15-16 Season Expectations

[ou812dude 3,326]

I expect IU to start the season strong, getting everyone all giddy with a top 15 spot in the polls, only to peak in early February yet again...and limp out of season with marginal record improvements from 2014-15

[Bobman1 2,909]

Consider:
Season Record: 26-7
Big Ten Finish: 3rd
Big Ten Tournament: Semis
NCAA Tournament: Elite 8

Expect:
Season Record: 25-8
Big Ten Finish: 4th
Big Ten Tournament: Quarters
NCAA: Sweet16 or Elite 8

[Me So Hornsby 2,747]

I think half the fan base expects us to go 8-23 the way these boards look..

 

In all seriousness I think CTC needs to get us to the second weekend of the tourny or he is going to be forced out.

 

So I would say:

 

Season Record - 28-7
Big Ten Finish - Top 3
Big Ten Tournament - Semi/Final
NCAA Tourny - Elite 8(minimum) 

 

I may be in the minority but I am excited to see what next season brings.

[Feathery 4,005]

So starting 3 McD All Americans and 2 more top 50 players. Our top 2 starters are upperclassmen. Off the bench we have experience in Hartman (jr), NZ (5th yr sr), and Perea (sr). That's the best roster in the Big Ten, with the only weakness is a backup PG.

Expectations (aka a good year)
Record: 28-5
Conference: Big Ten Champions
BTT: Finals
Tournament: Final Four
Post season: Crean has a great class coming he stays. If not and its a new rebuild he needs to go. Sustained success is required.

What I think will happen
Record: 25-8
Conference: top 4
BTT: Semi finals
Tournament: Swee16/elite 8
Post season: Crean fired/Resigns/New job

[yogisballin 2,376]

So starting 3 McD All Americans and 2 more top 50 players. Our top 2 starters are upperclassmen. Off the bench we have experience in Hartman (jr), NZ (5th yr sr), and Perea (sr). That's the best roster in the Big Ten, with the only weakness is a backup PG.

Expectations (aka a good year)
Record: 28-5
Conference: Big Ten Champions
BTT: Finals
Tournament: Final Four
Post season: Crean has a great class coming he stays. If not and its a new rebuild he needs to go. Sustained success is required.

What I think will happen
Record: 25-8
Conference: top 4
BTT: Semi finals
Tournament: Swee16/elite 8
Post season: Crean fired/Resigns/New job

Wouldn't RoJo be our backup PG? And he would be a weakness? Get outta here! Or is he in your start 5?

[Feathery 4,005]

Wouldn't RoJo be our backup PG? And he would be a weakness? Get outta here! Or is he in your start 5?

Starting 5:
Yogi
JBJR
Johnson
Williams
Bryant

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,837]

I'm still to depressed to think about next year and changed my avatar accordingly.

[SteelerHoosier 2,586]

Starting 5:
Yogi
JBJR
Johnson
Williams
Bryant

 

I like this one instead ;) 

 

Yogi

JBJR

Williams

Maker

Bryant

 

Yeah......it won't happen. 

[biteoftheapple 4,115]

I cannot include either Bryant or Maker until one or both sign. Without either we make a nominal improvement over this last season, providing that there are no more major transfers.

[Feathery 4,005]

I like this one instead ;)

Yogi
JBJR
Williams
Maker
Bryant

Yeah......it won't happen.

As do I. I was just going off the assumption of only Bryant the OP gave.

[GloryDays 5,938]

I expect IU to start the season strong, getting everyone all giddy with a top 15 spot in the polls, only to peak in early February yet again...and limp out of season with marginal record improvements from 2014-15

Sounds about right.

[GloryDays 5,938]

I'm still to depressed to think about next year and changed my avatar accordingly.

Forever adrift in a sea of mediocrity.

[AKHoosier 7,064]

Starting 5:
Yogi
JBJR
Johnson
Williams
Bryant

 

I don't know, that's too much like this year's team for my liking.

 

I'd rather go:

 

Yogi

Blackmon or Johnson

Williams

Perea

Bryant

 

Enough of this small ball.  Crean has to figure out how to use two big guys on the court at once.  3 guys who can score and create their own shot are all you need, and combine them with two bigs who can rebound and defend well should be a recipe for great success.  I don't care if Hanner isn't a strech 4, he's a power forward at any other school.

 

I mean for God's sakes, every one of the guys in our starting lineup would be a top 50 player, with 3 McDonald's All Americans.  That roster should be able to sleepwalk to 25 wins and a Sweet 16.

[Alford Bailey 12,417]

What happened to the Bryant thread?

[Alford Bailey 12,417]

What happened to the Bryant thread?

[Naismith 136]

A longtime favorite quote of mine, credited to Ernest Hemingway in a discussion with Ava Gardner, is "Never Confuse Motion With Action."  I share this as it relates to Tom Crean.  It's been my observation of well over half a century, that the mental toughness of the coach is in a 1:1 relationship as to the mental toughness of the team.  

 

I would greatly like to see Crean succeed at IU.  However, like many have expressed, I question whether this is possible.  With that said, this particular past season was hindered from day one - due to excessive youth and lack of size.  I believe the final outcome was as favorable as the fan base had a right to expect.  Next year, however, with the possibility of adding "talented size" and the return of our core group, and their, unquestionable, on court leader, Y. Ferrell, a sober expectation would be top ten and deep into the NCAA Tourney.

 

Without a doubt, Tom Crean's future in Bloomington will be determined in his eighth season at the helm of the Hoosiers.  I wish him the best.