Feathery

Marshall has had it several times. The catch, in my mind, is difference makers. Hard to have them at a midmajor, which is why you dont see a midmajor national champion. But this is the number one reason I want Marshall at IU. He has the ultimate resume. 20 conference/con tourny championships, NIT champ, final four. Conistantly in his conference top 3, even when he doesnt win it. Give him the keys to the car and enjoy the ride.

Whats the timing issue? As long as he is willing to come this year, make it happen. Just have him sign the dotted line, so its locked in. On the money side, give him the bonuses. If he makes his bonuses, then the boosters will be happy amd make up any difference.

Gotcha. 21st one year is bot the same as 21st another year, whoch has been my point just saying well Crean was 21st and so was UNC, doesnt tell the story. UNC statistically was better. That IU team was a very good team but their defense was statistically a step behind most championship defenses and slightly worse than the worst champion. Crean hasnt had a championship level defense since his Marquette days. Which begs the question why? I feel the game has evolved and he hasnt evolved with it on the defensive side. Even will the incredibly easy out of conference schedule, his teams at IU havent sniffed the level his best Marquette team did.

The worst defense to win it all was 2009, UNC. That team was statistcally better than any Crean IU team. I fet defenses fluctuate year to year, but that UNC team still is the worst, which sets the bar higher than any defense we have seen in over a decade. This is why Ive been adamant of needing a defensive minded coach. Its why I love Gregg Marshall, really like Tony Bennett, and love playing devils advocate with people on a coach who isnt good enough. :)

I think the cat would be out of the bag in early April. If IU isnt being mentioned woth other coaches and they seem to be doing nothing, the media will smell a rat and go searching amd find out its Donovan.

He just started recruiting better. He wasnt a better recruiter until he got to UCLA. Then he hasnt really hit his stride until last year on the recruiting trail. Which is why they are a top 10 team this year. The thing about this years team defensively, they were awful. But they have steadily improved and Im not sure what to make of them going into the dance. They could be the statistically worst team to make a final four. Their defense is better than their actual efficiency at this point. They are just playing so mich better there. But its safe to say he will linely make at least a sweet 16.

Haha. Alford missed the dance at a blue blood 2 of 4 years? Alford miss the dance 5 of 9 years at a blue blood? Fyi the answer is no for Alford and Yes for Crean. Lets be honest if Crean makes the dance this year or made the dance 4 years ago, he isnt leaving. I dont view Crean as a bad coach. He is a good coach, just lacks consistancy. Alford is a step up from Crean. No Alford isnt the answer. Marshall is. Back to devils advocate.

Alford has had top 20 defenses, over the last decade Crean hasnt.

Actually the worst team to win it all was UNC, they were 21st. This isnt bending stats. That UNC defense is better than anything Crean put out. Again, facts. Crean got close 1 time but still wasnt good enough. Alford while hasnt pht it together for both in a season has had both defenses that were championship caliber and offenses that were championship caliber

I wasnt implying he has done both in the same year. Just that he has done both. No Crean hasnt. Your example is a defense still inferior to the UNC team that was the lowest ranked to win it all. Crean got close but didnt do it.

That 21 ranked defense was statistically worse than the UNC team that won it. Crean has never had a defense better or as good as the worst team to win it all, while at Indiana.

Last 4 years is 2 sweet 16s, pac 12 tourny champ, and probably at least another sweet 16 trip. Just like Crean isnt about 1 year, neither is Alford.

At least he has had both championship caliber offenses amd defenses this decade. Something we havent seen at IU. Im not saying Alford is a homerun, not saying I want Alford, but he is better than Crean. Also, Iowa is not a quality job. Fran isnt recruiting well at all. This is a terrible Big ten right now and Iowa struggles. They have no recruiting base to pull from making it difficult to win their. The Wilkes commitment is all about under armor, not LA. This is from an off record conversation with a IU recruiting/reporter. Steve is willing to go into the grey area that Crean wouldnt. You must go into the grey to win the top players today, see Alford recruting wins vs Crean not landing a single top 30 player the last couple of years.

No but their coaches, parents, and grand parents do. Also Alford will have coaches on staff with excellent ties for in state recruiting success. Like I said earlier, no kdy is locking diwn the state. Alford and company will do as good as anyone else could in recruiting the state, if not better.

Im playing devils advocate with you guys. Marshall is my guy. Outside of Stevens/Donovan he is the surest bet and he is just on a different level than any other candidate. Back to Alford. Lets look at the past 4 seasons (only ones at UCLA). Made the dance 3/4 years. Made 2 sweet 16s and likely a 3rd in 4 years, slight projection. Has a stellar recruiting class coming in the fall. Has won a conference tournament. Which I fall in line with the ACC thinking, conference tournament champ is the real champ bc of unbalanced schedules. To me thats more than slightly better than Creans missing the dance twice in 4 years, 1st weekend exit, 1 sweet 16, 1 regular season title with unbalanced schedule.

What about Alford with Fife as top assistant?

Crean hasnt either. The Zeler Olidipo team was not good enough. Fans will argue it was, but the stats dont lie. The defense wasnt good enough. Just like Alords forst UCLA team was close statistically but not good enough both teams failed in the sweet 16. The only coach who has consistantly put out offenses and defenses together to win it all, not at a blue blood, is Gregg Marshall. People here dont want him. Bennett is close.

I think Alford has 1 statistical advantage over Crean and one built in advantage over Crean in terms of IU head coach. Statistically he has actually had a defense that was in the kenpom championship level. Creans best team was ranked as high as the worst national title team, but statistically it was worse. Built in advantage for Alford is he is from the state, grew up here, play high school ball here, played college ball here. Which leads me to the advantage of being able to recruit here. Not a huge separation between the two. My concern is, it took 9 years to depart from Crean, if Alford is coach and is failing......

This is accurate. My favorite coach in college has been beaten to death by fans on this board. Gregg Marshall. Every fan has their own view on style of play, where to recruit, etc.. The next coach will have to get to a final four/banner 6 to unite it.

Im not convinced he isnt throwing out smoke screens now. He seems to be connected, maybe the AD figured out who he is and they are smoke screening the fanbase from the real candidate.

Im 35, he isnt a terrible coach. Just like Crean isnt a terrible coach. Not my pick but he isnt a terrible coach. Much rather have Marshall, Bennett, etc.

To be honest, nobody is going to lockdown the state. However, they would do as good or better than any other candidate, at least initially.

Why would a coach be swayed by a Maryland fan? You dont think Glass would tell every agent out there, its a Maryland fan. Total nonissue imo.

Wouldnt hate it, but he would need to get better coching defense.

He has on a Maryland shirt.