Stop Me If You Heard This Before: Is Crean Ready To "Nudge" Someone Out?

[Tugg Speedman]

What's next for Crean and the Hoosiers and more in today's IU sports Q&A

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2010/04/01/iusports.142723.sto

In answering a question about possible transfers:

DUSTIN DOPIRAK: Hey PB.

Actually, I think the negative recruiting news makes a transfer less likely. Carlino's decommitment means the Hoosiers won't be overbooked if they add another player for the Class of 2010, which means Crean doesn't have to nudge someone off the team. Crean could still do that and someone could still bail, but I don't think anyone who was on the brink of transferring is going to be pushed off the edge because Matt Carlino and Moses Abraham aren't coming. I don't think any of them were banking their future on those two guys. I'm actually a little surprised we haven't heard anything yet, but I imagine whatever does go down will happen in the next few weeks.

Later Someone asked about this idea:

QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the ethics of Crean deciding to "nudge" a player off the team, as Dustin mentions in one of his responses here, if he decides that he can bring in a better player by doing so?

Malik, Indianapolis

CHRIS KORMAN: Malik,

I don't think it's right, but the NCAA has set it up that way. Scholarships are one-year renewable contracts.

Dustin probably used the word nudge because he doesn't really feel as though Crean will simply tell a kid he is now welcome back. It will probably be a case of Crean telling a player exactly where he stands, and that player realizing that he doesn't have the type of future he wants at IU.

That would amount to a coach simply being honest, and I think that's fair. And If Crean does recruit "over" a player, and tells them as much, that's a pretty honest approach.

If anything like what you mention happens, we'll obviously dig into it as much as we can. It's certainly an issue we want to monitor closely; these coaches sell family atmosphere and growing up and development and all of that during the recruiting process. They shouldn't be able to ditch a kid without some explanation.

Thanks for being here. Take care.

DUSTIN DOPIRAK: Sadly, it's part of the business. It's not a nice part, in fact, it's one of those aspects of big-time college sports that makes you want to swear off watching them and declare it all a lie and a sham.

But I guess what it comes down to is this. Players want to play, coaches need to win to keep their jobs. If a coach recruits over a player, that player would in many cases rather be told to transfer rather than spending a year on the bench anyway.

If a coach does nudge someone out the door, it's usually incumbent on him to work to find another place to play and give the best references possible to whatever school decides to take him. In a cutthroat business like college basketball, that's about the closest you can get to ethical.

[GGGG]

I think it might be best to hold off on criticizing others when Buzz is still recruiting for 2010.

[HoopsMalone]

House-creaning is a cuthroat business.

But this is certainly not specific to Crean. 

[DawsonCreekFillanderer]

It certainly speaks volumes about Tom Crean and his ethical make-up. This guy did this from day one - Kevin Menard anyone?

[GGGG]

Again...let's not throw stones...we don't know exactly why Buzz is still recruiting for 2010.

[DawsonCreekFillanderer]

We have no idea why Buzz is still recruiting for 2010 but we do know that Crean's shady practices have now become a part of the popular literature. Creaning is now official and it reflects poorly on an already tainted reputation. No wonder he is struggling to fil the roster at Ix4. Who would sign with this guy?

[GGGG]

We have no idea why Buzz is still recruiting for 2010 but we do know that Crean's shady practices have now become a part of the popular literature. Creaning is now official and it reflects poorly on an already tainted reputation. No wonder he is struggling to fil the roster at Ix4. Who would sign with this guy?

Shady is shady no matter who does it.  I expect you to engage in the same criticism of Buzz if he does it to...but I doubt you'll even be around.

[MarquetteDano]

Shady is shady no matter who does it.  I expect you to engage in the same criticism of Buzz if he does it to...but I doubt you'll even be around.

Have to agree with the Sultan on this one.  We are in no position to cast stones.  How long was Roseboro in town?  I am not saying Buzz is unethical but it's not like Roseboro transferred for any other reason than because it was clear he would get no playing time.

[jmayer1]

I realize this happens all the time in big-time college basketball but I hate it no matter who the coach is.

[bilsu]

Kids want to play and generally if they see that the coach does not plan on playing them they are going to leave. I do not see this as running off. I think Crean had a lot of transfers at MU, because of Crean's personality. Crean always seemed to have someone in the dog house and once you were in it was hard to get out. If Buzz is still recruiting it is because someone is leaving. I blame that on the fact that Buzz does not use his bench enough. I do not know if anyone is leaving, but I would not blame Williams if he left. He did not play much and with Crowder and Jones coming in along with Otule hopefully being healthy he may not see himself getting much playing time next year.

[DawsonCreekFillanderer]

Have to agree with the Sultan on this one.  We are in no position to cast stones.  How long was Roseboro in town?  I am not saying Buzz is unethical but it's not like Roseboro transferred for any other reason than because it was clear he would get no playing time.

Roseboro realized he wasn't able to run with the stallions on the team but he was absolutely welcome to stay with his scholarship intact. He chose to leave in order to play ball. Big difference. Crean pulled scholarships and kids were on their own.

It's the same as you dumping your girl friend rather than she dumping you. Feels a lot better in the former; the latter has some residue...

[Tugg Speedman]

Roseboro realized he wasn't able to run with the stallions on the team but he was absolutely welcome to stay with his scholarship intact. He chose to leave in order to play ball. Big difference. Crean pulled scholarships and kids were on their own.

What about Hazel?  Was he run off by Buzz last year?  Down the stretch last year, he was invisible.  I believe Frozena was put in a few games before he was.  Was Buzz sending him a message to leave?

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

What about Hazel?  Was he run off by Buzz last year?  Down the stretch last year, he was invisible.  I believe Frozena was put in a few games before he was.  Was Buzz sending him a message to leave?

Hazel had some conduct issues, otherwise we definitely could have used him.

[Tugg Speedman]

Hazel had some conduct issues, otherwise we definitely could have used him.

You are implying he was indeed run off for reasons other than poor play and that makes it OK?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Hazel had some conduct issues, otherwise we definitely could have used him.

Didn't Buzz talk about Hazel this year? Something to the effect of "I talk to Pat Hazel a couple times a week." I don't recall specifics.

[GGGG]

Roseboro realized he wasn't able to run with the stallions on the team but he was absolutely welcome to stay with his scholarship intact.

For the first year at least.

[Golden Avalanche]

Roseboro realized he wasn't able to run with the stallions on the team but he was absolutely welcome to stay with his scholarship intact. He chose to leave in order to play ball. Big difference. Crean pulled scholarships and kids were on their own.

It's the same as you dumping your girl friend rather than she dumping you. Feels a lot better in the former; the latter has some residue...

You're either bored and playing dumb. Or just dumb.

We've had players "nudged" before. We'll have players "nudged" now. We'll have players "nudged" in the future. Not exclusive to Tom Crean.

[MikeyT42]

You're either bored and playing dumb. Or just dumb.

We've had players "nudged" before. We'll have players "nudged" now. We'll have players "nudged" in the future. Not exclusive to Tom Crean.

Very true statement...... If you look long and hard, this is not only a situation relative to Marquette and Indiana, it happens all the way around.

[damuts222]

 Take the Crean hate glasses off. With the players he was left with at IU of course he's going to recruit over people, he had 1 scholarship player when he took the job. Many of the players at IU went there at there own peril, you know that he is trying the rebuild the program.

[RawdogDX]

If nudge = telling someone honestly they will probably never play but are welcome to stay
then i'm ok with it.
If a coach tells tells them they should leave then it crosses the fine line.

[LON]

You are implying he was indeed run off for reasons other than poor play and that makes it OK?

Hazel probably deserved to be kicked off the team, if I remember correctly.

[kmwtrucks]

I don't think its nearly as big a deal as people think.  If it was why wouldn't more player's come out and attack the coach that nudges him.  

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Big time coaches are under big time pressure to compete and win. If you can draw some new cards for your hand to improve, don't you?  The issue would be how honestly and humanely it is done with college age kids.