Marquette is not a coaching destination....

[only a warrior]

Just a stepping stone along the way.  Thought with Crean that we were past that.  Obviously not - I just don't see it so much greener over the fence at IU.  Whatever - thanks for the great years Tom and I hope you get everything you want at IU that you apparently didn't have here.

Now, I hope to god we don't get another no-name in here.  Still have scars from the Majerus / Dukiet years.

[ecompt]

I'm so sick of college athletics right about now. This is not even a lateral move. Let's leave the biggest (and one of the best) conferences in the country with the most media exposure for a conference that is just above mid-major. You know what, take the $1.6 million and put it into education and screw the basketball priogram. I really don't give a crap if we even field a team ever again-- that's how sick I am of the whole thing.

[Pakuni]

There are maybe 10, maybe fewer, "destination" jobs in the college basketball  world.
And yeah, Marquette isn't one of them. This shouldn't be a revelation to anyone.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm so sick of college athletics right about now. This is not even a lateral move. Let's leave the biggest (and one of the best) conferences in the country with the most media exposure for a conference that is just above mid-major. You know what, take the $1.6 million and put it into education and screw the basketball priogram. I really don't give a crap if we even field a team ever again-- that's how sick I am of the whole thing.

The other way to look at it (or rationalize it) is that here's a competitive coach who has a chance at a crown jewel job landing in his lap at it's lowest point maybe in 50 years.  Just for making them competitive the first 2 years will buy him time.  He's not going to be outworked and he will not have to work that hard, honestly, to get some players to play for him at IU.  At least early on.  If he can get the train running, then he'll be fine. 

Let's put it another way, Kelvin Sampson isn't a very good coach and he had it running in no time up there...granted going about it the other way.  I think IU in the short run is just looking for some normalcy of not being on the bad side of the NCAA right now so TC is a safe hire in that respect. 

The other thing is the Big Ten.  It's GOD AWFUL.  His task of winning the Big Ten will be a ton easier then winning the Big East, that is for certain.  He has to compete against a few good schools in the Big Ten while he has to compete against 9 or 10 good ones in the Big East.

Just another way to look at it.

[TVDirector]

IU needed a TC...
period.

a program that has gone from the apex to suspect.
crean's squeaky clean, toes the univ. line, talks the talk...
he'll be able to show his recruiting acument at IU when the mess there has been cleaned up.

wonder if he'll be able to outlast whatever sanctions are put in place there.

it'll be tough, no doubt.

but it'll be easier for him to win the weak big ten then the big east with MU.

oh well.

[NavinRJohnson]

I'm so sick of college athletics right about now. This is not even a lateral move. Let's leave the biggest (and one of the best) conferences in the country with the most media exposure for a conference that is just above mid-major. You know what, take the $1.6 million and put it into education and screw the basketball priogram. I really don't give a crap if we even field a team ever again-- that's how sick I am of the whole thing.

This is sort of where I'm coming down on this as well. We hear about how this is a business, and he was doing what was best for him, and we should all respect that and be thankful for what he did. Well, screw that. This is not limited to Tom Crean, but while these guys work hard, they also get rich on the backs of college kids. They get 10-year, gazillion dollar contracts, yet are free to leave any time. They get shoe deals, and media deals, and have the ability to bolt whenever a better deal comes along. Those players on the other hand, the guys who create those opportunities for their coaches, what options do they have? they get opportunities to play nall, and go to college, but when their coach leaves, they're stuck. They can transfer, but they have to sit out a year. Players who have signed LOI's are at the mercy of the school. Anyone think a player who explodes while in college like a Stephen Curry, wouldn't like to be able to play for UNC next year? Of course he would, but he can't.

As a player, when you sign on to play college ball, you are provided a great opportunity, but you also have to, in a sense, give up some of the rights the rest of us have, and that their coaches have. I freely admit I have not thought this all the way through, but I do believe that the NCAA has to do something to even this out somewhat. Not sure how, but maybe make both coaches and schools honor the contracts they sign so that they actually mean something. Make the school that steals a coach away forfiet something - scholarships, recruiting visits, something. Tom Crean has 100% say on what he does, and when he does it. Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal, Lazar Hayward, Trevor Mbakwe, Scott Chrstopherson, and Nick Williams do not.

I honestly believe MU may actually come out of this better off, but caring makes me feel like I need to take a shower.

[Jumping Jesuit]

Here, here.  I whole heartedly, agree.  While I appreciate the sucess Tom Crean gave us, and, while it is not our fault he left (as far as anyone can tell), I can't help to think that the only reason why half of all univerisies are recognized nationally is the fact that 18 to 20 year olds are the real stars in a b-ball or football program.  Sure, they get a "free" education", but they surely provide the uni much more than what they earn.  Heck, I am a conseravtive, so the only way to by-pass this is to let anyone good enough into the NBA or NFL and forget what they have to earn a uni in the NCAA.  Go James and McNeil, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!