested in it than any of us.  He comments on our games FAR differently than others because he's emotionally invested.   Some folks need to grow much thicker skins.  These aren't true "kids" he's criticizing.  They're young men; and many are coddled, self-centered, entitled brats.  When he says "Blackmon couldn't guard a chair," that's a coach talking to a kid trying to motivate him.  And you know what?  Blackmon's defense is awful.  So is Ferrell's, and he pointed that out, too.  Calling him an "old man bashing college kids" is just laughable.  He has a college aged kid, and he ain't that old.  He and every "old man" who's still of working age, a partcipating parent, and active in life has every right in the world to be critical because they have wisdom, knowledge, and recent experience.  It would do some young people very well to listen and stop labeling people as "old" if they happen to be older than you are.  Get rid of the ego and get over whatever offended you.  "Old men" are frequently absolutely right.  And you will be, too.  I've learned a lot from "old men," and I'm smart enough to seek them out.  Dakich is one - if I were a college player - I'd listen to.  Leaving whatever you think his ego is out of it, the man gets it, and he's absolutely right FAR more often than he's wrong.     When he says someone quit on a play....he's right.  They did.  And Indiana fans (and former players, alums, etc) know it's complete crap to play that way.   When he comments about Indiana trying to trick people...he's right.   They do.  Crean does.  And they're horrible at it.  It hurts them.   He cares.    He IS bitter about IU, and not just because he didn't get the job.  He's said many of the same things I have over the years.  The focus has come off of what made Indiana great while he was there as a player and a coach, and he's sad to see it go downhill the way it has.  I would be too.  He's commented many times on Indiana's recruiting budget, and he questions, like I do, why Crean doesn't spend 90% of his time within 200 miles of Bloomington.  He wonders why Indiana needs to spend $700,000 on recruiting which is twice more than ANY other Big Ten team, and 10x more than Wisconsin!   And you know what?  Those are legitimate, fair, reasonable points.  He knows it doesn't have to be that way, and he has said frequently it has netted Indiana next to nothing while bringing in a few kids who tarnished the program and Crean with it.  Meanwhile, in West Lafayette.....   He understands WHY Indiana Basketball is what it is and was a big part of it getting to that point.  Anyone begrudges him for being a little bitter, go talk to Brian Evans, Kent Benson, Scott May, Tom Abernathy, Jim Thomas, Steve Eyl, Joe Hillman about it.  They're bitter, too.  They just don't have a radio show.     Dakich isn't full of himself.  Dakich gives a damn.  And I love him for it.   Yes, he's old school; but think about who his mentor was.  He also has a dad who he frequently praises for being tough on him.  Good for Dad.  Good for Dan.  The world needs more tough love.  We have enough "soft."

On this part, they're completely wrong. The problem with this team is the local kids. Hollowell, Patterson, Davis, Blackman, Yogi. I don't understand how anybody can ignore this. Our best players are Williams, Bryant, Johnson...three out of state kids.

Same. I've never heard even an ounce of bitterness in anything he's said. He just sounds like any one of us talking about the program right now.

@JeffRabjohns Indiana watched 2016 guard Devonte Green today at the @CityLegendz event, per @NYCHoops.

Monmouth defeated Rutgers 73 - 67 and Samford defeated Nebraska 69 - 58.  In theory, our first 2 B1G road games should be relatively easy wins.

I agreed with most of your comments Old Friend until you stated "Crean doesn't work very hard recruiting".  That's plain bull. He may not be recruiting the players you want but he is one of the hardest working recruiters around. Ask about any top prospect we are after how much mail--personalized designs---contacts--visits--games watched---etc. the staff and Crean put in. We have had McDaAA's for several years in a row along with many other top prospects.  That doesn't just happen. That takes hard work.  He and the staff have put years of work in with many of the top recruits we are after or have gotten. Plus--most of them are or were sought after by other major programs in the country. Crean bleeds Indiana basketball and he works his tail off. The problem has not been how hard he works recruiting. The problem is how he coaches them after they arrive on campus.

It's not all about the geography.  I could have worded that better.    Geographically, Crean has not focused as much as he could and in their opinion (and mine) should locally.  He doesn't ignore it, but he has at least an equal if not stronger focus on the east coast where most kids think of Indiana as just another school...which has not helped the local reputation.  He's allowed that to happen and much is on him.  Much is on Davis for doing the same thing, only he focused south.  It's about the right kids as much as the local kids.     Hollowell had a horrible reputation as a selfish player with no work ethic when he got to Indiana, but Crean signed him anyway, and he turned out to be exactly what everyone said he was.   Patterson was always an academic risk.  Good kid, not cut out for college.  Blackmon can't guard and has never shown any interest in defense....even in high school and AAU.  Those aren't secrets.   The right kids...kids who understand the game and not just the sport.  Kids who don't always need the ball.  Kids who understand things like spacing and angles and help defense.  Indiana will never be a place where those things don't play and aren't highly valued.  See : Butler.  Crean doesn't work very hard recruiting.  He thinks he does because he spends a lot of time on social media, on the phone, and traveling; but he's not done a good job vetting kids and making sure their character fits what Indiana needs and what fans and former players expect.   The issue is lack of what they believe is proper focus on doing things the way they're expected at Indiana because that's the bar they set.  The tradition they built.  And it's been cast aside in favor of...what?     That's the deal...not necessarily a sole problem with "local."

It comes down to our guys playing for the name on the front of the jersey. Until we learn how to play unselfish on both offense and defense, we will not be anything more than average. It's crap basketball and not what a grew up watching. Yes I was happy we won, but we need more consistency on both sides before I get back on the Crean wagon. I fell off about two years ago!

Ladies lose to Miami 89 - 75.  Miami started the 3rd quarter on a run and except for a couple of mini-runs of our own, the girls just couldn't get back into the game.  Outrebounded 44 - 31 and gave up 44 points in the paint to Miami.  Buss with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.  Gassion with 19 and Cahill with 15.  Girls had no answer for Miami center Hof who scored 26 and grabbed 14 rebounds.  Ladies play again tomorrow evening.

At the half, Lady Hoosiers 40 -  39.  Buss with quite a first half:  15 pts.; 4 rebounds; 3 assists

Whole game MVP goes to Rojo, but Troy was huge in the 2nd half. 

I just really don't see the bitterness like others see. DD makes so many positive comments about IU that easily outnumber his negative ones. The negative ones repeat much of the same gripes we have and there has been much to gripe about. He makes positive and negative comments about all schools. Heck he ripped Yogi on one play and praised him on the next. He is an extremist and his job seems to reward him for that.

13 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists last night against Northview

i don't think there will ever be a time where I won't get knots in my stomach and pace like a madman during a big iu game driving everyone around me watching crazy( ask my brother-in-law or brother they are both members on this board as well) Regardless of who is coach or how poorly the kids are playing, on a personal level iu basketball means too much. Like many on this board my love for iu basketball came from my father(hopefully I will share that love with my 4 year old.) Before there was message boards I had my own 2 person message board with my dad. Even when I moved away I could count on a call from him after a big IU win or we would vent about a terrible loss. There has only been one season in my life that I choose not to watch any iu game or any college basketball game for an entire year and that was the season after April 2009. That was the year my dad passed away from heart failure and watching iu or any college basketball just hurt too much. For me personally, a poorly coached or kids who play terrible defense Indiana basketball team is better then no Indiana basketball team. This is just my opinion I have no problem with other people's stance on not getting excited for Iu games with the product on the floor.

I watched ROJO play some excellent defense yesterday in the win at Notre Dame. His offense was cool, calm and collected and he has made a significant jump in IQ and leadership. If you ask me, he was the reason Indiana won yesterday. Who was your MVP?

A day later---I will say the IU win and the UK loss has been the buzz down here in southern Indiana. That win sure helped with the fan base--- and the enemy base.   It was nice to see IU's huge fan presence in Indy.   It was great they had something to celebrate after the game.   It's only one game but I will say there is a return of hope and renewed optimism.  Time will tell!

Me like Rob

  Has Crean? Crean has had several years to prove his competence. DD went 3-4 after the departure of Sampson. They lost 1st round of B1G tournament, something Crean is notorious for and they lost as an 8 seed to a 9 seed in the NCAA. That, is a very common occurrence. So, coach gets fired, players are beyond out of control and he still managed to finish the regular season 3-2. Yeah, what was Crean in year 1? It is a lame argument to imply DD was a failure of a coach at IU given the only sample size was 7 games after Sampson was run out of town. By your standard, Crean should have been fired midway through season 1.

There's been a lot of discussion about leadership. Personally, I like a player that leads by example. RoJo has shown that he is going to do what the team needs. I think he expects it from the rest of the team. When he starts demanding it of his teammates, we'll have the leader that this team needs.

@JeffRabjohns Indiana signee DeRon Davis (@DDavis2016) 16 points, 12 rebs, 6 blocks, 4 steals for @WeAreOverland in a 64-55 win in the @TarkClassic.