How many people in or at Indiana have actually seen Tom Crean on the job?

[MU Avenue]

Or have they just read or heard all the positive, upbeat stories -- oftentimes misinformed boosterism -- about Crean's recruiting abilities and especially his coaching skills and acumen?

It has long seemed that Crean wins excessive applause and praise from people who have rarely or never seen him actually coaching a basketball team.

I am certain that what most people, including Indiana University's administration, students and other fans, know about Crean has come almost entirely from what they have read or been told.

Based on all that I have read in recent days, it appears the good, corn-fed people of Indiana think Crean is a coaching genius who ranks among the nation's elite basketball minds and tacticians.

Far from it. Very, very far.

I felt this way when he was at Marquette. I feel the same now that he is at Indiana.

It makes sense that Indiana fans are "first kiss" excited about Crean's desire to coach the Hoosiers. All they know about him is what they have read and heard from others, including many sportswriters who have almost never -- or never -- seen Crean on the court and only know what they have read and heard, too.

On paper, Tom Crean looks outstanding. The living, breathing Tom Crean, however, is far from that.

Indiana University's true "Tom Crean" education will come when it experiences firsthand his recruiting and especially his coaching. I am certain many Hoosiers fans will be surprised and quite possibly feel misled.