IU Basketball Team Dealing With Epidemic of Poor Choices by Players Who Should Know Better

[DocLibby 761]

Boy, oh boy.

What an offseason we have had.

The season hasn’t even started and the Indiana University Men’s Basketball program has been in the news just about as often as the Ebola epidemic — but seemingly more deadly.

Many have noticed that I have had a deafening silence after the incident involving my very own family member, my beloved son Yogi. I had a lot of thoughts about Yogi and his poor decision on that dreaded day last April, just several days short of his 21st birthday.

I’ve gotten both positive support and negative reprimands from the IU fan base. Most have said that they too have a son or daughter who has done the exact same thing — fake ID and underage drinking — and some admit that they did it themselves as well.

Though the sentiment is understandable, it is far from comforting.

It is only a reminder of how common underage drinking remains on college campuses.  The problem is not immune to any race, lifestyle, or socioeconomic status.

So how did I feel? I went through so many emotions. First, I was furious!  Then, once word starts filtering to the public, it becomes embarrassment. And I’d be lying if if didn’t say that I was also in denial, protective, and angry at anyone who had negative things to say about Yogi.

As Yogi grew up, he was constantly reminded of the dangers of alcohol. As I have mentioned previously, working late nights as an anesthesiologist at the county hospital I have seen far too many horrific accidents that were the result of alcohol-related incidents. But despite my preaching (until I was blue in the face!), Yogi is a young adult in college, away from home, making his own choices.

The wrong choices.

And unfortunately, it is becoming an all-too-common theme with this team.

So who is responsible?

We all need a fall guy. Unfortunately, the chosen one is Coach Tom Crean. After all, it is his responsibility as head coach right? Even he has said that he will place the blame on his shoulders.

It is no mystery that I am an avid Coach Crean fan. I’m clearly not on any bandwagon. I love this guy win or lose. He is not a coach… he is family.

Do I sometimes disagree with his coaching? Sure, but what family agrees on everything?

Coach Crean is an extension of a parent to these young men. I had 18 years with Yogi, in what I feel is a strong Christian home, with no tolerance for irresponsible activities. Coach Crean has had them for two years. How would I expect him to change the character of a young adult that he is just becoming acquainted with?

I do not point the finger at Coach Crean when Yogi did what he did. That should fall squarely on Yogi.

If you are a parent, especially of teenagers, you know that young adults will try to test their limits. Do they know right from wrong? Of course they do. Do they always make the right decisions? Of course they don’t.

I guarantee that each player understands the consequences of their actions. But what is stronger that any adult advice you ask? Peer pressure. Those two words have bought many great men and athletes to their knees.

On the recent suspensions …

To that I say, let the punishment fit the crime. It’s tough love and I welcome it.

Whether it involves my child or one of my “sons” on the team, I say man up and grow from it. Become a leader as a result of it.

Their recent actions were irresponsible and senseless. We cannot turn our heads the other way to indiscretions or NCAA rule violations. I do not condone it, nor will I support the particular transgressions.

This isn’t a college athlete lesson. This is a life lesson. Follow the rules or pay the price.

The character of the team has been called to question. They have been called a leaderless, partying, and unfocused group of men who lack the ability to produce enough wins to make it to the NCAA tournament, let alone a bid for the NIT.

I’m here to to tell you that there are plenty of players on the current team that possess leadership ability, but who have yet to realize their full potential.

I don’t want my support of this team, the coaches, or the players, to be misconstrued as saying I’m okay with what’s happening. It’s undeniably a bad situation. In my opinion, some colleges are better at hiding it than others.

At IU, we follow the rules, so the spotlight is on us.  We will continue to hold our athletes to a higher standard.

On the court …

Now on to the team and what can be expected for the upcoming season.

A new season brings new possibilities. Yogi was certainly the backbone of the team last year, but this year expect a different kind of player. His role will again change. He went from a facilitator as freshman to a combination guard his sophomore year, with pressure to score as well as find the open man.

This year, with outside help, the focus will no longer be on Yogi. The court will be shared by the likes of James Blackmon, Jr. and Rob Johnson, which means that film review will be a little tougher for our competitors. Rival schools will need to develop a defense that can counter our ability to spread the floor, which should create open lanes for the drives of Stan Robinson and Yogi.

Due to the recent suspensions, the first four games will show us the chemistry that has developed between the trio of Blackmon, Johnson, and Yogi. And I am looking at it as a glimmer of good in all of the recent adverse events.

With the limited roster, the starting lineup will most likely be consistent, and they will gel together in a semi-competitive atmosphere that will hopefully foster a relationship on the court that will extend into the Big Ten season.

Yogi can again settle in as a true point guard similar to his freshman year. However, don’t expect for him to settle for the assist record. He will continue to pad his 3-point stats. He spent his summer training (in Texas and Chicago camps) and perfecting this shot. I suspect he will use it.

And although we do not have a true “big man,” I do believe that Troy Williams and Hanner Mosquera-Perea will rise to the occasion.

Indiana basketball will go on

The sound of the net as the ball caresses it on the opening shot of the season will be music to my ears.

It will represent the reality that regardless of the indiscretions of each player, however big or small, nothing will ever be enough to stop the crazed fans in candy stripped pants from flocking by the thousands into Assembly Hall. Parents will still bring their little ones doting there favorite players jersey, hoping to get an autograph of their favorite player.

This is a plea to the fans to hang in there.

This is still Indiana Basketball.

[url=http://doclibby.net/2014/11/04/indianas-tumultuous-offseason/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=indianas-tumultuous-offseason]View the full article[/url]

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Great post Doc. Hope these guys get it turned around quickly.

[Hovadipo 52,948]

Missed you Doc. :)

[colonel06 1,913]

Nice thoughtful post for sure.  Coach Crean's job should not be however, to "change character."  That's all part of performing due dilligence in the recruiting process. 

 

That is what Indiana University basketball has stood for for decades if not longer.  Should we not want to keep that high level and contiune to be the standard bearer for what is good with IU sports, specifically basketball?

[CampHoosier 3,697]

At what point does being responsible for a team turn in to babysitting? Not arguing Crean lost control of his team, but as the title suggests, these guys know better. When you're 18, you should no longer need someone to steer you in the right direction. When you're going to school to play a game for free, you no longer afford the right to be a normal college student. I have debt from IU that will take years to pay off. I would have shown a hell of a lot of restraint to not be in this position financially that's for sure. 

[Naturalhoosier 15,353]

As a parent we do our damnedest to instill that the moral compass always points north. At some point we have to step back and let the kids make their own decisions and hope what you have taught them, honor and personal integrity, shine through in their decision making. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

It's not a parents fault. It's not a coaches fault. Who made the choice? Take out the extraneous info, basketball players, college kids, peer pressure, etc. All of that stuff now scraped to the side. Who made the choice? Life is full if choices. Millions of them. Make the right ones and it minimizes risks and maximizes potential.

[Stuhoo 75,564]

At it's core it's the young man's fault:

 

But the repercussions of those bad decisions affect many, many around them, including the adults who did not appropriately supervise them on campus, and the mental stress that is put upon their families.

[Bowhunter 2,655]

Great post, very inspiring, and I hope we rally the troops for a good season.

[iubirdman 98]

I agree that it is the kids fault, however if there was basically zero penalty for previous bad decisions, why would the players think there would be a major penalty for future ones?  If the penalty is sever enough, the temptation will drop to commit the act.  Also if there is a strong leadership amongst the players in the locker room they will not want to let each other down and that is what has happened.  

 

What we are seeing is partly the result of a revolving door of new kids being brought in and not having a strong core group to instill how things should be done

[IndianaBornAlum 9]

Well said.

[DocLibby 761]

Missed you Doc. :)

. I haven't gone anywhere!! I've been stalking the page! Lol. Sometimes it's better to say nothing! Hahaha. Having said that..I MISS YOU TOO! ❤️


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[Hovadipo 52,948]

. I haven't gone anywhere!! I've been stalking the page! Lol. Sometimes it's better to say nothing! Hahaha. Having said that..I MISS YOU TOO! ❤️


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Jeesh now I'm blushing. ☺️

[TheWatShot 13,335]

I'm on a laptop and not a phone, so maybe the thread title reads differently on the main page to other users. 

 

 

It's so long that it was shortened to "IU Basketball Team Dealing with Epidemic of Poo…"

[KingPG21 6,512]

I'm on a laptop and not a phone, so maybe the thread title reads differently on the main page to other users. 

 

 

It's so long that it was shortened to "IU Basketball Team Dealing with Epidemic of Poo…"

Yeah noticed that too............ was about to post the same thing, and you beat me to the punch

[DocLibby 761]

I wish I could post this across all boards. I have noticed that several conversations drift back to Yogi and his bad decision and whether or not he paid his dues. All punishment is not and does not need to be played out in the national media for the satisfaction of the fans. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not happening. He is still paying for it over six months later. Besides, the public does a great job of helping with his punishment in its own way. Every time someone brings up the incident I get a twinge which to Yogi is more like a stab. We know he was wrong and he's still paying the price EVERY SINGLE DAY.


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[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

I wish I could post this across all boards. I have noticed that several conversations drift back to Yogi and his bad decision and whether or not he paid his dues. All punishment is not and does not need to be played out in the national media for the satisfaction of the fans. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not happening. He is still paying for it over six months later. Besides, the public does a great job of helping with his punishment in its own way. Every time someone brings up the incident I get a twinge which to Yogi is more like a stab. We know he was wrong and he's still paying the price EVERY SINGLE DAY.


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Thanks for posting. I'm sorry you and the rest of the parents suffer due to the high profile nature of the team. Go kick Yogi's butt into high gear for us.

[WayneFleekHoosier 46,740]

I wish I could post this across all boards. I have noticed that several conversations drift back to Yogi and his bad decision and whether or not he paid his dues. All punishment is not and does not need to be played out in the national media for the satisfaction of the fans. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not happening. He is still paying for it over six months later. Besides, the public does a great job of helping with his punishment in its own way. Every time someone brings up the incident I get a twinge which to Yogi is more like a stab. We know he was wrong and he's still paying the price EVERY SINGLE DAY.


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Well said. Well heard. Being the "face" of a program as large as IUBB is a daunting challenge. He is just now a Junior and was the face of the program as a Sophomore! I sang his praises as hard as anyone, as I thought his play last season was dynamic. I nit picked some things here and there, but have always wanted to root for "yogi". I am in his corner through and through. I hope I am fortunate enough to get to see 2 more collegiate years of Yogi at IU.

I trust you have, and everyone else has handled the off the court issues and look forward to our nasty 3 guard lineups this year.

[2Much 165]

I wish I could post this across all boards. I have noticed that several conversations drift back to Yogi and his bad decision and whether or not he paid his dues. All punishment is not and does not need to be played out in the national media for the satisfaction of the fans. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not happening. He is still paying for it over six months later. Besides, the public does a great job of helping with his punishment in its own way. Every time someone brings up the incident I get a twinge which to Yogi is more like a stab. We know he was wrong and he's still paying the price EVERY SINGLE DAY.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

 

It's true that the specifics of consequences don't have to be made public.  However, without those specifics, what the public IS seeing is that whatever punishment Yogi got from the program wasn't significant enough to prevent other players from engaging in similar behavior.  That's why you're going to see the public calling into question whether or not Yogi's punishment was sufficient.  It absolutely may have worked to keep Yogi from personally repeating his mistakes, but part of the purpose of punishing an individual who is a part of a group is to deter others in the group from engaging in the same behaviors.  The fact that it didn't in this case isn't Yogi's fault, but that's why you're going to see his punishment from the team being questioned by the public.

[schoosier 3,445]

It's true that the specifics of consequences don't have to be made public.  However, without those specifics, what the public IS seeing is that whatever punishment Yogi got from the program wasn't significant enough to prevent other players from engaging in similar behavior.  That's why you're going to see the public calling into question whether or not Yogi's punishment was sufficient.  It absolutely may have worked to keep Yogi from personally repeating his mistakes, but part of the purpose of punishing an individual who is a part of a group is to deter others in the group from engaging in the same behaviors.  The fact that it didn't in this case isn't Yogi's fault, but that's why you're going to see his punishment from the team being questioned by the public.

My question is how does Stan keep screwing up without being shown the door? I think he is the poster child for Creans deficiencies as it relates to where he's in serious trouble. That and keeping all of these failed drug tests under wraps will be his undoing.

[ALASKA HOOSIER 11,169]

The way i see it: I'm done with pointing fingers and asking, "what if"? It's time for a fan packed Assembly Hall and to have the team and coach come apologize....or at least say, "we messed up". Let us prove to you that we are going represent Indiana University from here until i graduate. Indiana, we are all for you". The coach can say something like, If something else happens, i'm outtie. If we don't make the tourney, i'm outtie. I think that would quell some of the burn at the stake mentality that has surfaced. We all get what we want. A team that is face-to-face with the fans (or at least 17k) and they are promising to do all they can to make things right. And the fans can give back their commitment to hang in there.

 

As you can tell, i have downed a couple of brews to kill the pain of all of this.

 

I have to believe this is all behind us, i want everyone else to believe this as well. I love this team....and everyone that has worn the candy stripes before them. Coach Crean is STILL MY COACH, and i want him and the team to succeed in basketball and more importantly, in life.

 

Can't someone talk to Coach Crean and the team and make this happen? videos, tweets, social media just don't cut it. Unless there is an in-person come to jesus, people just won't have the faith.

 

now, back to my pity party