Myrmidon76

The first part of Dr. Chaos' plan is now complete! MUHAHAHAHA

Not sure we should stop recruiting 5 star bigs, but it would seem they might stop considering us. Who would blame them, to be honest. We play in a league where the bigs "play in a phonebooth" (to borrow a phrase) and when we get them, we try to turn them away from that or we underutilize that skill. To be clear, I am not against expanding a players skill set, but I consider it poor judgment to turn that player away from the things that got them to Indiana or fail to enhance them. I also feel we are easily the poorest post feeding team I have ever watched. I can count on 1 hand the players who have exhibited the skill to feed the post properly in the last 6-7 years. I expected better from Coach McClain in this area when he was hired. Consider me underwhelmed.

Where's this University of Indiana he speaks of in his commit. Welcome aboard kid. Those bunnies you got in your highlight reel will never come your way again in the Big Ten. Work hard and if you survive the Big Ten, you can do anything in your life.

Lots of Arizona action it appears.

  To use your quote...thats your opinion. Said my piece about Johnson, but I do feel he has very much been a part of our issues..not all, but definitely part. You can choose to feel otherwise and I won't try to change your mind...just voiced mine.

I know we cant get them all and I certainly don't expect to, but losing this one to South Carolina, on top of others choosing such bball powerhouses such as Georgia, would make me very concerned. Recruiting is art more than science, and certainly made easier by program momentum, but we have a staff filled with very qualified recruiters, from Crean on down. Any word on Daniel Giddens?

I get where you are going and I understand why you ask. I don't mind people to better themselves in any way. As a matter of fact, if you aren't looking at ways to improve yourself then I have a hard time understanding why. You bring up a very valid point. However, have you ever been in a position trying to improve yourself but you oversell your actual skill? I try to make myself better every moment of every day, but I don't try to say I am capable of flying to the moon when I outright can't. Can he become a good coach? Absolutely! Coming into Indiana from Towson was a HUGE jump for him and I honestly think he let the culture influence him to a point where he "had" to sell himself being not only a good recruiter but a good coach as well. Good coaches don't shout down the head coach. Good coaches don't overstep their role. Good coaches don't make it a point to be the first to chew a kid out BEFORE the head coach has said his piece to him. Good coaches teach first, then yell. Johnson is not a good coach. Watch any game...any game at all this past season and watch how Johnson conducts himself. I mean at points through the season, I wasn't sure exactly who the head coach might have been. At some times, Johnson was half way onto the floor yelling at the kids. As an assistant coach/recruiter, I have no idea how these things are considered good habits. I mean, if there are multiple messages coming from the staff throughout the whole game, you have mass confusion. Mass confusion leads to defensive breakdowns and turnovers...any of that sound familiar this year? Johnson can become a good coach. Its all up to him. To this point, I am not impressed with him as a coach. Learn, then teach. 2 years doesn't make anybody an expert in anything. Just don't conduct yourself as if you were. Good question...and I removed any personal slight (intentional or otherwise) from it. I doubt I change many minds, but its my opinion...take it or leave it. I do honestly hope that Johnson makes a total fool out of me and becomes exactly what this program needs to rebound, but I don't think that will happen.   I will leave the topic of Kenny Johnson. You guys know how I feel about it. I know how you feel about it. Lets agree to disagree about him and move on. I do mean it when I say I hope you guys are right and I am a fool.

Yup. I do believe it. No, I am not crazy. Johnson is a recruiter first and foremost. Unfortunately, he believes himself to be an even better coach. THATS reaching. 

Let him go. Dude screwed with team chemistry way too much. I know you guys would feel the loss of the DMV, but I imagine the move would put more of a load on Crean to close deals than anybody else. Johnson didn't recruit one starter that helped us win the Big Ten outright...not one. The team that WAS recruited by him didn't even make the NIT. I like the kids, but there are/were too many chemistry issues. Let him go...we will be just fine. I still don't get how we can miss on so many recruiting targets and our Director of Recruiting hasn't remotely been brought to task. Those misses are just as much on him as they are Crean....its his only job!! Whatever edge he gaves us is gone. Let him go.

Not making excuses for the staff at all. I have no affinity for the staff as is. That being said, Meyer is a phenom in negative recruiting...specifically against instate schools. Totally agree with what you are saying overall.

The pilfering of instate talent is the behest of one Mr. Jeff Meyer. He does an amazing job recruiting. So great in fact that Kelvin Sampson hired him to help drive our program into the dirt. I seriously doubt Michigan will come out of the Beilein years unscathed. Crean had every right to break it off in Meyer last year...I just wish he had saved it for when the cameras were off. Meyer's hands weren't clean then and aren't now. You guys think Matta is a negative recruiter...Meyer makes Thad look like Dr. Phil.

Alas, the effect of one and dones. When players have no affinity toward their college program, they shouldn't be expected to sing that schools praises when its over. Its pretty common practice for recruits to reach out to current/former players and ask about their time at whatever school they are looking at. If the recruit isn't smart enough to understand that the strength program IU put Noah in transformed him, the national exposure he received, and the chance to display his talent in a power conference at a storied program...then I don't really want them here. Noah has the right to express his opinion, but I would hope recruits understand there are pros/cons no matter the school you choose.

If we miss on Cunningham, it would be alarmingly apparent that we have no recruiting momentum. We aren't going to get them all, I have long accepted that as part of the recruiting game, but to miss on so many targets now would be concerning. At a time when Crean and staff NEED all the momentum they can muster, its coming up short. We are about 6 months away from Midnight Madness, lets hope there are some decent options left.

I do like the optimism here. That being said, I have also viewed many references to becoming a full on transition team. We are already there. Indiana does not use big men in any traditional way. Big men that play here at a high level nowadays must run and be able to drive one on one. I don't mind if we start to stray from that. The BigTen thrives on physical bIG man defensive play. If we can land a defensive big man that won't get tossed out of lane or play soft between the blocks...I am fine. We have the scoring on the roster and those arriving. Coach McClain has a shot to really show his defensive chops if we get a defense first big man. Any additional scoring the big provides should be considered gravy (minus free throws.. UK gave everyone a 101 why FT% matters). I guess what I am getting at is that I don't need a 5star, jump out of the gym, athletic freak for a a big man. I hope we get a guy with a somewhat high level of traditional big man instincts defensively and some working knowledge of the pick and roll. THAT isn't asking too much I think. Stop with the athletes and get a basketball player for the 5.

Somebody PLEASE post the tattoo that UK fan got on his leg...please please please. Let it live on more time just for the smile it brings to my face! BAHAHAHAHAHA

Better yet...What does it mean to coach at Indiana?

Crean deserves the flak for the recruiting failures, but we do have a "Director of Recruiting" who has somehow NOT been looked at as part of the recruiting failures. This is his only job people. Its all he is supposed to do.

  Check his grades out. I think thats more plausable as to why he is still here.

Ever get the feeling we have a tendancy to elevate interest in kids only to see them go to the other schools who come to the party late....yup, me too.

Cryptic messages on social media equals a face full of coward in my book. If you dont have the sack to tell me to my face or call me out directly, you're the chump. If he's worried about what this will do to an image...then don't freakin put it out there!

Bigs and Defensive coach.....chew on that for a bit.

Not a fan of "coach" Johnson. People have asked why...I give you his own words. Shouting down the head-coach and kicking and stomping on the sidelines isn't coaching. Maybe he can read that and learn from it. I'll admit, when people make your explanations easier, it is refreshing.

The staff earned the bonkers meeting in my opinion. If he wants to vent on people...he need look no further than the men at the top of the bench. The kids need a speech like that once in a while...but in a mentor-like "Hey, heres how the world works if you din't pay attention" tone.