bronkonagurski

We have an elite soccer program why can't we find a kicker?

The SEC network sponsored by ESPN...just making it official after all the pre-marital sex I suppose.

The announcers were making me want to break things then I remembered, it is the $EC Network.

We have a chance.  Need to force at least one turnover to win imo.

Toe on the line my ass, count it!

  Since the thread has been bumped...the foundation obviously still has some cracks and flaws but if CKW was gone tomorrow, I still think he has set up the program in a better place for the next guy.  And I don't see a change being made barring a truly disastrous remainder of the season.  This team can still win 5-6 games.  I do think another non-bowl season can and should put the heat on his seat heading into Year 5.  Some would argue the heat should already be there.  Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.  Only Fred Glass truly knows.  I'm pretty frustrated with the BG game but I'm not in FIRE EVERYONE mode.  Not now, not yet.  Trying to stay somewhat rational while also being critical. 

Same old IU football.  :(

CKW is building a solid foundation here. 

  I think you are trying too hard to project your own personal feelings into that Tweet.

  I was at that game.  I was sitting at the opposite end of the court almost directly under the 1987 NCAA Champions banner.  It was a very exciting finish.  I still was scared after AJ hit his shot because Temple pushed the ball back up the court rather quickly. 

  It is the same that it has always been.  I started posting on sports message boards in 1995 or 1996...the original IndyStar boards did not even require registration, anyone could post under any name they saw fit for any given post.  RMK fan versus anti-RMK fan was very much a thing at that time leading up to Bobby's firing.  Of course the dynamic was different, obviously RMK had an established track record.  But the anti-RMK sentiment was based on the game passing him by and the time being right for a chance.   During the Mike Davis era/fiasco, whichever description you prefer, you had the dynamic of people who would defend the existing coach to death versus those who did not buy in.  Although honestly a lot of the MD debate in his early days revolved around RMK loyalists against people who wanted to give the new coach a chance.   One of the unfortunate side affects of the Internet in general is that people start to take their own opinion too seriously and they start rooting for their own opinion just to have the chance to tell the other guy/gal that hey, I called it and in your face!  I'm right and you are wrong!  Even if we root for the same freaking team!  But...it is the way it has been for a long time.  The advent of the Tom Crean era at IU did not start the trend, it simply is the way the internet works. 

  Yet somehow I can't imagine that same individual had any problem with RMK acting "bigger than the program".  Hypocrisy, double standards, etc. 

  "It's Indiana".  Tom knew what he was getting into.  Criticism comes with the job at any traditionally successful basketball program.  Message board commentary isn't what gets coaches fired.  The fan base has nothing to do with the struggles this program has faced this season.  10th place in the Big Ten, 331st or so in turnover margin, 14-11 overall...these are not numbers that would be very well accepted anywhere else.  Tom will have his opportunity to turn it around. 

  Tim calling in now, asking what coaches can do to work on the turnover situation. "That's something we have not covered at all in practice," Crean deadpans.    Crean keeps the deadpan going for a full minute, with the crowd here laughing. "I could sub more, but maybe you'll boo me if I sub more."

  Newton never played for RMK.    Sherron Wilkerson was arrested and subsequently kicked off the team.  That happened when I was in school.  I'm pretty sure both Pat Knight and Richard Mandeville got in bar fights in Bloomington...I think Pat got arrested and faced consequences from his father.  In Richard's case, I am not sure.  I just remember that he was involved in a scuffle.

  I wouldn't think so either but on another board there is somebody who apparently speaks with one of these donors and allegedly that individual told him if they did decide to finance a change of coaches that they would want Fred's head on a pike too.  Granted it is the internet and you can't believe everything you read but...it is quite possible the donors do not necessarily care about anything but the basketball program even though you & me obviously can see and appreciate the work that Fred Glass has done with the athletic department as a whole.   

  Crean may have not been his hire but by giving him that huge extension, it may as well have been.  "Hey I didn't hire this guy but I gave him a huge extension with an increased buyout, oops my bad.  Please help me pay for my mistake!"   If the donors get fired up enough to pay Crean's buyout, don't you think they might want Glass gone too?  Which he has been a great AD overall for IU and I do not want him gone.  But he has definitely tied his wagon to Crean's fate by giving him that extension. 

Anytime I read the "Indiana guy" line I just think back to the fact that the most successful coach in our history was not an Indiana guy.  We hired a freaking Ohio guy with a degree from that detestable Ohio State University and well, he turned out okay. 

  In fairness, I'd rate an outright Big Ten title with a 14-4 record a lot higher than sharing the Big Ten title with 3 other teams at 11-5. 

Absolutely not.  Ask me again one year from now, I might have a different answer.  But for now, nope.  I will admit my confidence level in CTC is wavering a bit.  I know, just a bit?  I have learned to keep an even keel with my teams.  I'm disappointed in this season but I'm not losing my mind about it.  Winning the Big Ten outright last season earns him enough leeway for now that firing him is not on my radar.  Another season like this will definitely move my needle in a different direction.

Tom's buyout is mighty pricey for a few years so those wanting him gone now will need to find a happy place for a while.     The notorious, controversial individual from certain other sites predicted before the season began that he expected IU to win 16-18 games and likely be a bubble or NIT team.  I scoffed at that and I think even he revised his expectations upwards at a certain point but...this season to me was a great unknown.  I wasn't sure how to even assign any expectations to it before I saw the product on the floor.  I've seen enough now to make a few observations of my own:   1)  The offense certainly has not changed, the personnel has changed.  And therein lies the problem, we don't have the personnel to run the same offense.  Last year, we could space the floor due to our perimeter threats and that allowed Victor to dribble penetrate down the middle of the defense.  This season, we aren't able to space the floor in that manner because defenses know they can pack the middle and not honor the three point line.  Therefore, the dribble penetration really isn't there and that is where our offense looks like a hot mess.  If we can't penetrate and we aren't able to get the ball to Noah in the post, this offense is just garbage right now.    2)  I expect a young team to have some struggles with turnovers.  I also expect to see some improvement in that area and so far it simply is not happening.  Plus the fact that our returning PG Yogi Ferrell has very much been a part of our turnover issues.  Which look, overall I like Yogi and I think he has been our best and most consistent player.  I think he is forcing things too much at times due to our larger issues.   3)  The 2012 class has been a disappointment.  Some people were saying that last season and I thought it was ridiculously early to make that assessment.  Well, a year later and I cannot help but share the sentiment.  Outside of Yogi, I have struggled to be impressed.  Hollowell seems worse than last year (I thought as the season progressed last season he started showing signs).  Hanner has improved, but not enough to live up to expectations yet.  Jurkin may as well not be on the team.  Buss, well we know he never made it here.  I know, too late to whine about it but I sure wish we had gotten Gary Harris.    4)  The underachievement of the 2012 class plus + everything we lost from last season (Zeller, Oladipo, Watford, Hulls) has put a lot more pressure on these 2013 kids to produce immediately.  The only one who I feel has been consistently up to that challenge has been Vonleh.  The other kids have had spurts but nothing consistent.  Troy will be a special player imo but he will need more seasoning and growth.  Fischer bailed.  Stanford had a really solid outing today and I think he can be good too but...I wish guys like Troy & Stan would have more of a chance to grow and develop behind upperclassmen.    5)  Our most experienced guy is Will Sheehey and I like the guy but...he is so inconsistent.  He has never made the same jumps as Victor.  He has worked hard and been scrappy and had some moments but end of the day, he still makes me feel like I'm watching a role player, a 6th man who happens to start games.    Bottom line, I certainly have criticisms of Crean.  My main criticism of the current team is that it is NOT well-constructed to execute the type of game that Tom wants to play.  Can he adjust and give this team a better chance to win going forward or will he keep slamming square pegs into round holes?    If we head to the NIT this March, so be it.  I won't enjoy that but I won't lose my mind over it.  My main concern is next season and going forward.  Luke's departure plus the prospect of Noah going pro makes me very nervous about a 2014-15 team that I was ready to pencil in as Crean's next best chance at a Final Four contender.  Can he manage the roster construction in such a way to get us back on track quickly? 

If Coach Wilson is sticking with Doug Mallory, I'll say this much.  I'm not going to give up on the 2014 season and I'm not going to stop watching the games.  But I will be fully expecting to see adequate defensive improvement to support CKW's apparent confidence in Doug.  If the defense is just as bad or even worse, then I won't be too pleased with that.  We'll see I guess. 

I don't think Coach Wilson is making any decisions based on the wishes of the fans.  What is going to matter is what feedback, if any, he gets from Fred Glass.  For CKW to retain Mallory in his current role would require quite a bit of conviction on his part. 

  At the very least we need to see better fundamentals and fewer blown assignments.  Some things you can control.  Missed tackles and blown assignments are controllable.  Gap discipline, etc.  Getting flat out beat because the other guy is bigger and stronger, that happens.  But don't beat yourself.  The biggest improvement this defense can make is to stop beating themselves so much.  Also our front 7 needs to become a much bigger factor.  Get in the backfield, disrupt plays.  Maybe another year of maturity helps in this process?  I sure hope so.    Looking forward to seeing some good, solid football conversation here.