TrueHoosier62

Yup, you're right. I don't like it, but you're right.  :D

I honestly don't know a thing about this Thomas Bryant,  but I've watched a bit of tape, and seen some photos of him. He doesn't look to be all that "intimidating". Is it just me or does he look particularly sophomoric? I think if we're hoping he comes to IU as some savior for the team and Tom's job, he'd better come here with jets on his ass and a lot more muscle. But I could be wrong....

No truer words were ever spoken. Most, but not all, think that it is their purpose in life to point out the flaws in others. I suspect it's their own security issues, but it may be that they're just a**holes.

To a certain extent, it's unavoidable that threads lose their way. Almost every topic one can think of, or post about, is linked or will invariably be linked, to another.  For instance, you could have a thread on Tom Crean-The Coach, Tom Crean's coaching prowess, Tom Crean's coaching philosophy, Tom Crean has the clap, The Rise and fall of Napoleon, Nero plays whilst Rome burns, Joani's trip to a High School game, Martha the Mop lady's tips for moist muffins, & 10 ways to have fun on campus during the offseason. Without a doubt, the posts would cross over, as almost everything is intertwined. Having said, this, I know what you're saying, and we need to at least try to stay on topic. Just wanted to add my two cents worth.

Dream scenario for me would be us barely getting in, say a 16th seed, paired against Kentucky in the Midwest. We come out, and despite our lack of defense, lack of free throw accuracy, and lack of coaching, we have one of those nights where we could almost heave the ball over our heads, backwards, and hit nothing be three after three. We win on a last second Nick Zeitzloft shot, and as we're witnessing a heaping mass of humanity at center court for having ended Kentucky's unbeaten season, John Calipari, having just shaken Tom Crean's hand, is trampled to death. Yeah, that'd be good.

Whoever would be on his team, you can bet the bank on one thing. When playing Wisconsin, at least two of their players would wind up on their ass within the first five minutes of the game. He'd put Wisconsin on notice that the fun and games are over. Oh, and we'd win.

Is this a trick question?

Of course, it's nonsense that this happened, but I'm more embarrassed that the kids at South, (supposedly a school with good credentials), couldn't come up with anything better than "Tom Crean Sucks". Not only is it mean but it's lame as hell.   I'd have had them chanting things like:   "NIT, NIT, NIT"   or   "Two, four, six, eight, we all know, what you hate: DEFENSE, yeah yeah, DEFENSE!"   or my favorite,   "Don't worry, beat Clappy"   Just something to lighten the mood folks. Nothing serious.

I'd have insinuated to Mr. Ferrell that we're fine with that, as we're looking for a quality point guard anyway. Now, now, now, before everyone goes postal on me. I like Yogo. I like Yogi a lot. But Yogi is more of a shooting guard than a point guard, (well, in my opinion he is). He dribbles too damned much, takes too many shots and doesn't position his team mates properly so they can more easily score. And like everyone else on this team, his defense is lacking, even if he may be the best of the lot.

Of late, most of us have been contemplating execution after the game.

In reality, you're probably right. One of the problems with posters my age is that we often try to project a "Knight" at the height of his game, in his prime, to today's game; not a 74 year old man, who although he's forgotten more than Crean will ever know about the game of basketball, would still struggle with some of the issues of advancing age, (not as quick on decisions, easily tired, and not as driven as other men of a lesser age). Since I don't personally know Coach Knight, I can't say this is a certainty, but in most people I'd say it is, unfortunately, true.

Wayne, Love your posts, and I think we're fairly similar in our outlooks, but I think it might turn out differently should this most unlikely of scenarios come about. For starters, Knight is still "Robert Montgomery Knight" winner of three National Championships, an Olympic Gold, a 98% graduation rate, and the respect of virtually every player who's ever donned the cream and crimson. Sure, there would be some parents who told their boys,"I'll NEVER let you play for that SOB", but there's undoubtedly just as many parents who'd almost push their boys to play for "The General". Legends, even with Knight's side issues, get that benefit. As for his ability to adapt, I don't think it'd be as big of an issue as some do. His defenses were never based on gimmicks, or trickery, but man to man, fundamentally sound play, and that part of the game hasn't changed. Part of me half way thinks it would actually be even more effective than it was, as nobody these days plays defense like that, so preparing you team to face what he would unleash on you would be almost impossible. The trick, I believe, would be on offense, where nobody really runs his style of motion offense, at any level these days, (or so I'm inclined to believe). If you could get kids to buy in to it, and study it and work their asses off to perfect it, it would likely be very effective, as I still believe in the school of thought that five guys in constant motion are harder to guard that five stationary guys. To me, that seems almost mathematically, and scientifically logical. Finally, I think the most difficult aspect of this imaginary return would be instilling discipline and developing mental toughness, within the guidelines of a society that really doesn't hold that part of the game in high esteem. Not saying there aren't teams out there that aren't mentally tough or disciplined, but the measuring stick has changed over the years. In his day, Knight would have devised a game plan to throttle a team like Kentucky, exposing every flaw they have, both on the court and on the sideline.

You'll have to excuse me, but I'd think I'd have died and gone to heaven if that happened.

To say nothing of his ass.

I can appreciate what you're saying Stu, but I'm not questioning the intelligence of those persons in a position of authority. I'm questioning the unseen forces behind their decision making, which often times hasn't a thing to do with their intelligence. Sometimes it's ego, sometimes it money, sometimes it ignorance, (they simply don't understand the whole picture), and sometimes it's nothing more than a pissing match. In the end, elimination of any hope for this coach's future, through continued losses, and fan based denouncements, makes their reluctance to make a change indefensible. I love IU and hate to see upheaval and disappointment for the kids on the team, but I'd rather get the situation corrected now, than have more kids come through our program and receive such sub standard coaching and negative experiences. Delaying a change prolongs the inevitable and serves neither current nor future players, and that is far more important that our getting in to the tournament, possibly getting hot and winning a few games. I've seen way too many average coaches follow this path to mediocrity, and I'd like to think no one at IU enjoys being mediocre.

LMAO!

Frankly, I hope we don't get in. That's not being mean, and it's not because I don't support IU. It is stating the obvious; we aren't good enough. We aren't good enough by our standards, and only marginally good enough by Purdue's.  If we get it, with the type of team we have and the type of record we have, it'll have more to do with the candy stripe pants and the "Indiana" insignia emblazoned on the jersey than our play. It does nothing to improve our program. It does nothing to improve the team, and player's don't "deserve" to make it simply because we feel sorry for them if they don't. They deserve to make it when their team is one of the 64 best in the land, (our isn't). One also has to consider other schools, and their sons who've played their hearts out and their asses off, and sold out to the game far more than what I've seen with this team. Why screw the "Buffalo's" of the world, or countless others?; So we can feel better about seeing the IU logo on a court? If one more loss puts even a modicum of additional pressure on Fred Glass to fire Crean, or on Crean to resign, I'm all for it. GO IU!

I thought you expressed yourself quite eloquently. No reason to adjust your expression, simply because some people don't like what you said.

Overall, when fans don't get what they feel they deserve, the cuts will become deeper and more personal until one of two things happen: The offending party, (Coach Crean) is released or resigns, OR, the team begins to give them reason to believe they've been wrong about the coach's abilities. My guess is, whether it's high schools kids being inventive at a ball game, or adults walking out early on a ball game, or obscene vulgarities and gestures are directed at the Crean family, things are going to get darker before they get lighter in Bloomington. Not condoning it, but simply stating my opinion on what's likely going to happen, given the current set of circumstances. If I were Tom Crean and my son had been assailed with derogatory comments at his ballgame over my position as head coach at IU, I'd be taking the first train out of town.

Another very good point and axiom.

X 1,000. Excellent post.

That's a nice pig!

Would he be going there to coach basketball?

From the "Bloomington Enquirer", "Fred Glass is carrying Tom Crean's love child, so it's unlikely Fred would give him the sack, for fear of never seeing any child support.". I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what the paper said. If true, I'm just heartbroken that another scandalous plague has been brought upon IU's doorstep.

If Tom Crean were a baseball team, he'd be the Chicago Cubs, replete with the motto "just wait till next year".   Unfortunately, retaining Tom Crean as head coach requires that one believe "next year" will be markedly better than this year, that incoming freshmen will make a decided difference, that current players will stick around AND develop their game, that the team, no matter what its make up, will learn to play, (and/or be willing to play), defense, and that coach Tom Crean will magically become a tactician, a strategist, and a decent in game coach rolled in to one.   That is asking too much of my faith and imagination.