[Rosiak's Blog] Summing it all up

[ToddRosiakSays]

Summing it all up

Written by: Todd Rosiak


If ever there were a day I needed four ears and six hands, today was it.

Clearly, the news of Tom Crean leaving MU for Indiana was a shocker to just about everyone around here. Perhaps the best gauge was the fact that the current players themselves (I'm assuming all of them, though I didn't speak to each one) had no knowledge the deal was done until the news had leaked out of Indiana. I personally broke the news to one player, and needless to say, he didn't take it too well.

Taking that into account, one has to guess that the administration was just as shocked, although it's doubtful there was anything MU could have done to keep Crean in the fold -- remember, he was signed to a contract extension through the 2016-'17 season that was paying him in excess of $1.6 million per year. MU had stepped up to the plate every time necessary to keep him around in the past. But Indiana is one of those jobs that is considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it's not surprising that Crean finally decided to take the leap after nine years.

What does that say about MU?

That's the million-dollar question. Did Crean believe he'd reached the ceiling of what he'd be able to accomplish at MU in the 16-team Big East? There's no question being coach at Indiana opens doors recruiting-wise that he never would have been able to open at MU. Being able to bring in that caliber of athlete, and comparing the Big Ten to the Big East, there's little doubt he could be in the conversation for a league championship in a short amount of time.

Whatever it was, the draw had to be strong considering the money he was making and the power he wielded at MU. Now he's got a chance to get back to his Big Ten roots and to Indiana to glory. MU, meanwhile, figures to begin casting its net in the coming days in an attempt to land his replacement. And that'll be the next million-dollar question: who's next?

There'll be hot names like Tony Bennett and Sean Miller. There'll probably be some sentiment to look at a guy like Davidson's Bob McKillop. It'll be interesting to see whether Crean takes his whole staff with him to Bloomington. It'll be interesting to see if assistant Buzz Williams -- a young up-and-comer in the business -- will get a chance to replace Crean. There's sure to be a wild card or two in the deal, as well.

Williams' status might play a big role in what MU's four signed recruits for 2008 -- Tyshawn Taylor, Nick Williams, Joseph Fulce and Chris Otule -- ultimately choose to do, either honor their letters of intent or ask MU to release them. Same goes for Erik Williams, a fast-rising forward out of the Houston area who orally committed last fall.

Also, does this force the hand of Dominic James or Jerel McNeal, and convince them to turn pro? Will any current players ultimately transfer?

The days and weeks to come should be interesting. Stay tuned.  



http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2008/04/01/summing-it-all-up.aspx

[TallTitan34]

That's a dick move letting the players know through Rosiak and Sportscenter.

[ChicosBailBonds]

#1) You need to change your avatar

#2) My guess is they wanted to tell them but the leaking got way out of control, it usually does with this kind of stuff


Rosiak is right, winning in the Big Ten is going to be a lot easier then in the Big East.

[KNIGHT2MU08]

#1) You need to change your avatar

just change the diet pepsi to a dick

[Chili]

That's a dick move letting the players know through Rosiak and Sportscenter.

I think Katz jumped on this one faster than TC may have wanted. This is crap. CRAP CRAP CRAP....ok, back to my Peroni.

[rocky_warrior]

I think Katz jumped on this one faster than TC may have wanted. This is crap. CRAP CRAP CRAP....ok, back to my Peroni.

Perhaps...but if you want to do it right. You tell MU, the team, AND THEN you tell IU.  Seems IU knew before anyone at MU in this case - gotta' fault Crean for that.

[Chili]

I think Katz jumped on this one faster than TC may have wanted. This is crap. CRAP CRAP CRAP....ok, back to my Peroni.

Perhaps...but if you want to do it right. You tell MU, the team, AND THEN you tell IU.  Seems IU knew before anyone at MU in this case - gotta' fault Crean for that.

very true. katz did break the news before crean had taken the job. iu was still waiting for the letter of commitment or some other shiet to be signed when he broke it. to put it bluntly, i just still hate katz.

[Pakuni]

I think Katz jumped on this one faster than TC may have wanted. This is crap. CRAP CRAP CRAP....ok, back to my Peroni.

Perhaps...but if you want to do it right. You tell MU, the team, AND THEN you tell IU.  Seems IU knew before anyone at MU in this case - gotta' fault Crean for that.

In fairness to Crean, it's a no-win situation.
Is he supposed to gather his players and say something like:

"Guys, I'm in talks right now to become head coach at Indiana. I think it's one of the premiere programs in the nation and coaching there would be a dream come true. The job would offer me opportunities that I may never have here at Marquette. However, if for some reason it all falls through, I'm still 100 percent committed to Marquette and my players here."

I don't see how he could do that. It sucks for the players that they found out the way they did, but I can't blame Crean for not telling them until things were official.

[deerchaser]

I think Katz jumped on this one faster than TC may have wanted. This is crap. CRAP CRAP CRAP....ok, back to my Peroni.

Perhaps...but if you want to do it right. You tell MU, the team, AND THEN you tell IU.  Seems IU knew before anyone at MU in this case - gotta' fault Crean for that.

In fairness to Crean, it's a no-win situation.
Is he supposed to gather his players and say something like:

"Guys, I'm in talks right now to become head coach at Indiana. I think it's one of the premiere programs in the nation and coaching there would be a dream come true. The job would offer me opportunities that I may never have here at Marquette. However, if for some reason it all falls through, I'm still 100 percent committed to Marquette and my players here."

I don't see how he could do that. It sucks for the players that they found out the way they did, but I can't blame Crean for not telling them until things were official.

I don't see how much more official it could get as IU was waiting for the letter from Crean.  Hold the team meeting and send the letter all at the same time.  At least MU is allowed some awareness.  This just seems to have been slapped together quicker than necessary.  It's like IU and Crean put it all together and then TC realized 'Oh yea, I have this other team here that I should probably tell.'  For someone who's always so polished this seems surprisingly unchoreographed.