Tom Crean: Boon or Bane?

[brewcity77]

So I was thinking about Tom Crean today, something I rarely do. Since he so often comes up in other threads, I thought "what the hell, why not start one for him" so at least we know it won't go off-topic because of Crean. While some people have a negative impression of Crean, some have a positive impression of him, and some don't care, my question is whether or not any success he has at Indiana is good for Marquette. Here are the arguments:

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Crean is Good for Marquette: He continues to mention us on Twitter, and if he happens to have national success, Marquette's name will be mentioned more frequently on television. If Crean goes to the NCAAs, everyone who watches the game will likely hear at least 2-3 Marquette mentions per game. It will give CBS another excuse to play D-Wade highlights in Marquette gear. In addition, it could help us in recruiting. If Crean is recruiting someone and points to his NBA pedigree with the likes of Wade, Diener, Novak, Matthews, and Hayward, it will put MU names in the recruit's head. Crean won't win every recruiting battle, and having another coach remind kids of our players might help our cause for guys I4 can't reel in.

Crean is Bad for Marquette: He is a reminder not just to us, but to the national media that we aren't a national brand. Crean left because he didn't feel he could have the same success at Marquette, which automatically bills us as an inferior program when talking about the NCAA elite. His tanned visage is also a constant reminder and thorn in the side of those who still feel betrayed by his departure, and invariably divides us as a fanbase. Even worse, our most visible marketing tool, Dwyane Wade, is loyal to Crean and could eventually lead to kids identifying him more with Indiana than Marquette, robbing us of a key feather in the cap when it comes to recruiting.

It doesn't matter: He was here, he got us to a Final Four, great. Now he's gone and what he does has no impact on us. Different school, different conference, and mostly different recruiting targets. The few positives and negatives he may offer balance each other out, and honestly, brew wasted my time by writing all this and leaving the most sensible option at the bottom.

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So....what do you think? Good, bad, or irrelevant? Here's your chance to talk about Crean, the positives and negatives, and vent all you like. I'll weigh in with which of the three opinions above is mine sometime later if the discussion lasts.

[bilsu]

It always helps when MU gets mentioned. Given MU success without him and his struggles so far at Indiana it makes it look like MU made him instead of the other way around. Therefore  I voted good for MU.

[Daniel]

I voted good too.  MU mentions on national tv are always good.  I believe Crean will be successful at IIII.  Will that be bad fro MU?  It depends on how we are doing in the meantime.  Cream got MU to the Final Four.  How much more of a leap for heim to get MU to the final game and win?  I can see if you are with a program that never gets a bid, or past the first round.  But other htan that, why not buk.d a strong brand?

He was good for MU when here and can still be good for MU.

GO MARQUETTE!

[dgies9156]

Brew, ole buddy, Tommy Crean is like Kevin O'Neill. He had some wonderful years at MU, left a good legacy and moved on. I personally think both men made mistakes, but last time I looked their wallets were at least modestly fuller than mine is.

They've moved on and so should we. Celebrate what the tanned one did (and the foul mouthed one as well), but first and foremost let's realize that we live in a time where coaches change more often than, say, St. Al did. They were a colorful part of our history but if we sit around and mope about their departures (as many have), we fail to see we can rebuild and rejuvenate.

I think we have someone in Buzz who may well be with us for many years to come. Let's not demean him by constantly fretting about the tanned one. The Tanned One is a non-person as far as I am concerned. Buzz is my man. Don't forget it.

[MUCam]

Crean recruiting well and doing well at Indiana validates his "Its Indiana! Its Indiana!" mantra.

As a poster above stated, the longer he struggles at Indiana, the better the Marquette program looks.

I know there exists a theory that any publicity is good publicity, but I, for one, don't want Marquette to constantly be referred to as Crean's stepping stone if he does ever have success.

Let him fail.

[4everwarriors]

The best thing for MU would be for Crean
 to take his act to Siberia and not return. Hope the good people of Siberia forgive me.

[MarquetteDano]

I voted for "makes no difference" since that is the closest to my thoughts....

I think some success will be good for Marquette.  As the reasons mentioned by Brew it keeps Marquette's name out there.  I think if Crean wins a National Championship, though, that would be bad.  This is because it proves that he couldn't do it at Marquette but could do it at another school.

I don't cheer for or against Indiana these days.  However, I definitely will be cheering against them in any Final Four as I think a National Title with Crean is at the helm hurts Marquette.

[mileskishnish72]

Am happy that "no difference" is way ahead. DWade had more to do with getting to the Final Four than Crean did.

[Lennys Tap]

So far Indiana has had 3 years of failure on the court under TC, one of which was totally understandable, one of which was mostly understandable and one of which was a bit of a head scratcher. If he ends up succeeding it will be at least another three years before even his biggest boosters can claim confirmation. In the 6+ years it takes Marquette will have become what it can become under Buzz. So by those standards, Crean's success or failure is a non issue.

[RubyWiscy]

I think some success will be good for Marquette.  As the reasons mentioned by Brew it keeps Marquette's name out there.  I think if Crean wins a National Championship, though, that would be bad.  This is because it proves that he couldn't do it at Marquette but could do it at another school.

I don't cheer for or against Indiana these days.  However, I definitely will be cheering against them in any Final Four as I think a National Title with Crean is at the helm hurts Marquette.

Unless MU gets to the Final Four or wins a national chamionship before Crean does at IIII. Buzz is building his own resume of success for MU. Let's not forget he has taken us to the Sweet 16 with probably his weakest team in 3 years at MU.  Let's see what the next year or two bring for MU.

I personally wish all the success to every past MU coach.  If their teams are on TV or do well, I am only interested because of the past connection.  IMHO itmakes no statement on the current status of the MU program.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

If the poll option was "Tom Crean:  Babboon or Bane" you'd be closer.  I4 is not much more than a screaming primate throwing poo.   

[4everwarriors]

If the poll option was "Tom Crean:  Babboon or Bane" you'd be closer.  I4 is not much more than a screaming primate throwing poo.   

Eloquent dude, simply eloquent.

[6746jonesr]

Why does anyone care about Tom Crean?  He's gone.  Get over it.

[Bocephys]

Why does anyone care about Tom Crean?  He's gone.  Get over it.

This.  We had a few weeks where no one brought up Crean and it was glorious.  He has no effect on the current program.

[Milkshakes]

Really?  Move on dude.  He did good things for the program while here but he is gone.  Long gone now in terms of basketball tenure...  Leave it alone.

[BubbaWilliams]

The best thing for MU would be for Crean
 to take his act to Siberia and not return. Hope the good people of Siberia forgive me.

There is not enough sunlight there. People would immediatley know his tan was not real

[ringout]

Why does anyone care about Tom Crean?  He's gone.  Get over it.

This thread was worthwhile just for F*ckin's poo flinging comment.

[Goose]

While far from a TC backer I believe any success he has a positive for MU. He is part of our history and I hope every former Warrior does well because it reflects well on the program. That said, if he stepped on his johnson it would not break my heart.

[Skatastrophy]

While far from a TC backer I believe any success he has a positive for MU. He is part of our history and I hope every former Warrior does well because it reflects well on the program. That said, if he stepped on his johnson it would not break my heart.

+1

The more "he took Marquette to the Final-Four" comments he gets from announcers during national TV broadcasts the better.

[4everwarriors]

While far from a TC backer I believe any success he has a positive for MU. He is part of our history and I hope every former Warrior does well because it reflects well on the program. That said, if he stepped on his johnson it would not break my heart.

If he was a midget, it'll be a reach to step on his junk.

[Lennys Tap]

This thread was worthwhile just for F*ckin's poo flinging comment.

Brings to mind the New York Times bestseller "Brown Spots on the Wall" by Hu Phlong Poo.

[Nukem2]

If he was a midget, it'll be a reach to step on his junk.

When it comes to TC, someone seems to be a mental midget.  As much as someone may not like TC, its hard for anyone to deny TC's successful efforts on behalf of MU....   Be glad Deane is not roaming the sidelines at the BC...!

[Silkk the Shaka]

While far from a TC backer I believe any success he has a positive for MU. He is part of our history and I hope every former Warrior does well because it reflects well on the program. That said, if he stepped on his johnson it would not break my heart.

Disagree.  I'm thankful for what he did here, but him failing miserably at IU is good for MU period.

[77ncaachamps]

Let him wax nostalgic about his Marquette days. That shows he's not making enough "nostalgic" moments at IU.

In the end, indifferent. Winning is the here and now. Buzz is the here and now. Crean is the then and gone.

Someone had brought it up earlier, but if Majerus, KO, Lawrence Frank, Tex Winter (or his son) bring up Marquette, it may help increase MU pub.

So let Crean talk about the "good 'ol days" for as long as he wants. It usually means things aren't going the way they should in Bloomington.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Let him wax nostalgic about his Marquette days. That shows he's not making enough "nostalgic" moments at IU.

+1