Syracuse and Indiana

[tower912]

Watching hoops today, it is clear that Syracuse is going to be a brute again this year.    Big, deep, more aggressive in the zone.    Scary.  If they are only the 5th best team in the BEast, we are in deep doodoo.    Indiana is still years away.    And apparently, they need to spend more time practicing free throw shooting in practice because it looked like a Ben Wallace vs Shaq ft contest today.    Small, unathletic, lost when trying to play zone, unable to box out and rebound.    Bad.   

[muole]

indiana and iowa are possibly two of the worst teams in BCS conferences.

and Penn St. might not be far behind.

[Hards Alumni]

Watching hoops today, it is clear that Syracuse is going to be a brute again this year.    Big, deep, more aggressive in the zone.    Scary.  If they are only the 5th best team in the BEast, we are in deep doodoo.    Indiana is still years away.    And apparently, they need to spend more time practicing free throw shooting in practice because it looked like a Ben Wallace vs Shaq ft contest today.    Small, unathletic, lost when trying to play zone, unable to box out and rebound.    Bad.   

so now they are awesome!

lets not forget the loss to the D3 school less than 2 weeks ago.

[pillardean]

so now they are awesome!

lets not forget the loss to the D3 school less than 2 weeks ago.

Whoa!  They were D2.  Huge difference

[LON]

I didn't see the game, but how did the PG position play out for 'Cuse...I know they lack a "true" point from what I've read/remember what they had coming back.

[MU B2002]

I didn't see the game, but how did the PG position play out for 'Cuse...I know they lack a "true" point from what I've read/remember what they had coming back.

Ran 2 PGs, and it was very effective.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4672729

Andy Katz agrees.

[Benny B]

#1: Cali and Syracuse played in NYC.  I don't care if the powers that be consider that a neutral court... Cali went coast to coast and Syracuse went on a trip downstate.  While not the the C-Dome, you can't say there wasn't a bit of an advantage to 'Cuse there.

#2: I would argue perhaps that California is not all that great.  I don't follow the Pac-10 closely, so maybe someone else can chime in with their thoughts.  But when the #13 team wins over Murray St by only 5 points at home, then loses to Syracuse by 22, that doesn't really indicate a top 25 team to me, much less a top 15.  I know it's a cyclical argument, but it's still early and there's not much to go on.  Regardless, I'm not ready to put my stock back into Syracuse quite yet.

Edit 11/20 9pm:  RETRACTED.

[NavinRJohnson]

I'd say many put way too much stock in November results. Take a look at last year's rankings from week 2 or 3 to week 17 or 18, outside of the obvious cream like UNC, UL, UConn, etc. you won't see a ton of similarities.

[esotericmindguy]

Fully on board with Cuse, only if Onuaku and Jackson can stay out of foul trouble...which was their issue last year. 

We'll find out a lot tonight.

[burger]

I can not hide the fact I really like the fact that Indiana really sucks.....

They can not get better recruits.....

They are starting to question there "glorified" coach......

And starting to ask the ultimate question.....

Why did not we go after "Pitino or Calimari"....LOL!

When Buzz makes the NCAA's with "his own" team and IU is still not making the NIT is when the ultimate "melt" will start to occur!

[MUCrew]

They can not get better recruits.....

Maybe not for the 2010 class, but they already have verbals from Matt Carlino and Austin Etherington (both 4 stars according to Scout) and are apparently of high interest to the top point guard in the nation for 2011.

http://indiana.scout.com/a.z?s=170&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&yr=2011

[4everwarriors]

Noted that the Bloomington Bozo ditched the golf windshirt for this tourney in PR.
Let the record show, he's not even a golfer.

[Murffieus]

CUSE is a top 10 team this year-----only thing that will prevent that would be key injuries.

I wonder if Crean understands he made a mistake------he had a good thing going for him at MU and the grass looked greener. I think he thought that all he had to do there is wave his wand and they would come.

[4everwarriors]

It's all about the greenbacks and ego. Thankfully he's gone. Doubt that he does much wand waving these days, hopefully getting proficient in wand stroking, though.

[Murffieus]

Yea, but really what is the difference between $1.8 million and $2.3 million? That difference doesn't improve his lifestyle one bit------I guess if money is that important to him as a gauge of success he did the right thing, but in that case putting such a premium on money he losses site of the trees in the forest.

[NavinRJohnson]

Maybe not for the 2010 class, but they already have verbals from Matt Carlino and Austin Etherington (both 4 stars according to Scout) and are apparently of high interest to the top point guard in the nation for 2011.

http://indiana.scout.com/a.z?s=170&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&yr=2011

For Crean at IU, its pretty simple...he has got to get enough of the IN players at the top of that list, and future years' lists. If he does that, things will work out well. If he doesn't...he'll probably be in trouble. Seems to be doing ok thus far.

[Murffieus]

Usually that first class for a new coach is the best one (new broom)-----and Crean's first two classes aren't  as good as his first two classes at MU.

[4everwarriors]

Yea, but really what is the difference between $1.8 million and $2.3 million? That difference doesn't improve his lifestyle one bit------I guess if money is that important to him as a gauge of success he did the right thing, but in that case putting such a premium on money he losses site of the trees in the forest.

Crean, while he may think otherwise, is not the brightest guy. Yet, he's been able to fool a lot of folks. Half a mil extra goes a long way in setting up the kids. Yet I'm certain Marquette would have matched the salary he's now getting and then some.
Like I said, the biggest part of Tommie Crean is his EGO. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Crean, while he may think otherwise, is not the brightest guy. Yet, he's been able to fool a lot of folks. Half a mil extra goes a long way in setting up the kids. Yet I'm certain Marquette would have matched the salary he's now getting and then some.
Like I said, the biggest part of Tommie Crean is his EGO. 

He's got a large ego and is a work-a-holic.

If I were betting, I'd bet that he ends up doing pretty well at IU.

I don't know if "pretty well" will be good enough for the IU faithful, but he's going to bring in good players and he's going to win more than he loses.

I can see competing for a Big 10 title in the next 2-4 years... but I don't know if that is enough for the IU faithful.

[pbiflyer]

He's got a large ego and is a work-a-holic.

If I were betting, I'd bet that he ends up doing pretty well at IU.

I don't know if "pretty well" will be good enough for the IU faithful, but he's going to bring in good players and he's going to win more than he loses.

I can see competing for a Big 10 title in the next 2-4 years... but I don't know if that is enough for the IU faithful.

I agree. He has a strong line up for 2011. His team actually didn't look that bad. Elimiante a few turnovers and make a few more free throws and they are right in it with a young team.

Due to where he is and what league he competes in, I think that they will do slightly better than HE did at MU. His tourney runs in the NCAAs and NITs were none too impressive. They have to be better at II,II to keep them happy.

[tower912]

Wow.   Prescient.

[Coach Norman Dale]

Burger,

What are you smoking?

"[Indiana] can not get better recruits"

Indiana's current freshmen class was "one of the top recruiting classes in the country. The Hoosiers are ranked fifth nationally by Rivals.com and seventh nationally by Scout.com. The Hoosier class is the highest rated among Big Ten schools."

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111308aaf.html

"They are starting to question there "glorified" coach"  This is complete and utter b.s.  The Indiana fan base may not be generally known for their patience, but they are also realistic about how the whole program had to be blown up to eradicate the stench left by Kelvin Sampson.  I would like to see you identify one knowledgeable Indiana fan that is seriously questioning Crean at this point.

"Why did not we go after "Pitino or Calimari"....LOL!"  LOL is right!!!  This has to be a joke.  Indiana would have nothing to do with either of these d-bags, especially "Cali[p]ari".  The guy has had TWO final four appearances vacated.  That is NOT a coincidence.  Indiana fans would simply not tolerate the hiring of someone like that -- especially after it (in hindsight, foolishly) gambled on Sampson and got royally burned.  Pitino is not much better.  I know of no sane Indiana fans who would accept either of those clowns.  Indiana is rebuilding and will return to winning the Indiana way, with a clean program, graduating good student-athletes.

Finally, Indiana fans (except those like me who also attended Marquette) do not give a rip about what Buzz does at Marquette.

[Coach Norman Dale]

Noted that the Bloomington Bozo ditched the golf windshirt for this tourney in PR.
Let the record show, he's not even a golfer.

Who does Crean think he is -- wearing a golf windshirt when he is not even a golfer.  Oh, and it gets worse.  He was wearing a polo shirt and I am almost certain he does not play polo either!!!  Will it never end?

Speaking of something that never ends -- I am curious -- if you eliminated all of your anti-Crean posts from your total number of posts would the number remaining even reach triple digits?

[Warrior]

Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out of here Norman Dale. Hopefully someday the Warriors will get a chance to play the hosers and see how that works out.

Burger,

What are you smoking?

"[Indiana] can not get better recruits"

Indiana's current freshmen class was "one of the top recruiting classes in the country. The Hoosiers are ranked fifth nationally by Rivals.com and seventh nationally by Scout.com. The Hoosier class is the highest rated among Big Ten schools."

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111308aaf.html

"They are starting to question there "glorified" coach"  This is complete and utter b.s.  The Indiana fan base may not be generally known for their patience, but they are also realistic about how the whole program had to be blown up to eradicate the stench left by Kelvin Sampson.  I would like to see you identify one knowledgeable Indiana fan that is seriously questioning Crean at this point.

"Why did not we go after "Pitino or Calimari"....LOL!"  LOL is right!!!  This has to be a joke.  Indiana would have nothing to do with either of these d-bags, especially "Cali[p]ari".  The guy has had TWO final four appearances vacated.  That is NOT a coincidence.  Indiana fans would simply not tolerate the hiring of someone like that -- especially after it (in hindsight, foolishly) gambled on Sampson and got royally burned.  Pitino is not much better.  I know of no sane Indiana fans who would accept either of those clowns.  Indiana is rebuilding and will return to winning the Indiana way, with a clean program, graduating good student-athletes.

Finally, Indiana fans (except those like me who also attended Marquette) do not give a rip about what Buzz does at Marquette.

[Coach Norman Dale]

Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out of here Norman Dale. Hopefully someday the Warriors will get a chance to play the hosers and see how that works out.

"On the way out of here"?  Where do you think I am going?  I have been here since the beginning and I plan to stay.  As for Marquette playing Indiana, I would love it.  I believe the last time they played was the double OT game at Assembly Hall.  One of the best games I have ever seen in person.

Beyond that how did my comment get your nose all bent out of joint?  I did not make any negative comment about Marquette.