jonz44

Distort it, collapse it, make two or three defenders guard one offensive player then find the open man. Easier said than done many times. Kind of a simplistic explanation.

Lol. I remember watching that same tournament (same game I believe)and while I don't really remember to much about the action I remember the way Crean frenetically paced the sideline and drank diet cokes. I've really got nothing against his mannerisms. JUST WIN

Sadly, I've pretty much come to concur with those sentiments.

Some of you who follow college basketball overall very closely give me some input. What were Creans teams like at Marquette? Most of my memories of him at Marquette were pacing and clapping. In fact, when he was hired my wife asked me who he was. My reply to her was "remember that guy I commented about pacing constantly a couple weeks ago? That's him" My question is regarding the style his teams played there. I don't recall him ever having a team that featured bigs inside. His best big men always seemed to float outside if I recall correctly. I don't remember his team's being strong enough defensively that they could really lock down another team when they were have a bad offensive night and still beat them. Am I wrong on these recollections? If this year was judged by itself I would really not have to many concerns. A series of events has conspired to make us a very perimeter oriented team. My concern comes from the fact that when I look at his long term record this is just who he is. It's what he believes is/can be successful.

I agree with you in large part but...southern annex of Purdue? Man that's a low blow!!!

That's funny as hell! He would've destroyed that ladder! Lol

That's a pretty damn low bar! Isn't it? Lol

Yes it has. The weird thing to me is that many times when a defensive player has a difficult time keeping an offensive player in front of them it's because they are gambling on. defense. With our players though I can't say that's the case many times. It's not that they are gambling for a steal and get burned it's that some of them just don't think the concept of staying in front of your man and challenging the shot is important

A lot of teams/coaches take their foot off the throttle when they get a big lead. Most coaches aren't out to embarrass because they know someday the shoe will be on the other foot. Especially MSU

The only reason we did better in the second half is because Wisky let up. They CRUSHED IU to stay the second half. Major crushed!

it's not necessarily the first time or the second time that bothers folks. It's the third, fourth, fifth, six, seventh...aww hell, ya know what I mean! Lol

WTH?I woke up and I agree somewhat with one of your post! Jk I actually do agree with the gist of this. I think he has done some good things but the level he's at isn't the destination. He has to step it up from where he's at. I do believe that part of that is trusting what he believes in. I also believe a reevaluation of some of his philosophy might be profitable. He maybe doesn't need to ditch his system but he needs to make some adjustments. It's gonna make it break him IMO. People can change but they have to see the necessity of it first. Not sure he does.

Any team that is paying attention has the blueprint. Play physical on defense against IU and if you have a decent big man then dump it inside over and over. Doesn't mean they can all execute and it doesn't mean IU can't shoot lights out and steal an upset. If IU goes 4 and 4? It's going to be a pivotal time for this team and this coach. Gotta make hay while the sun shines.

Actually just about equal...but I agree with your thought process.

Made this point last night...he seemed not to consider it relevant. Lol personally I can't say that I think he has done appreciably better than Davis.

I do believe that Crean has done some very positive things. I also believe that he's at a crossroads. At times he seems incredibly arrogant. The "I'm the smartest man in the room thing" and it's never his fault. It can't ALWAYS be the failure of the players to execute his game plan. Until a person sees a need to change they never will. There are some things he might want to consider changing. He's not been an overwhelming success yet. People can change. Maybe he needs to consider changing a little.

In Creans second year there were no expectations. You are trying to dismiss his first three years and I'm not holding him responsible necessarily for his record but they do exist and he had no expectations. I didn't use the term "real", you did. You originally made a derisive reference to Davis and I compared their situations. You referenced the fact that Crean basically lost the whole team versus what Davis had. You can't use the circumstances of those first few years to define how difficult Crean had it then ignore them and use his "real"second year. Give credit to Davis. He got his group further than Crean did in his "real"second year. I just stated that I felt David had more pressure on him than Crean did...or has. I get it. You like Crean. Facts? Not sure Crean is really any better than Davis. Argue with logic like this? I'd hope not. As far as Bo being gone by 2005? You know what he did his first four years at Wisky? Better than Crean in his first four "real"years at IU.

There were no expectations for Crean. None! There were expectations on Davis. You made the original comment about Davis. I'm my opinion Davis was a nice guy who was in over his head. Crean? nice guy who might be in over his head?

He replaced Bob Knight. Crean? Sampson...he couldn't be any worse! Nowhere to go but up. Absolutely no expectation for Crean the first three years and very little the fourth. Most people had them slotted for the NIT. Davis? He made the NC game with Jefferies and company. Crean with Zeller and Victor...made the sweet sixteen? I'd argue that in some ways Davis had a lot more pressure on him than Crean did and had no previous experience to learn from or draw on.

Mike Davis got outta town after six years...Creans clock is ticking.

When Crean took over there was nowhere to go but up. The only variables were how fast and how far. I can't say that I think he has over achieved on either variable. I do truly believe that he is at a crucial point. He needs to show that he can get past the previous levels he has reached and get into the upper echelon. I think he will get at least this year and next...maybe more to show whether he can or not. All I've got to judge him on is his track record. Sooner or later that defines you. We'll see.

You realize that if you are EFFECTIVELY coaching outside of game night...the result will show up on game night? The season is a process and if at the end of that process your team is going out in the first or second round ninety percent of the time...reevaluate your method.

You seem to give him a pass on everything. You set no tangible goals. If you aim for nothing you'll usually hit it.

Bo pulls them after a mistake? He's got nothing on TC! TC pulls them after they make a couple of threes! Players make plays?TC has nothing to do with on court success or failure? What the hell we need him for then? They fail because they don't follow his play call? But succeed because he gives them freedom? This sounds like a Tom Crean press conference!

If he has no responsibility when they play piss poor basketball then he he gets no credit when they play "an exciting, appealing, attacking" basketball. If he gets credit when they do well then he gets blamed when they jack up.