8bucks

Mostly the result of our negative posting on message boards. dws

People here were critical of her early but when the news came out that they kept us in the mix there were a lot of posters who argued that his mom was actually pushing for us. There were few critical posts of her then and as we start to look out of it again then angst against mom comes back. You may have been critical all along but I have seen the opinion sway back and forth.

The common theme recently was that Mom liked IU and was keeping us in the hunt.

I would not expect him to be the only guy they bring in.

I always think it funny how we really like his mom when she is helping keep IU in the hunt and then as soon as we appear out of now we think she is trouble.

It might not be anything to worry about. In fact many are not really fretting over this but looking at that list of kids that signed on the first day in the BT, remembering past signing days when IU would send updates and coach comments on the signees it has been more common for IU signees to sign on the first day than to wait. Also, when kids do not sign that first day we typically hear a reasonable story why. So far no story.

I agree that they will most likely sign but the delay does create a little concern. Even though they are not being recruited elsewhere they could decide to wait until spring and could be using this week to just process the recent IU issues some more. Again, may be no worries but we had a guy bolt on the football program recently after assuring us he was coming. "I'm happy with IU and what's going on there," he (Tommy Stevens) said. "I'm still committed to the Hoosiers. Unless something happens where they turn their back on me, and I don't expect that, I can't wait to get down there."

This is a small alarm. If they do not sign in the early period pitchforks and torches come back out.

Wish I heard there was a good reason.

Izzo had strong interest in coming here last time. He backed off because of Crean and would likely not want to replace him if a changes is made. The primary point is that there could be a lot of high end coaches that would surprise us with their interest.

Wait, what facts? What I basically said was that If the kids do not fear the punishments then the punishments are probably no strong enough. CF responds that there might be more going on behind the scenes that we do not see. Then you comment about people not caring about facts. I have been suggesting the same thing though about momentum. Seems most of the momentum the last 1.5 years has been negative. For Crean to survive that needs to turn around. The straw that breaks the camels back is often not a big straw but simply the last in a series of negative momentum events.

The fact that the defense looks improved and Wilson has built strong offenses except this year should allow him another year. Assuming we will have the defense is still be good next year and the offense will bounce back next year. If Wilson is still a jerk behind the scenes then he may wear out his welcome quickly though.

I agree but it is within reach. If he can average 16/17 those scouts may overlook that for now. Hard to say yet but it is not too hard to see how it could happen.

Harris averaged only 12.9 as a freshman and many thought he would leave. If I remember he was projected in the 10 to 15 range. I think Blackman can eclipse that average this year. The draft may be stronger than the year Harris could have come out but it is not outside the range of possible that Blackman could be 1 and done

I found it frustrating to hear Glass suggest there is only so much they can do. They have talked to the players and yet they kept getting out of line. I am sorry but when punishment does not work you ramp it up or adjust so that the message gets across. It is like that parent at the store who tells the crying kid they will get it if they keep it up. The kid keeps it up and the threat changes to ill get you candy if you hush. Yeah I do not know what goes on behind the scenes but what irks me is that Glass suggests now, after what 6 transgressions, now they are serious. No more mr nice guys. If they do better going forward great but when players do not fear the punishment you have to ramp it up.

This is a good time for counter argument with your set of facts.

Since Assembly Hall opened IU has been in the top 15 in attendance. As we have bad years we drop from top 5 to top 15. Certainly a drop but the bigger drop is in funding.

May have been some empty seats but this little blurb reiterates how strong attendance has always been. The Hoosiers are among the most storied programs in the history of college basketball, and considered to be a blue blood of the sport. A 2012 study listed Indiana as the third most valuable collegiate basketball program in the country.[4] Indiana has ranked in the top 15 nationally in men's basketball attendance every season since Assembly Hall opened in 1972, and often in the top five.[5] When asked if Indiana basketball fans were the most passionate in the country, ESPN commentator Dick Vitale said, "I don't think there's any doubt about it. They eat, sleep and drink the game."[6] Basketball sportscaster Gus Johnson called Assembly Hall, "the Carnegie Hall of basketball."[7]

I think attendance stays up at Indiana even during our down years. Now money does not keep coming in from donors and that is what grabs the attention of ADs.

Is just making the tourney enough? It seems to me based on our talent making the tournament should be expected, not a big accomplishment. What if we make the tourney the next 5 years and over that time win just 2 tourney games? Is that enough. Yeah hypotheticals but I keep seeing making the tourney as some threshold to keeping Crean. That might be the bare minimum but I expect more. He did it before when he built the 12-13 team so I think he can, but the recruiting downturn has me concerned. Just making it this year, without some strong encouraging signs for the next few years would be disappointing.

Further, if we are all in on several guys and miss and then bring in lower rated guys then it is clear we are not getting our primary targets.

Based on this though is there ever a point when a fan can express their displeasure?

I think Coach has lost a lot of support over the last year. Some of it amongst us fans (I was a supporter last year at this point) and some amongst the trustees but more importantly some with the donors. Many if those who supported are not necessarily adamantly against him but we have jumped off the bandwagon and are considering things closely. I think the group who have jumped can be won back but it goes beyond a winning season this year. It starts with on court performance though. I thought prior to the Davis injury that we should end the year in the top 25 (20-25 range). I think it is very important that this team be playing very well by the end of the year (a lot of talented youth that will get better as they play). This is step 1. Without this we are coach shopping. Then comes the tournaments. We must not only make it into the tourney but play well there. What does that mean. The year we played UK and lost is a good comparison. We played well at the end of the year and represented well in the NCAA. We also should do well in the BT tourney. In both tourneys we really need to play above our seeding. Yep that is tough but things are sort of stacked against Coach and he needs to exceed in the tournaments to help knock those things down. Still it does not stop there. We need to see that we have very strong talent coming back and we need a balanced and talented group of high end kids to Commit. Not be high on Indiana but to commit. The future needs to be exciting not questionable. I think things are stacked against coach and there are possibly some trustees thinking a change is imminent. Because of that, I think the above list, though challenging, is where we need to find ourselves in April. I did not mention off court issues. Those obviously need to end as well.

This has been done in the past and the number of games suspended typically reveal what the punishment is for. I know folks looked at this last year with Hollowells suspension.

I agree. He may get another year or two but this QB situation is on him. Defense does look a little better. We can run well. The passing game is his specialty and even if you lose your starter you should be stronger here.