Old Friend

Take this at face value, please. Not as support. If it IS Alford, he would be a very different coach at Indiana than he would anywhere else. It's hard for me to explain that, and I know what his record is. I just don't think he'd be as bad as many think he would, despite his resume.

Like I said, Indiana will always be able to get better talent than Wisconsin simply because there's better talent within 200 miles of the campus. I don't think we need to replicate Duke. We differ there. If Donovan or anyone else can cultivate relationships with coaches around here? Look out. It's not just a romantic fantasy. What if Crean were able to get Kyle Guy, Zak Irvin, Trevon Blueitt, Tyler Wideman, Eron Harris, Joey Brunk, Cooper Neese, Kris Wilkes, Robert Phinissee, Romeo Langford, etc? I promise he'd still have his job. I get that you have to leave the area to find specific kids. No question. I also know we're never going to get all of them. That said, Crean allowed both Butler AND Purdue to take over local relationships, and Indiana is now in a very different place than the other 3. But....if focus is local and your relationships are largely local...landing you your share of top local (and the RIGHT local...I don't mean Jeremy Hollowell or Hanner Parea...hell, I said when he signed I'd heard from and talked with enough coaches that I knew Hollowell would be a PIA) kids, you'll win, keep your job, and after a few years, you won't have to work very hard to recruit.

Fair enough.

I think he would have, but the larger point is the system they've stuck with and the way they've built their program over 17 years. They recruit locally, they play a style that is consistent and difficult to beat; they win and they win big consistently; and I believe no matter who we hire, Indiana will ALWAYS be able to get better talent than Wisconsin simply because of the players within 200 miles of Bloomington. I think that formula is a successful one; and I have no idea why Indiana would have to hire a search firm to figure out it's just not that hard. They can hire Billy Donovan....and he'd be great. Despite what others say or interpret what I said, I think he'd be terrific. I'm not sure he's the right cultural fit, and all I mean by that is I don't think Indiana wants to play kids who will be here for a year or two and split for the NBA. I heard that and saw that as a consistent theme (one IU agreed with) when Sampson left. Is he a great coach? Yes. He most certainly is. I personally feel there are more necessary criteria; but there's no arguing his success. I can't really argue the Davis/Gard comparison, but Gard sure learned on Wisconisn's bench. Davis sat next to Knight for two years and showed he didn't learn a damned thing. Wisconsin's system is successful. So's Butler's They play a style of basketball Indiana played for decades. I miss it. There...I said it. I miss it. Watching Crean's BS off the dribble got old for me when Verdell Jones was our turnover specialist. Davis was clueless. I'm tired of it. I have seen what works...then and now. I enjoy watching Wisconsin play. They simply do not make mistakes that beat them very often, and I watched Crean go 2-18 against them. But somehow, my desire for a system that works and worked at Indiana is an unpopular point of view. I'm fine with Billy Donovan. I just don't understand why some are so opposed to an Indiana guy or someone with ties to the area. It doesn't have to be Alford or anyone else. But...if Donovan, I'll certainly support him. Better than Crean by a million miles.

College Sports just said the job is going to Scott Drew, and announced as soon as Baylor loses. I am convinced nobody knows anything.

Where we differ within this scope is which "modern recruits" we need to go after. (I also disagree with your post that only Wisconsin and UNC hire from within. Butler does too; and they're getting kids Indiana should be....and winning at a high level year after year.) If we're talking kids who want to be in the NBA in a year or two, I agree with you. However, I don't have any interest in Indiana becoming Kentucky; which is why I mentioned culture. I don't believe Glass wants that, either. Wisconsin is today what Indiana was 20-25 years ago; and I don't think they go after what you refer to as "the modern recruit" much. They do it how they do it; and all they do is win.

Question for you, and just asking because I think this is a relevant topic. Indiana has, for the past 80 years or so, been a historically and nationally relevant program, very akin to North Carolina, Duke, etc. North Carolina has hired its own people for years. (Roy Williams was an assistant for Dean Smith, as was Bill Guthridge. Matt Daugherty played there) People who understand that particular culture and know what that program is about. Duke hires former Duke players to be its assistants all the time, and I don't think there's been a time in the last 30 years it hasn't had a former Duke player on the bench and leading the recruiting to that program. Wisconsin hires from within. Butler built what they've done that way. Consistent success at all places, and culture is a main reason. Why is Indiana different? We've tried hiring people who aren't "IU people," and look where we are. This isn't about Alford, Fife, Smart, Wittman, or anyone else. It's just a question. I think it's important for Indiana University to hire a coach who has some attachment to this area if not this program. Why do you not believe that?

Listen, fellas. I didn't post this because I do or don't want any particular candidate. I posted it because I don't believe Indiana needs to hire a search firm to find its next basketball coach. Not when the article I read (and granted, I only read one) touted it's landing of Cuonzo Martin for Missouri as a major accomplishment. I posted it as an indictment of where our program is or where our AD is. I find it sad that we need to do a national search for this job. Jesus, we're 7th in national attendance with a bad team. We have unlimited resources. We have a rabid fan base. We have all 13 scholarships endowed. I didn't post this because of Donovan, Alford, or anyone else. Glass said he would do the work, and I personally don't think a national search is necessary. If Donovan's Glass' guy, great. I didn't post this with any thought of him, but I do find the many references to him pretty funny. I am also not in favor of Alford. All I said the other day was don't write him off. I do think walking into this job and understanding where you are is important. You may not....But all of these posts referencing those two guys are not relevant to my original post. Piling on is fine. Go for it. I've said my own thing for years, and I stand by what I posted here. I don't think Indiana needs to hire a search firm. If Hutch is right and it's just to do background checks, then great. I didn't read that. When North Carolina hired its coach, it did not hire a search firm to help. Kansas did not. Kentucky did not. If we're in that class, and I think we are....historically, anyway, why did we? Why does Glass fire Crean without knowing what direction he's going or have a damned good idea? Indiana is not Missouri.

Well, IU has contracted with Parker Search to "help" with their coaching search. This tells me a few things. One, nothing is "done." You don't hire a search firm if something is "done." No Billy Donovan, no Brad Stevens, no anybody. Two, this is a mistake. You do not need to do a national search. If Glass doesn't already have a list, shame on him. A national search got us Tom Crean. We do not need Tom Crean. We need the best basketball coach out there, and no search firm is going to do that. They'll find a big name who will say yes and the criteria will be the same as they would be for anyone else because those things are objective. Indiana is not and should never be just like anyone else. Those "big names" change over time, and depending on when you have an opening, the available people will be different. I am disappointed beyond words that Indiana University needs to hire a search firm to find its next coach. The example I read touted Missouri's grabbing of Cuonzo Martin. I'm just shaking my head.

Like I said, he has a good pedigree on paper. I also sad he had a great run before his final season. None of that makes him a guarantee; which is what I was responding to. John Calipari has had more tournament success, too. Lots of names on that list. I don't blame anyone for that but poor administrative hires.

I wasn't high on it. I just said don't write it off (or something like that....I've slept since then) I don't particularly want any of the 3. I'm not one who thinks we need to hire based on the most shiny resume of the coaches who might say yes at this moment in time. That list is fluid, so to me....grabbing a current name who might be available, no matter when it happens is the wrong move; and it's what we did with Crean. I think we need to really research it and get the right guy....no matter who he is or if any of us have heard of him or not.

You're welcome Mr. Myopian. Sleep well.

Coaches view it as an elite job. What some writer says or thinks has no bearing on anything. IU is absolutely a top 10 job in the country, and with well over 300 D1 basketball teams, top 3% pretty much makes it elite, There's nothing Indiana needs that it doesn't have; and the recruiting base within 200 miles of campus is among the best in the country. Huge home court advantage, all scholarships endowed, unlimited budget, rabid fan base, terrific facilities, one of the best campuses in the country, support of administration, and an incredible history. Recent winning does not make an elite position. The position itself does; and there is no question Indiana is an elite job. Indiana has not been an elite team consistently for the last 20+ years, but that means nothing relative to the job. Writers are writers.

Donovan is no guarantee. Nobody is. Donovan has a good pedigree on paper; but his last championship was a decade ago, and his last team at Florida had a losing record. He sure had a great run before that, but he's not the superior coach to whoever we hire because of what his resume says. There are no guarantees here, and I don't see another coach as any more or less risk than Donovan. At a different time, we would replace Donovan's name with somebody else who everyone wants because he's the "best available." Donovan's name was never mentioned when we hired Crean. It's only mentioned now because he might be available. Doesn't make him a guarantee.

This is why I question whether or not we're getting an NBA guy. They're busy for another couple of months minimum; and we can't wait that long. Billy Donovan's 51. Maybe past his prime a bit. Had a hard time beating Butler.... There is one perfect hire, and I think he'll be busy until late May or early June; and he's probably not coming. An announcement soon means a college guy. I might ask Stevens "if not you, who would you hire?"

Wonder if Oladipo might be in Donovan's ear?

That made me laugh. I don't know that my "intel" is any better than anyone else's, nor am I claiming it is. But.... The people who have been right many times over the course of time, beginning with Mike Davis' "resignation," have poked me today; so I have to give it some credence. The one guy I KNOW would know if something were "done" has been silent. So what I have is akin to everyone else. Nothing in stone...just....casual intel from a couple of people who have been right before.

I have one or two. I'm not "that guy." Not claiming to be. I've had good intel before, and have casually shared it. Same this time.

The Badgers have an impressive program, They haven't finished lower than 4th in the Big Ten in at least 16 seasons, they don't ever beat themselves, they're sound, smart, tough, and they execute. This is their 11th sweet 16 since 2002. Indiana will ALWAYS be able to get better talent than Wisconsin. I said above Kravitz is an idiot, because he said in some dumba$$ article earlier than Glass' expectations are unrealistic. Here's the deal....Indiana is in position where in never finishes lower than 4th in the Big Ten over a 16 year period; the national results will be there. Talent alone will ensure that. Why can Wisconsin do it with the rosters they put together; but somehow that type of expectation is unrealistic at Indiana?? He's a clown. I want no part of a coach who thinks high expectations are unreaslistic at Indiana.

My personal tune isn't changing, but if I were betting, Billy Donovan will be the next coach. I'm not sure I'm ready to bet yet; and he wouldn't be my first choice (but he is a great option), but he's far better than what we've had for the last 17+ seasons Stevens isn't coming. He's just not. That ship sailed and timing never worked. Sometimes it doesn't. There's not a college coach who'd be anything close to a home run hire; Indiana needs a home run hire, and Donovan checks the boxes for Fred Glass. I'm not sure I know what Donovan is known for (and I get "winning." I just don't believe it's that easy in the Big Ten or at Indiana. Maybe it is) If I have to make a futures bet, Donovan's the guy. I've talked to too many people....and heard too many things this afternoon. If he's the guy, welcome, kick a$$, get to know AAU and HS coaches within 200 miles of Bloomington, and have at it. Oh, and Bob Kravitz is still an idiot.

Interesting thought. I don't think we'll ever know that for sure; but if an offer was made and rejected, Glass did what he needed to do. On to the next. Like I said, Stevens, though perfect in my opinion, was a pipe dream; and not likely; but you have to take that shot. At one point, he said IU was his dream job, so you have to see if you can land him. If not? Move on.

Lots of coaches say no before they say yes. I think it's a pipe dream; but I'd still take the shot. He's the best, and Glass has said resources won't stop him from getting who he wants. Maybe something else will; but I'd make the offer and make him reject it.

Then again, it's funny that guys on a chat board, whichever one you choose, think THEY know something. Here, people are giving credence to some guy on another board who for years has claimed he knows things; yet he's been wrong time after time. Glass said just yesterday he doesn't have "a guy." Which means he is going to talk to many people. He may have a guy in mind, but for anyone to say it's definitely one guy or another is silly. Nobody on any chat board knows a damned thing. Dakich, like him or not, is very connected and I promise you he knows more than some dude running a public chat board. He's full of sh*t sometimes. No question.

I'd offer him more than that. He is FAR more a tactician than Donovan, and he's a defensive genius. I wonder if anybody realizes that in the 2009-2010 season, no team scored more than 61 points against Butler all season until Duke scored 62 in the NCAA Final? He's all about communication, and he plans for each team better than any coach in America. If we're going after an NBA guy, Stevens would be my choice 10 times out of 10. I'd offer him as much money as we possibly can, a 10 year deal, and make him say no.

I'm not sure I understand any sentiment behind firing or being upset with Fred Glass. He didn't hire Crean, and Crean wasn't going to be let go early in his tenure. He just wasn't. Those of us (and I am most definitely in this group) who didn't like what we saw on the floor in years 2 and 3 (offense standing, turnover problems, poor defense, etc) were unhappy with his having a free pass and wondered if he fit. But we were somewhat silenced by the signing of Cody Zeller, Yogi Ferrell, etc. Then we won the Big Ten in year 5. There was no time Crean was going to be fired, no matter what anyone thought. He has a couple of down years, seat gets hot, but he still has Yogi, and then a decent (on paper) recruiting class. Wins the Big Ten last season. The first real time it made sense to make a change, Glass made a change. He got football right, at least so far; and Indiana is miles ahead of where it was under DiNardo and Lynch. (Hoeppner would have been so good. Damn.) Baseball is strong, our traditionally strong non-revenue sports (soccer, swimming, tennis) are strong. Women's basketball has made huge strides following the Jim Izzard days. And we're making money as a department. What are people upset with Glass for?