Analysis: What will it take for IU fans to call this a successful season?

[pappy1865]

Successful year? Of course it is. The thing I love about March is that anything can happen.

Good Troy.
Defense.
Yogi.
OG.
Bryant.

Banner 6 isn't that far of a stretch.

Agree with the above. I don't t care who the wins come against or how. Just. Get. The. W.

[LIHoosier]

Agreed.  And as much as I'd love to see Stony Brook knock off UK, I'd rather see IU be the team to end UK's season.

 

EDIT:  Now that I'm thinking about it, I think when IU is hitting on all cylinders (hitting 3s, D is in order) that they could end UNC's season as well.  This team has a high ceiling but a deep basement.

My gut feeling is this is an all or nothing year. We either make the Final Four or we lose to Chatty by double digits.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

My gut feeling is this is an all or nothing year. We either make the Final Four or we lose to Chatty by double digits.

 

That's the problem.  We should NEVER EVER be worried about getting beat in a first round game!  NEVER!   But $h!t happens and I know it did in the immortal General's latter years and I can honestly say that I'm more than a little worried about the Chatty game.  Under CTC, we are just so consistently inconsistent when it comes to playing in tournaments.  It's maddening, frustrating along with a thousand other synonyms.  This team is definitely Sweet 16 caliber and it can be an Elite 8 and even a Final 4 but it's got to play with its head screwed on straight.  But will it?

[TrueHoosier62]

I think you are mixing up THIS year's success or possibly  lack thereof, with keeping or firing Coach Crean. 

I agree with you that any discussion of Crean's job has to look at the totality of his work.  However, that wasn't the discussion.  The last eight years have nothing to do with this team, or this season. 

I have to disagree with you on this one, (and I don't usually don't like to disagree with your posts). The totality of Crean's tenure at IU does have an impact on the expectations one has for an individual year's assessment. As fans, we don't make assessments or alter expectations within a vacuum; everything is considered. That would include past tournament experiences and the total body of work turned in by Crean's teams. This is human nature. As far as I'm concerned, the expectation should be banner #6. Let Purdue fans revel in 20 win seasons and trips to the tournament, replete with early exits; that's what they're legendary for. 

[jmsgws]

I have to disagree with you on this one, (and I don't usually don't like to disagree with your posts). The totality of Crean's tenure at IU does have an impact on the expectations one has for an individual year's assessment. As fans, we don't make assessments or alter expectations within a vacuum; everything is considered. That would include past tournament experiences and the total body of work turned in by Crean's teams. This is human nature. As far as I'm concerned, the expectation should be banner #6. Let Purdue fans revel in 20 win seasons and trips to the tournament, replete with early exits; that's what they're legendary for. 

Isn't respectful disagreement one of the things that make these message boards fun?  :) 

I always try and dismiss history from the current year.  A good example was when we got whalloped by Syracuse.  Crean's post season history was not significantly different that year, yet because of that specific team we had heightened expectations of how they would end the year.  That is why we were all up in arms when we looked so bad in that game. 

After the third week of this season, did any of us expect to win the B1G, and even be playing in the NCAA tournament?

The way I interpreted the post I responded to, was that it was more focused on Crean's past than the discussion point raised in the thread.  The past, to me, doesn't have any bearing on whether or not this season is successful. 

I put in red the part we are in complete agreement.  If History were different I would expect beating Kentucky, and I would also expect beating North Carolina. Not so much any more. 

[Apopka Hoosier]

If we can beat Kentucky...I will be pretty satisfied.  Would like the Elite 8 but, sending Kentucky home would be very satisfying!