Who this team is and where they're going

[Ratbastard 22]

Wayne Fleek Hoosier, I agree 100% with your comments. Our program has gone from one of the top programs to a mediocre program. 16 out of the last 20 years we have had 10 losses or more. Crean has been on the job 7 years and has produced one big ten championship and two trips to NCAA OUT OF 7! So what's going to change? Nothing, nor did it for Marquette same old stuff. I recently read an article Dec 16 from Mark Story from the Lexington Herald , title " Hoosiers Deserve sympathy not snark" every Hoosier fan should read this article. It pretty much sums up where our program is!!!!

[Feathery 4,005]

Can't believe you're trying to defend that stance. The teams failure can be placed on coach. Preseason rankings are predictions made by analysts.

Coach is still putting together a good year with this roster. Any failures can be credited to him whether you want to call it roster management or coaching. But right now there's been more to be happy about this year. With 10 games left, we're only two wins away from matching last season's record. That is significant improvement season over season with limited roster additions and the loss of a McDAA, lottery pick center.

This season is more maddening to me bc we are wasting a terrific roster 1-4. Crean couldn't get it done and bring in a solid big, which has caused reduced expectations. now people are saying with what he had. Bull, he botched the recruiting of this team and now we have to sit through another season without the hope of a championship. We are a center away. Last season he botched recruiting by not getting anyone who could shoot.

Can't you see how he is wasting the tremendous talent he has brought in by failing to put together a complete "team"? The future is projecting to be more of the same.

[HoosierCoop 3,927]

When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.

LL Cool J

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

LL Cool J must have understood, on some level, that we'd very likely be 6-3 in conference after the Rutgers game at the halfway point of the B1G season.

 

Y'all need to relax just a little bit (or don't...what the hell do I care!) 

 

We are overachieving. The primary weakness of our team going into the season was size and physicality. Since then, we lost our two most effective remaining size/physicality players to injury. 

 

Even with that happening, we are very likely to be 6-3 (yes...6-3!!) in the B1G at the midway point, have discovered that freshmen Holt and Hoetzel are WAY better than we expected, and that a sophomore named Hartman is, instead of an end of the bench cheerleader, likely the kind of player that as a junior/senior could be the sixth man on a championship caliber team.

 

Yes, we played like crap last night. By the way...Purdue played GREAT. Their game plan was great, their fans were great, their energy level was great, and their very talented 7'0" big man was motivated, skilled, and fantastic.

 

R-E-L-A-X, discuss, and enjoy Indiana Hoosiers basketball.

 

 

Well stated Stu!

 

I hate like hell that we lost last night.  But we all had a feeling it might.  I am happy with a 5-3 record at this point.  Team looks like it could use a group hug.

 

Support!  It is what helps drive and motivate.

[Stuhoo 80,909]

Well stated Stu!

 

I hate like hell that we lost last night.  But we all had a feeling it might.  I am happy with a 5-3 record at this point.  Team looks like it could use a group hug.

 

Support!  It is what helps drive and motivate.

 

And you Coop, are no sunshine-pumper.

 

Look, I am NOT saying that this is a tiny bump on this team's road to glory.

 

What I am saying is that so far this year the good has outweighed the bad, that we have pieces that could play for a national championship down the road, but that we have some big holes to fill if we ever want to seriously have that discussion. 

 

Vent, be frustrated, but keep perspective.

[jmsgws 2,181]

What I am saying is that so far this year the good has outweighed the bad, that we have pieces that could play for a national championship down the road, but that we have some big holes to fill if we ever want to seriously have that discussion. 

 

I think that is my biggest frustration.  I would not be as upset about this year, if I saw something that made me think we have something different coming down the road.  I don't see anything coming that says the results in two years are going to be any different than the results from this year.

We definitely have the pieces, but we do not have a team.  Last night we saw what a team can do when they play together.

 

[shortspacequickness 1,034]

I don't post as much anymore because of the knee jerk outrage, but man... Didn't think it would be this bad.

Some blame Crean for our program falling from top 25 status. Are you kidding? Indiana was nothing close to a top 25 program. Not even close. Not talking about the roster. Indiana did one thing that mattered in the lifetime of the college players today. 94-08 produced one run. One. And we want to talk about what Crean has done to the program? It's pretty obvious. He's lifted it.

[Hutch89 2,939]

At times like these, one can only wonder...

Where in the hell is RebelHoosier !!??!!

[Hutch89 2,939]

He's gone missing again boys... bring out the dogs.

[jonz44 810]

Amazing how people go from one end to the other after a couple losses.

I don't go from end to the other but I'll be honest. When they win I do get up a little. This program has been down for a long time and when I see a small glimmer of possible success I really want to grab on to it like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood. My logical view of long term facts tells me that the future may not be very bright but I'm so damn tired of living in the pit of college basketball hell in darkness that I desperately wanna see light at the end of the tunnel! Alas, the light always seems to be the headlight of a train that's running over the prospects of my favorite college basketball team! Geez, and I'm a Reds fan and they're probably gonna suck next summer also...lol

[moyemayhem 1,287]

I still think this has been Crean's best season as a coach.

 

I still think the future outlook for the program is gloomy.

 

Last night's game didn't change either of those opinions for me.

[OliviaPope40 6,521]

I can't tell what the compass reads right now I say the jury is still out.

[southernindianahoosier 422]

I still think this has been Crean's best season as a coach.

I still think the future outlook for the program is gloomy.

Last night's game didn't change either of those opinions for me.

Agreed, his best coaching season to date.

However, at year 7, it's like putting whipped cream on a piece of s***.

[Alford Bailey 12,386]

CTC belongs in the MAC, where Dakich came from.

LOL, just last night I said to myself this guy needs to come rebuild Miami of Ohio. Would be a perfect fit and they would love him forever.

[Alford Bailey 12,386]

My biggest fear for this season may be coming true. I'd be thrilled if Crean could win large and show improve. But a mediocre, or slightly better season will keep him at the helm just long enough to waste a few more seasons. I'd rather swing for the fences.

He'll win enough home games and crap non-con games to stay aboard. I'd be thrilled if he gave me hope that he could get IU to be a national powerhouse but I don't see it.

Exactly. I said on another site all summer this team would win 24 games , make the Dance and save Creans butt. Right on schedule. Doesnt mean things are "fixed" with the program, though. Extends the misery a couple more years, IMO.

[Alford Bailey 12,386]

Great questions and dicussion. Any successful organization has some sort of barometer and plan for the future. In cbb its recruiting. We are not trending well IMO. Lets face it, we are pinning our hopes on a kid whose mama says she doesnt want him playing here. And really Bryant isn't gonna save the program. With transfers and early exits to the NBA you have to be in on multiple quality recruits every year. In about 2011-12 I thought Crean was there. Landed a couple big names and was in on many more. He seems to have fizzled out. Yea we can point to Blackmon, but IMO he came back to us because he saw lots of minutes. Cant say I'm excited about the next 2-3 years under the current regime.

[KingPG21 6,584]

nope, when his recruiting hit the skids I knew we were SOL. Recruiting is the forecast and his recruiting has been weak for a year and a half. And if anyone needs talent to win, it's Crean.

So let's say Yogi, JBJ, and Troy all come back. Do you maintain your stance on recruiting? I get concerns about recruiting for next year, but if we don't have any big loses, doesn't that quell some of the issues?

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

This season is more maddening to me bc we are wasting a terrific roster 1-4. Crean couldn't get it done and bring in a solid big, which has caused reduced expectations. now people are saying with what he had. Bull, he botched the recruiting of this team and now we have to sit through another season without the hope of a championship. We are a center away. Last season he botched recruiting by not getting anyone who could shoot.

Can't you see how he is wasting the tremendous talent he has brought in by failing to put together a complete "team"? The future is projecting to be more of the same.

read my other posts. I'm not worried about the future. Let's worry about now. Success now creates success in the future.

[Magnanimous 4,603]

So let's say Yogi, JBJ, and Troy all come back. Do you maintain your stance on recruiting? I get concerns about recruiting for next year, but if we don't have any big loses, doesn't that quell some of the issues?

 

It goes beyond next year. All of them are coming back. They'll be improved, but we're still without a big man, and that team will still be a farcry from a nationally contending team. Then after that Yogi's gone (and maybe Troy and JBjr), and who is going to run the point? Stan? RoJo isn't a true PG. And what if we still don't land a quality center? This program has all the makings of being good but not great for the next few years.

[jonz44 810]

So let's say Yogi, JBJ, and Troy all come back. Do you maintain your stance on recruiting? I get concerns about recruiting for next year, but if we don't have any big loses, doesn't that quell some of the issues?

If all three come back (and I think they will) do you feel we will be drastically better?I don't see us being drastically better unless TW and JBJ progress and even then I don't think we'll be final four good unless some of the other personnel changes. To add our incoming recruits that have committed at least two present players will have to leave...and I don't see either of our recruits being difference makers. Especially in their first year. So to get a "difference maker"a third present player will have to leave. Who's leaving? What will they take from our present team? In all honesty the over signing is one of the things I find most distasteful about Crean. I don't follow recruiting as closely as I used to so I'm not positive but I don't believe most of the top programs are doing this. Maybe I'm wrong.

Back To your original question. If all three come back next year I think we'll be a sweet sixteen club...and I'm not satisfied with that. I believe all three will definitely leave at the end of next year then...we're right back to last year and this year.

[ALASKA HOOSIER 11,276]

my heart is broken :(

I just had to hear the Purdue fightsong at my office! WTF