8bucks

Wonder how many of us thought that if all our guys came back and we added TB we would be a FF caliber team this year.

Pat tried and DV tried but a fan angle who wanted to try and influence him as the OP stated is a new angle. I mentioned Pat and DV as potential messengers for this new approach. They would not be trying to get him back based on their thoughts but based on a groundswell of fan support. They just happened to be the ones we found to deliver the message. I don't think it would work but I would be on board with one last attempt to bring him back. Maybe one of the message boards could sponsor the effort.

Pat knight works for the Pacers. Could try that route. Dickie V may be another idea

I wrote him a letter when he was at TT and asked him for a favor. I did not know him nor did I have any friend of his refer me. On the same day he received my letter he honored my request. At some point a letter like the OPs, a nudge from Vitale or something similar may year down that wall. I doubt it will happen but it is worth the effort. Unfortunately, not only is he stubborn, I also think he does not care. The reunion would initially be more for Indiana and the fans but I think in the end he would be blown away at the reception and it would mean a great deal to him too. Just not sure the path to his heart will ever open.

Coaching and developing a team of three stars is not what is hard to overcome (for the next coach). The fact that many already see TCs seat as hot and if he gets to the final year or two of his contract he will struggle to convince any recruit to come. That is what will be difficult for (TC) to overcome. That is why this idea of honoring contracts is garbage if assumed literally. Look at Wilson. We did not wait until his current contract expired before signing him to an extension. The same for a guy you don't plan to keep. Once you get to 2 years left coaches are fired or extended.

Well the good news is every four years you are certain a TC coached team will be ranked in the top 25. [attachment=3196:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1452615203.431995.jpg] It used to be every 4 years we won at least one BT title and every 6/7 years a national title. Now we celebrate having a top 25 ranked team every four years.

Appreciate your objectivity here but he can't recruit if he has only 1, maybe even just two years left on a contract. The ambiguity about him being the coach would difficult to overcome and he would leave us with 2 weak classes for the new coach. With about 2 years (if not before) left he will have to be fired or extended.

Hopefully the buyouts favor Indiana not the coach. If so, I am fine with the extension

Can't be an injury. We saw what he did when he dislocated his finger (4 for 5 I think).

Good. I probably only remembered the early slump. Butlers Dunham had a 0-23 slump for a stretch and still seems a little off but I would still want him shooting if I were butler.

I agree. I think he has the makings of stability IF we can see our freshman continue to develop and eventually become seniors. That has been such a problem during the non VO/CWat/Hulls years. We had a few guys leave early but we had s core group stay and become a strong team. Since then we do not get to see kids stay that long.

Didn't NZ's shooting percentages drop off last year in BT play too?

The team is playing much better D and is much more fun to watch. I am enjoying watching the team and look forward to seeing if we can continue to win the games we should. I am also very interested to see if we can get some wins against top 25 teams. Even though we lost JBj, this team still has talent and experience to be an elite 8 team. I will measure this team in the end based on BT play, BT tournament play and NCAA play. I think to keep Crean he has to have a team that exceeds expectations, especially in the post season.

What other schools were involved

Our recruiting is down a bit from earlier years but we have produced way below our class rankings Year. Class rank 2016. 18 2015. 25 McD TB 2014. 17 McD JBj 2013. 6 McD NV 2012. 8 McD yogi 2011. 33 but we got Zeller McD

Defense travels better than offense (or so they said during an NFL game this weekend). I would be fine with this team becoming a gritty defensive bunch even if we sacrificed offense.

Watching the Kansas game and Dickie V is commenting. Strangely I have not heard him say "Bobby you gotta be there baby, can you imagine the general walking out on that court? Bobby you have to come home and be a part of this.!"

"First of all, let's be real friendly here, okay? My name is Coach Knight. Secondly, your coaching days are over."

Between Yogi, TW, Rob and Nick our perimeter players have 7 TOs and 7 assists. Our best ball handles. Our most veteran (except Rob) players and once again we do not value the ball. This should be more like 12 assists to 3 TOs total. We have no chance to go deep with this being our DNA.

Back when Crean sat Davis, Troy and maybe Stan a couple years ago there was no clear description why. It was widely assumed that since the length matched up with typical failed drug tests it was for that reason. The reason I mention this is that there is history with this staff to sit guys and not give clear reasons which could warrant speculation. Now with Blackmon, or any guy that has NBA possibilities, I doubt they would mention an injury (knee) as a decoy. If he was being sat for some violation we are not supposed to know about they could just call it an illness

That is how I see things. Those who adamantly support him are very hard to find. Many politely support because he is the coach of our team.

Why can't announcers just say things as they are.

If I am Crean I do not say anything positive about IU in the post game. Any "well that was a good team we played" or "it is tough to win on the road" comments will get him even more roasted

Since Maui, I have been expecting these kids to step up the effort knowing Crean is on a very hot seat. Except for ND we have not had many "win for the coach" effort based games. Many say we will lose s lot of kids if we changed coaches but I really think Crean has lost this team.

[attachment=3141:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1451502832.591478.jpg]