This team

[coonhounds 8,768]

Because, like I said in the original post, I was sitting behind and older "fan" at the Crossroads Classic that wanted IU to lose. You could be the exception that can want more and can love watching this team, but there are more than a few that agree with than old "fan". This h@&$-o% some IU fans have for Stevens will cause them to miss what could possibly (I said possibly) be a great coaching job by Crean.

well not wanting iu to win is just ridiculous anyway u split it lol. I am sure if crean wins up to expectations they will all tire around as I haven't heard to many that dont like him personally but take issue with his coaching and at times it is bizarre. The people who want iu to lose this year for stevens r way off base I feel they shoul want crean to do ok a couple years then lose when stevens may have a chance to actually come here lol

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

Understand that I would love a national title, but it's not in the future. I don't care who's coaching.

But then again, I value a B1G title almost as much, and Crean got me one of those. It rewards season long excellence not a 3 week hot streak. (man am I gonna get hammered for that one )

Won't hammer you but will say the infastructure is still in place of a great program smack dab in the middle of the most fertile region for basketball talent in the country. The right guy (not necessarily Stevens) could turn us into a long term contender very quickly. I like B1G titles as well. Sweet sixteen banners not so much.

[JG84 94]

Will say this: Crean showed his first real sign of swagger last night and the team responded. That is the kind of coach we need. Winning and a coach with confidence will bring this program back perennially. Why did it take 7 years or how ever many years Crean has been here to show some emotion like that?

[OliviaPope40 6,377]

This team ceases to amaze me sometimes.

[jmsgws 2,181]

Understand that I would love a national title, but it's not in the future. I don't care who's coaching.

But then again, I value a B1G title almost as much, and Crean got me one of those. It rewards season long excellence not a 3 week hot streak. (man am I gonna get hammered for that one )

I miss the fact contending for a B1G title was considered par for the course, and that every year making the NCAA tournament was just assumed, never any talk that IU "has to do "x" to get into the tournament".  We knew we were going to be good, and we expected to win every game.  

I miss that every loss was considered a bad loss.

 

[Buck Naked 451]

I miss the fact contending for a B1G title was considered par for the course, and that every year making the NCAA tournament was just assumed, never any talk that IU "has to do "x" to get into the tournament". We knew we were going to be good, and we expected to win every game.

I miss that every loss was considered a bad loss.

Just understand that it's not all Crean's fault. Understand that Bob Knight did not get past the Sweet Sixteen in his last 7 years at IU nor did he win the B1G title. Not even a share.

It's been 20+ years since the days you've been talking about. A lot of damage has been done to the program. IU is not a destination spot anymore. It's gonna take time to rebuild IU's rep.

[djsalway 4,161]

KenPom projects us to finish 12-6 and finish T4 in the B1G so that's something.

[JSHoosier 19,743]

Just understand that it's not all Crean's fault. Understand that Bob Knight did not get past the Sweet Sixteen in his last 7 years at IU nor did he win the B1G title. Not even a share.

It's been 20+ years since the days you've been talking about. A lot of damage has been done to the program. IU is not a destination spot anymore. It's gonna take time to rebuild IU's rep.

Bob Knight still finished in the top half of the conference every season and made the tournament every year, he missed the 64 team field a total of once in his time at IU.

 

IU has struggled lately because of bad coaching hires.

[jmsgws 2,181]

I have never said it was Crean's fault,  IU's administration has made mistake after mistake for years.  

 

IU is still very much a destination spot, but every year we start the season with expectations of 9th in the B1G that destination gets less and less desirable.

 

I would agree that IU needs to rebuild.  The difference comes in as to who people think can do the rebuilding.  Our current coach, even though he has done a lot of good things at IU, IMO has shown that he does not have those abilities.  I don't fault him, though, I fault our AD for giving him an absolutely silly long term/expensive contract.  

[colonel06 1,913]

All I know is I hate the Toiletmakers and Cal and his "Calites" from good 'ol KY and want to beat the socks off of these and many more!

 

I think I see improvement in "TEAM" ie. Yogi's quiet but effective night making plays with pretty passes leading to assists and Crean seems like he is getting into it more and seems anxious to lead his troops into battle.  While I don't think he is Gen. Patton itching to relieve Bastogne, we could give everyone a "good fight" if we keep up this pace of growing-players AND coaches.

[bnkepner 1,509]

Bob Knight still finished in the top half of the conference every season and made the tournament every year, he missed the 64 team field a total of once in his time at IU.

Wrong

1971-72 - NIT
1972-1973  CCAT tournament (no NCAA invite)
1976-1977 No postseason play
1984-1985 NIT

And there were a few years where they finished middle of the pack or lower in the Big Ten under Knight

[bleedhoosier 3,627]

I hear u about some jack iu fans wanting iu to lose. My wife and I went to the SMU game and we could barely enjoy the game because these two "IU" fans sat and "I told u so" every time we missed a shot and then literally whined and pined every time we made a shot. Kept turning around to argue with me every time I started explaining anything to my wife. Had to end up telling them to turn around and shut the hell up because they looked like they literally never played sports a day in their life. Can't even remember the asinine stuff they were saying the whole game. Booing Stan when he entered for the first time. Even the old facts were actually covering their one ear to shut them out lol..

Always thoroughly love an opportunity to actually use the term asshat to someone though. That was cool.

[MemphisHoosier 2,031]

Without any unexpected entries to the draft or transfers, the core of this team will remain intact this year and next. Factor in the additions of Morgan, OG, and dare I say the return of the Davis, and you have a recipe for a competitive team on the court and a lot of fun off it!  

 

I had a conversation last night with the wife about this team being much more likeable than last year's.  I can't attest to what the secret sauce is for this iteration...accountability, mutual repect, shared struggle, etc., but I know I am excited to head to Assembly Hall or listen to Fisch when the boys throw on the candy stripes, and I can assure you that I didn't have the same feeling last year.

 

Here's to a solid B10 run!

[Buck Naked 451]

IU is still very much a destination spot, but every year we start the season with expectations of 9th in the B1G that destination gets less and less desirable.

How do you figure? If so, why are Indiana kids ending up at MSU, UM, OSU, UK, UL and others? And you mean to tell me that when IU had coaching vacancies that Kelvin Samscum and Crean were the first choices? That IU didn't reach out to other coaches and weren't turned down?

The "old days" ain't coming back. Doesn't mean there is no glories coming in the future but Branch McCracken and Bob Knight ain't walking thru that door anytime soon and comparing today to 20-30 years ago isn't fair.

[iunbears 0]

Agree with article. Defense definitely needs to get better! Usually the better athletic the player, the better the defense, so there's no telling how good defensively this team could end up being! Go Hoosiers!!

[biteoftheapple 4,115]

Wrong

1971-72 - NIT
1972-1973 CCAT tournament (no NCAA invite)
1976-1977 No postseason play
1984-1985 NIT

And there were a few years where they finished middle of the pack or lower in the Big Ten under Knight

1985 was the first year for 64 teams.

[JSHoosier 19,743]

Wrong

1971-72 - NIT
1972-1973  CCAT tournament (no NCAA invite)
1976-1977 No postseason play
1984-1985 NIT

And there were three seasons where IU finished in the bottom half of the Big Ten under Knight

Buck specifically mentioned RMK's last 7 years, that's what I was referring to and it's true he finished top half of the conference every one of those seasons as tied for 6th was the worst in that time.

 

Looking in to it, 1984-1985 was a 53 team field.  The tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.  I said Bob Knight missed a 64 team field once at IU, and that was wrong, he never missed a 64 team field at IU.

[jmsgws 2,181]

IU has never gotten all the Indiana kids.  Never have, and never will, there are to many good Indiana kids.

 

I wasn't in the room when any of the coaches were hired, but I do know that Sampson was not the AD's first choice, but he was the President's first choice, that is why he was there.  I do know that Pitino was interested in coming to IU, but again the administration wanted to go a different route.  

 

I don't want the old days to come back, but I don't want the current mediocrity to continue either.  I disagree completely that comparing to our past isn't fair.  We were at the top.  That is the benchmark that we should strive for.

[JSHoosier 19,743]

IU has never gotten all the Indiana kids.  Never have, and never will, there are to many good Indiana kids.

 

I wasn't in the room when any of the coaches were hired, but I do know that Sampson was not the AD's first choice, but he was the President's first choice, that is why he was there.  I do know that Pitino was interested in coming to IU, but again the administration wanted to go a different route.  

 

I don't want the old days to come back, but I don't want the current mediocrity to continue either.  I disagree completely that comparing to our past isn't fair.  We were at the top.  That is the benchmark that we should strive for.

I'd heard of Pitino being interested before, never knew if it was true or not.

 

Crean wasn't the first choice either.

[Banksyrules 4,460]

I think if Hanner plays like this we have a chance to be an elite 8 team.  A lot of factor have to come to play but unlike the team with Zeller and Oladipo, we would have more depth and more athletic upside.  Don't expect it, but I think we have a chance.