Walking Boot of Doom

I don't think it'd be nearly as bad. This team has heart and commitment. That team was full of bad apples.

Him leaving would really hurt us. No good coaches currently available, a real solid team lined up for next year, and recruiting of the 2017 class sounds like it's improving. Can't imagine why you would want to coach in the SEC though, other than money.

Cheating. Not close

Really think this is a conditional offer pending Troy cementing his entry into the draft.

I do enjoy watching the Cubs find a way to blow it every year. Honestly don't know how much of a threat the Cardinals will be this year. Their rotation is solid, but has a lot of injury risk. Some big question marks around Holiday and Molina health-wise as well. I think the Cubs will take the Central pretty handily.

Thoughts on this? Conditional offer pending Troy's decision?

http://247sports.com/Player/Freddie-McSwain-90529

Albers is trying to argue that that is why he said "final decision will be made next week." Everyone is jumping all over him. He's a terrible journalist.

Forgive my ignorance, but what the hell does one do as the coach in charge of Offensive Quality Control?

I get it, our history is a huge part of who we are, but so is the recent history and present time. To be honest, your analogy has completely lost its ability to demonstrate whatever point you're trying to make. All I'm saying is that we're seeing the most consistency we've had in over 20 years, and watched our current coach make improvements in his coaching style and philosophy this year. I don't really understand how losing to UNC made you so doom and gloom, but I really think we're getting to a stronger position as a program than we've been in a long time. We'll see how it plays out, but until then, hope you enjoy the ride! (Guess we're kind of back to the car analogy)

With UNC, currently under investigation for potentially one of the largest academic scandals in NCAA history, and Syracuse, fresh off their post-season ban for improper benefits, drug issues, and academic violations (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/sports/ncaabasketball/syracuse-basketball-ncaa-penalizes-orange-and-suspends-jim-boeheim.html?_r=0), advancing to the Final Four, one might wonder where academics fall on the NCAA's list of priorities. Chronic on Twitter had a similar take to my own upon seeing the NCAA's commercials during the Elite Eight games last night: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Riiiiiiiight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuse?src=hash">#Cuse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNC?src=hash">#UNC</a> <a href="https://t.co/1b8QSwQd50">pic.twitter.com/1b8QSwQd50</a></p>&mdash; Chronic Hoosier (@ChronicHoosier) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronicHoosier/status/714284444161585152">March 28, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> So, how can academics play a more important role in college basketball? Should it? How could both positive and negative academic performance be rewarded or punished? As a starting point, what if teams were rewarded with a 14th scholarship for exemplary academic performance? Currently, teams are punished with a post-season ban if they do not meet the 930 APR benchmark (this article has a nice summary of the rules in the first couple paragraphs http://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/5/14/5717794/apr-postseason-ban-2014-2015-college-basketball-lamar-milwaukee-appalachian-state).

I'm not saying anything about our history, but in the context of what we've achieved since the '90's? This has definitely been one of our best seasons. Unfortunate, but it's the current reality. The only thing that sucks worse than making three Sweet Sixteens since 2012 is not making it out of the first weekend 11 out of 12 times since 1995.

Saw improvement in Yogi, Troy, and Hartman, realized Z was actually going to contribute to our team, was very impressed with JBJ's shooting, signed OG, Juwan, and Bryant, beat Butler, Michigan, Ohio State, and Maryland, and played tough against a good Wichita State team in the tournament. As background, after the Holt accident and all of the off-season issues, I expected this team to crumble. Instead I saw a team that had some promise, but lacked interior defense. When we signed TB, that made me excited for 2015-2016. I was not happy with where the team placed in the B1G, or some of the losses (Northwestern and Purdue sweep), but it was a helluva lot better than the previous year. I was very much on the Fire Crean Train after 2013-2014 once the off-season issues occurred. When I realized he wasn't going anywhere, I viewed 2014-2015 as a rebuild year and saw improvement that I hoped would translate into this past season, which it obviously did. I didn't expect much from the 2014-2015 team at all due to the roster depletion and lack of a big man, which can be pinned on Crean for failing to keep his players in-line and signing questionable recruits (HMP and April) to fill the gaps left by Zeller and Vonleh. Was I happy with the 2014-2015 results? No, but it's 2016 now and we're looking back on a successful season and ahead to one with a lot of promise. The team next year needs to contend for the B1G Title and make it out of the first weekend of the tournament, or I will completely doubt Crean's ability to reload versus rebuild.

I was excited after the 2014-2015 season after the team visibly improved from 2013-2014, until the off-season issues occurred. 2013-2014 has been the only season I haven't enjoyed since 2011-2012. Next year looks very promising, even with the pending and potential departures.

Is this the thread for normal transfers as well? There were a few more today including Miami's James Palmer and Arizona guard Justin Simon. Pap, any knowledge of who we may be looking at?

Eh, we're loaded at WR, and he was our lowest ranked commit thus far. I feel crazy saying this, but I think Indiana can do better. We are a football school after all!

Thing is, Max wasn't a great shooter when he got here. We should be a much better team defensively, and not need to score at the same rate as this year. I'm really not worried about our shooting. The bigger question is whether Newkirk and RoJo can facilitate the offense.

Hopefully JBJ watched what happened when the team bought into playing hard on defense. The injury could be a blessing in disguise. May have given him the chance to reevaluate his defensive effort. If he can start playing even average defense, he's a lock for the first round.

Just pointing out that there will be more disappointment than success in the tournament. I saw a tweet last night that said Self had tied Coach K with the most tournament losses as a higher seed. They've both consistently been seeded high in a lot of tournaments, so their success sort of skews that stat, but Crean has had 5 shots at the tournament here so far. Give it time.

Consider this: before our stretch of wins against the top of the B1G late in the season, people were uncertain whether or not we had a tournament resume.

Honestly, more worried about what a team with Thon Maker and Troy Williams would look like. I don't really want Crean to waste the time and focus on developing a raw talent like Thon and only get one year out of him.

Troy may not be a piece that would prevent success next year if he were to bolt, but he is absolutely 100% a game changer. He could be there difference between a Sweet Sixteen and a Final Four with a good off-season. He's a special talent. UNC had no answer for him in the second half, and he wrecked UK. Some of the baskets he makes around the rim are mind blowing.

Izzo, Coach K, Calipari, and now Bill Self all with failed seasons, if you apply Indiana expectations. March is cruel. Those are, in my opinion, four of the six (Boeheim and Roy) elite college basketball coaches right now. Some new names are starting to rise up, but these are the top dogs right now. But, none should be questioned as they have all won a championship. Crean reaching the Final Four is the next big milestone of his Indiana career. Championships don't come easy. Each of those guys above have had many chances, and I think only Coach K and Roy have won multiple with their current programs.

Bill Self is probably one of maybe 5 elite coaches in college basketball today. Can't really do much better than him. March is just a cruel time.

In the last five years under Crean: - 2 B1G Title - 4 NCAA Tourney Appearances - 3 Sweet Sixteens - 2-1 versus "better" Kentucky teams If you're being honest with yourself, that's a pretty consistent 5 year resume. Getting your team to the second weekend 60% of the time will eventually result in a break through to the Final Four. As Wayne pointed out, we may have just run into the champ twice, based on how well UNC has played in this tournament, and Syracuse turned out to be a Final Four team in 2013. If Crean keeps up this kind of consistency, I feel pretty good about us going to the Final Four with him as coach. Excited for next year.