Feathery

4 seed. Lunardi has us in Denver now in the Midwest bracket. Kansas as the 1 seed.

Crean needs a run. He needs to put the struggles behind him. He has the team and there isn't a dominant team out there. This team could win it all or get beat in its opening game. I just hope it's an elite 8 or better. That would put to rest the negativity. If it's another Sweet 16 after an outright championship, then we have a Steve Lavin/UCLA type situation.

The team is better without Blackmon.

I see what your saying but I think both are 1 seeds. The AP top 4 are Kansas, MSU, Nova, and Virginia. I'd want to avoid those 4 and face a 2 or lower seed. History has shown you want to avoid a 1 seed as long as possible. They are one seeds for a reason. They advance farther bc they have an easier road bc of seeding. IU has a greater chance of a final four if they are on the opposite side of the bracket of a 1 seed. Does it mean they can't make it? No. It just means the road got more difficult. When you have a coach who struggles in the post season you need as easy a road as possible. Edit: not to mention there is a chance of getting a 5 seed in the 2nd round of you are a 4 seed. You avoid that being a 2/3 seed.

Glass half empty bc of the ramifications of this loss. We are likely a 4/5 seed now instead of a 3 seed. Which doesn't mean much the first weekend but this is a 2nd weekend team. I'd rather not face a #1 seed in the sweet 16. I'd rather be a 2/3 seed and have an easier game in the sweet 16. In my eyes this loss just decreased our chances of making a deeper run this year.

Lol. Reading this thread is funny as you guys are getting trolled hard. Just ignore this MadaboutIndiana guy and he will go away. He is just here to stir the pot.

Well it would be 1-3 if you got rid of the NIT games.

At Marquette, without Wade, he was 3-6 in post season play. 2 of the wins came in the NIT. I didn't look at Marquettes conference tournament results.

Final Four is what will make me happy. I think we are out in the 2nd weekend though. Today is a total joke and unacceptable. There is no way a #1 seed should ever lose the first game of the conference tournament.

I want a IU/MSU final.

I think it's Newkirk to start at PG. He doesn't need to be able to fill Yogos shoes. The team is going to be a different construction. We won't need a scoring PG. we need a true point bc we have the scoring weapons.

Fire X-Hoosier Can we get an edit to the thread topic to display this?

If IU loses 2 in a row and get beat early in both tournaments, then I can see the underachieving mantra coming back out. But his job would be safe.

I agree with DD and Greenburg that IU is final four good. I thought we had final four talent in the preseason, but it took a bit for the team to hit its stride. Now I'm believing if the team continues on playing well, then we could have the conference and a final four appearance.

I edited my previous post but the thread has already continued. Yes I agree I'd definitely want both. If you have a team that can win the conference, then you have a legit shot at a final four.

Crean has made a final four. I grade coaches by actual championships, not how close they can get to one. Edit: I'm a former coach in a different sport. To me just for a w/l perspective it was about actually winning a championship and not just getting close. Crean has 3 chances at a championship per year. If he can win one of the conference, conf tournament, or national title I'm thrilled. I'm not trying to diminish a final four but I'm not willing to trade a championship for a final four appearance. I'll gladly take a conference championship and a final four appearance though.

I wouldn't trade a conference title for a final four appearance. One is actually winning a championship, the other is just making a round in a tournament. Now I'd trade a conference title for a national title every time.

I agree we will be down and I'm not sold on Blackmon being the answer either. He has to prove he can play defense. IF, the defense is solid and the pg play is good a down year should still be top 5 and competing at the top. Not expecting another conference title but gotta be top 5 in a retooling year.

Yeah, Crean isn't going anywhere after a 2nd conference title. We can pull it back out next season if we drop off too far.

Yeah Baby!!!!

Will the Illini keep Groce once the new AD takes over in March?

Id like to avoid Wisconsin bc of style of play. I'd like to see MSU again. I think Crean pissed down his leg during that game and I'd like to see a rematch in a nuetral court for the Big Ten Tournament Championship.

Crean has done a good job but id go with Gard bc of the circumstances.

Win 2 of 3 and its a shared title at worst. No excuse not to win the conference at this point. Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!!

Illinois fans are wanting Drew it seems. That would be an interesting move if it were to happen.