Is Crean In Trouble?

[ChicosBailBonds]

+1

Crean thought what was holding him back from getting the 5 star recruit was MU.  By going to Indiana, he thought he was correcting this problem.  However, all it has done is expose the ugly truth ... it is Tom Crean's abilites that are holding back the 5-star recruit, not the institution that employs him.

Even worse, a young and dynamic Painter at Purdue, America's favorite underdog in Butler, ND coached by MILF hunter Brey all means that it will be harder for IU to attract attention to themself at home.  And this does not include Louisville (just over the boarder).

What Crean needs to get over the hump is have a team way out perfrom expectations.  Show he can coach and create some buzz about the program.  The problem is the opposite is happening.  His teams under perfrom and then quit on him.

And what do you think expectations were the last two years?  His first year they were picked last.  That's where they finished.  His second year they were picked 2nd to last, that's where they finished.  This year they will likely be picked 8th, maybe 7th and that's likely where they will finish.

I had to laugh at your last sentence.  You obviously didn't watch his first IU team if you think they quit on him, yet you clearly said "teams" so you had to be talking about both.

Jury is very much out, he has to continue to show improvement which is what he's done so far with his teams.  1 Big Ten win the first year.  4 Big Ten wins this past year.  He'll probably get 7 or 8 this coming year.

At the end of the day, he's in a conference that is stable (not like MU's), he is at the flagship school in the state, he has a long contract, a brand new state of the art practice facility just opened up, a new arena will coming at some point....he took the job he thought would allow him to get to where he wanted....something I would remind you that every other MU coach in the last few decades also left MU to take what they thought was a BETTER JOB.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Crean will make it through five years at the least to finish cleaning up the mess.  He has made some mistakes, though, that he needs to dig out from and quickly.

• McLeod was a major mistake and could set his recruiting back a couple of years.  Crean needs to nail in-state 2011--a strong class
• Unlike Buzz, he should have gone more JUCO to balance his classes
• Like at MU, he settled at the end of recruiting periods for bigs who cannot play in the B10
• Pritchard, who looked good freshman year, is not developing under Crean.  No surprise
• Baby Doc is a cancer on the team
• Losing Nick Williams hurt him last season, especially on D and the boards
• The 2010 recruiting class will not help IU get to the next level in any of the upcoming four years

[GGGG]

As someone who lives in Indiana, I can say that the jury is definately still out on Crean, but IU fans are still giving him the benefit of the doubt.  And IU isn't getting out recruited by anyone else in Indiana except Purdue.  Butler gets the next tier of recruits...Notre Dame isn't even in the picture.

I think you guys fail to understand how bad it was when Sampson left...and that Crean lost his best recruit when he went down with an injury last year.  He's not going to bring them back to the NCAA championship, but he will eventually get them to the NCAA tournament on a regular basis.

[Tugg Speedman]

And what do you think expectations were the last two years?  His first year they were picked last.  That's where they finished.  His second year they were picked 2nd to last, that's where they finished.  This year they will likely be picked 8th, maybe 7th and that's likely where they will finish.

I had to laugh at your last sentence.  You obviously didn't watch his first IU team if you think they quit on him, yet you clearly said "teams" so you had to be talking about both.

Jury is very much out, he has to continue to show improvement which is what he's done so far with his teams.  1 Big Ten win the first year.  4 Big Ten wins this past year.  He'll probably get 7 or 8 this coming year.

At the end of the day, he's in a conference that is stable (not like MU's), he is at the flagship school in the state, he has a long contract, a brand new state of the art practice facility just opened up, a new arena will coming at some point....he took the job he thought would allow him to get to where he wanted....something I would remind you that every other MU coach in the last few decades also left MU to take what they thought was a BETTER JOB.

Ok, I stand corrected.  Only last year's team quit.  But, in quitting that means they under preformed.  You cannot perform within expectations if your team quits.

So, the reason 5-star recruits will not commit to IU is the have a lousy practice facility?  Seems I heard this argument about 8 years ago ... once the AL was built big time recruits were suppose to beat a path to Milwaukee.  That did happen, after Crean left and Buzz took over.

Chicos ... it's not working out in IU.  Crean can still turn it around, but so far he's been a bust and the IU faithful know it.  We'll see if he's a really cool practice building away from competing for the national championship.

[Tugg Speedman]

As someone who lives in Indiana, I can say that the jury is definately still out on Crean, but IU fans are still giving him the benefit of the doubt.  And IU isn't getting out recruited by anyone else in Indiana except Purdue.  Butler gets the next tier of recruits...Notre Dame isn't even in the picture.

I think you guys fail to understand how bad it was when Sampson left...and that Crean lost his best recruit when he went down with an injury last year.  He's not going to bring them back to the NCAA championship, but he will eventually get them to the NCAA tournament on a regular basis.

Defining the goals lower.  Two years ago, Crean was suppose to get them to the Duke, UNC, Kansas level.  Now he's a success if he wins 20 and lose in the first round of a 96 team tourney? 

Why leave MU, he was doing more here than what you define as success at IU.

[HoopsMalone]

Defining the goals lower.  Two years ago, Crean was suppose to get them to the Duke, UNC, Kansas level.  Now he's a success if he wins 20 and lose in the first round of a 96 team tourney? 

Why leave MU, he was doing more here than what you define as success at IU.

The goal posts have definitely moved for Crean.  I think that his expectations are IU were what disappointed a lot of the MU faithful.  The IU fanbase thought that if he could take "that little school" to success, then he is probably a genius.  Crean never said anything bad about MU so he is not responsible for that.  But Crean was supposed to make everyone forget about Bob Knight, and everyone at MU knew that was untrue.  The fear of a Licklighter experience would keep the administration from getting rid of Crean if he made the tourney 3 out of 5 years like he was doing. 

But, we struck oil with Buzz.  Crean got paid big time and got back to the Big Ten.   You can't feel bad about a millionaire coach taking heat if it doesn't get personal and is always about his job.  He took the job, and is going to take heat at IU, Big Ten schools, and Marquette. 

[MUDPT]

I'm not sure how much better they are going to be in the Big Ten next year.

Purdue, Mich St., Illinois, basically lose nothing.  Wisconsin and Minnesota will at least be decent again.  Ohio St. loses their best player but brings in a Top 5 recruiting class.  Northwestern will make a serious run at the tournament.  That leaves Michigan, Penn State, IU, and Iowa. 

[GGGG]

Defining the goals lower.  Two years ago, Crean was suppose to get them to the Duke, UNC, Kansas level.  Now he's a success if he wins 20 and lose in the first round of a 96 team tourney? 

Why leave MU, he was doing more here than what you define as success at IU.

First of all, your continued use of exaggeration undermines your arguments.  The tournament isn't 96 teams. 

Second, I never said "lose in the first round."  I said "get them to the tournament on a regular basis."

Finally, no one said that he was going to get them to the "Duke, UNC, Kansas level."  If you can find quotes to prove me wrong, I will stand corrected.

The Crean Bashers continued use of hyperbole really is humorous because it does more to harm their arguments than help.

[Tugg Speedman]

First of all, your continued use of exaggeration undermines your arguments.  The tournament isn't 96 teams.  

Second, I never said "lose in the first round."  I said "get them to the tournament on a regular basis."

Finally, no one said that he was going to get them to the "Duke, UNC, Kansas level."  If you can find quotes to prove me wrong, I will stand corrected.

The Crean Bashers continued use of hyperbole really is humorous because it does more to harm their arguments than help.

"Get them to the tournament on a regular basis" means that it is acceptable to lose in the first round.  And since the Tourney will expand to 96 before IU makes it again (expansion seems most likely 2012), my statement seems to be fairly accurate.  I'll grant that you probably meant losing in the second round of a 96 team tourney so I'll give you that.

Yes, many IU faithful expected Crean to return IU to the Bob Knight version of IU.  That means they would be in the UNC, Duke Kansas elite level.  You may choose to misremember but that was what "Crimson & Crean" was all about.  No exaggeration here either.

[wyzgy]

Canadian Dimes and others should watch what they wish for... Crean gave Buzz the opportunity at the head coaching job at MU, the least Buzz could do is hire him as head assistant  

If that were to ever happen, it would be my favorite day on this board

that's good stuff !! ...and tommy boy, when you're done handing out towels, someone blurped in the latrine
p.s. haven't seen any of his players walkin around with a cast on their knuckles...yet...

[NersEllenson]

I think you guys fail to understand how bad it was when Sampson left...and that Crean lost his best recruit when he went down with an injury last year.  He's not going to bring them back to the NCAA championship, but he will eventually get them to the NCAA tournament on a regular basis.

I think some MU fans fail to realize how bad it was at MU after Crean left (once the Big 3 graduated)  Of course we got 1 year with the Big 3 - but after that, all that was left was basically Lazar, Mo, and Cooby.  Both Crean and Buzz were in year 2 of their tenure - Buzz had the above 3 players, and nothing else.  Buzz lost his Top 2 recruits - one to injury and one to transfer.  Also lost his starting center. (So Crean lost his top-rated recruit?)  Yet, somehow, Buzz guided us to a 5th place finish in Big East and 22 wins, and damn near a Sweet 16 birth (if you extrapolate that MU would have beat New Mexico, considering how Washington destroyed them.)

[Doctor V]

I think some MU fans fail to realize how bad it was at MU after Crean left (once the Big 3 graduated)  Of course we got 1 year with the Big 3 - but after that, all that was left was basically Lazar, Mo, and Cooby.  Both Crean and Buzz were in year 2 of their tenure - Buzz had the above 3 players, and nothing else.  Buzz lost his Top 2 recruits - one to injury and one to transfer.  Also lost his starting center. (So Crean lost his top-rated recruit?)  Yet, somehow, Buzz guided us to a 5th place finish in Big East and 22 wins, and damn near a Sweet 16 birth (if you extrapolate that MU would have beat New Mexico, considering how Washington destroyed them.)

I don't like taking the Lords name in vein, but Jesus. I agreed with almost everything you said, and it was all a legitimate sound argument until that....

Do not start with EXTRAPOLATING to argue for the closeness of sweet 16 births please... It just makes you look desperate to defend your boy Buzz at any cost, which I'm certain is the reason why you butt heads with anyone that says anything slightly negative about the cat. MU lost to Washington and thats that- had they have beaten Washington there is absolutely NO WAY u could say they would have beaten NM because of how they played against UW, unless you are looking to give Buzz credit where there is absolutely none due

Since you put it that way, if we EXTRAPOLATE on Buzz' success at end game situations, MU will never reach the Final 4 because there will inevitably be a close game in the first 4 before getting there (unless of course Buzz is so good that MU blows everyone out by 20)... Good grief

[NersEllenson]

Since you put it that way, if we EXTRAPOLATE on Buzz' success at end game situations, MU will never reach the Final 4 because there will inevitably be a close game in the first 4 before getting there (unless of course Buzz is so good that MU blows everyone out by 20)... Good grief

If you want to talk smack, please do so in a way that doesn't make you look like an idiot.  Buzz was 8-8 last year in games decided by 4 points or less.  Considering the lack of depth and size on last year's team, due to the departure of Crean and his recruits - Scotty C, Mbawke, Nick Williams, Ty Taylor, etc...as well as the injuries to Cadougan, Otule and the transfer of Maymon - it was pretty damn good that MU finished 8-8 in games decided by less than 4.  Given the size and depth issues that plagued us last year, the fact we did exactly what probability says we should do - speaks volumes about last years team.  Our guys were gassed at the end of games due to all of them almost playing 35+ minutes.  (You'll probably counter that it is because of this that Buzz didn't do a good job with substitutions, etc. - but 80% of Zar/Jimmy is probably better than what Erik Williams as a freshman could provide.)

[Doctor V]

If you want to talk smack, please do so in a way that doesn't make you look like an idiot.  Buzz was 8-8 last year in games decided by 4 points or less.  Considering the lack of depth and size on last year's team, due to the departure of Crean and his recruits - Scotty C, Mbawke, Nick Williams, Ty Taylor, etc...as well as the injuries to Cadougan, Otule and the transfer of Maymon - it was pretty damn good that MU finished 8-8 in games decided by less than 4.  Given the size and depth issues that plagued us last year, the fact we did exactly what probability says we should do - speaks volumes about last years team.  Our guys were gassed at the end of games due to all of them almost playing 35+ minutes.  (You'll probably counter that it is because of this that Buzz didn't do a good job with substitutions, etc. - but 80% of Zar/Jimmy is probably better than what Erik Williams as a freshman could provide.)

ANYONE who watched the games last season knows that the team did not have it in end of the game situations. Leads were blown multiple times, and as exciting and unexpected as the success was the team was wrenched with heartache. This even went back to the prior season with the Big 3. There is a reason why multiple people wondered if the team and Buzz were snakebitten. If you can honestly find a handfull of Marquette fans that has any confidence in the last 5 minutes of the Washington game I will applaud you. I guarantee you I can find many more fans that had the "here we go again" feeling...

Now, you can sugarcoat it all you want, you always do. You can blame Crean all you want, you always do (Its funny that the depth was all creans fault because his recruits left, but none of Buzz's even though his star recruit left). Noone is doubting that the team overachieved with what was there, and for that Buzz deserves credit. However, noone can doubt that the team blew too many leads and lost too many close games. You can argue why that is (lack of depth, gassed, just not good enough, etc etc) but you cannot argue who the coach was and that he shoulders some of the blame.

Unless of course its Buzz Williams in your eyes...

PS. If we extrapolate on the first half, MU should have beaten FSU by 40

[Golden Avalanche]

If you want to talk smack, please do so in a way that doesn't make you look like an idiot.  Buzz was 8-8 last year in games decided by 4 points or less.  Considering the lack of depth and size on last year's team, due to the departure of Crean and his recruits - Scotty C, Mbawke, Nick Williams, Ty Taylor, etc...as well as the injuries to Cadougan, Otule and the transfer of Maymon - it was pretty damn good that MU finished 8-8 in games decided by less than 4.  Given the size and depth issues that plagued us last year, the fact we did exactly what probability says we should do - speaks volumes about last years team.  Our guys were gassed at the end of games due to all of them almost playing 35+ minutes.  (You'll probably counter that it is because of this that Buzz didn't do a good job with substitutions, etc. - but 80% of Zar/Jimmy is probably better than what Erik Williams as a freshman could provide.)

It's cute to see you try so hard.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

[CrimsonNCrean]

Like Gillespie found out, life without Buzz at your side is tough.

Recruiting is tough, but Crean signed with IU while the next class was in their soph year of high school.  That is a little behind, but not much.  There is no way that this 2010 recruiting class is what anyone would have predicted.  Even those of us who criticized Crean for not recruiting depth at MU would not have guessed this type of recruiting.

that is a very good point, Buzz is proving to be a very good coach....  he is out recruiting Crean already...   

TC is just a snake oil salesman...  I understood the program rebuild would take "time"...   BUT....  Crean's team last season got A LOT WORSE AT YEAR END THAN THEY WERE AT THE START OF THE SEASON..   (and they did beat Mich and Minn. without Mo Creek) 

He lost the team, for whatever reason?  If it happens again this year then he is done at IU...   

All of the in state talent are watching Crean and IU RIGHT NOW....   this year is crucial to Crean's long term success at IU...

If he loses Zeller and Davis he is a lame duck....   oh and by the way...  he has burnt all his schollies for the 2011 recruiting season as of right now...   

[CrimsonNCrean]

And what do you think expectations were the last two years?  His first year they were picked last.  That's where they finished.  His second year they were picked 2nd to last, that's where they finished.  This year they will likely be picked 8th, maybe 7th and that's likely where they will finish.

I had to laugh at your last sentence.  You obviously didn't watch his first IU team if you think they quit on him, yet you clearly said "teams" so you had to be talking about both.

Jury is very much out, he has to continue to show improvement which is what he's done so far with his teams.  1 Big Ten win the first year.  4 Big Ten wins this past year.  He'll probably get 7 or 8 this coming year.

At the end of the day, he's in a conference that is stable (not like MU's), he is at the flagship school in the state, he has a long contract, a brand new state of the art practice facility just opened up, a new arena will coming at some point....he took the job he thought would allow him to get to where he wanted....something I would remind you that every other MU coach in the last few decades also left MU to take what they thought was a BETTER JOB.

Chico...  nobody at IU expected 20 win seasons....   but we did expect a team to "develop" and "play hard" every single night....   and IU, the last 11 or 12 games,...  did NOT do either...

IU got dramatically worse by year end..   and Crean allowed the same players to make the same silly mistakes game in, game out... 

It only took Tommy until the last regular season game to finally BENCH J Rivers...  it should have happened 12 games earlier... 

There are no unrealistic expectations at IU.....    but IU fans do expect better than the 145the and 149th ranked rivals prospects, and the 66th ranked JUCO player in the nation in year 3 of the rebuild.............   I mean this man offered D Williams after watching ONE workout.......   a 1 star role player from Atlanta...   and later rescinded the offer...  making him look like an idiot....

All signs simply point to TC being a fraud...     but he still has time...   and he needs to make the most of it... 

[NersEllenson]

ANYONE who watched the games last season knows that the team did not have it in end of the game situations. Leads were blown multiple times, and as exciting and unexpected as the success was the team was wrenched with heartache. This even went back to the prior season with the Big 3. There is a reason why multiple people wondered if the team and Buzz were snakebitten. If you can honestly find a handfull of Marquette fans that has any confidence in the last 5 minutes of the Washington game I will applaud you. I guarantee you I can find many more fans that had the "here we go again" feeling...

Now, you can sugarcoat it all you want, you always do. You can blame Crean all you want, you always do (Its funny that the depth was all creans fault because his recruits left, but none of Buzz's even though his star recruit left). Noone is doubting that the team overachieved with what was there, and for that Buzz deserves credit. However, noone can doubt that the team blew too many leads and lost too many close games. You can argue why that is (lack of depth, gassed, just not good enough, etc etc) but you cannot argue who the coach was and that he shoulders some of the blame.

Unless of course its Buzz Williams in your eyes...

PS. If we extrapolate on the first half, MU should have beaten FSU by 40

Last year was a case of near cardiac arrest every game - no one disputes that.  If you couldn't see that MU was completely gassed against FSU in the 2nd half, or Georgetown in the Big East tourney - situations where the team was playing games 3 striaght nights - you are an idiot...which it is becoming more and more evident you are.  In your entire reply above not once do you address the fact last year's team went 8-8 in games decides by less than 4 points.  What do you expect, an undersized, undermanned team, with no post threat to go 16-0 in games by less than 4 points?  12-4?  I don't blame Crean for the thin roster left at MU after he left...but that was just the reality...and Buzz did a great job in dealing with that reality.

[VegasWarrior77]

Chico...  nobody at IU expected 20 win seasons....   but we did expect a team to "develop" and "play hard" every single night....   and IU, the last 11 or 12 games,...  did NOT do either...

IU got dramatically worse by year end..   and Crean allowed the same players to make the same silly mistakes game in, game out... 

It only took Tommy until the last regular season game to finally BENCH J Rivers...  it should have happened 12 games earlier... 

There are no unrealistic expectations at IU.....    but IU fans do expect better than the 145the and 149th ranked rivals prospects, and the 66th ranked JUCO player in the nation in year 3 of the rebuild.............   I mean this man offered D Williams after watching ONE workout.......   a 1 star role player from Atlanta...   and later rescinded the offer...  making him look like an idiot....

All signs simply point to TC being a fraud...     but he still has time...   and he needs to make the most of it... 

Thanks for the honest comments CrimsonNCrean.

[avid1010]

Now, you can sugarcoat it all you want, you always do. You can blame Crean all you want, you always do (Its funny that the depth was all creans fault because his recruits left, but none of Buzz's even though his star recruit left). Noone is doubting that the team overachieved with what was there, and for that Buzz deserves credit. However, noone can doubt that the team blew too many leads and lost too many close games. You can argue why that is (lack of depth, gassed, just not good enough, etc etc) but you cannot argue who the coach was and that he shoulders some of the blame.

Unless of course its Buzz Williams in your eyes...

PS. If we extrapolate on the first half, MU should have beaten FSU by 40

To be honest, I don't think your belief that Buzz is a bad end of the game coach is any better supported than a belief that MU could have beaten NM.  The fact that you use MU fan majority as a basis for your argument is weak.  I also don't feel that MU lost too many close games, they won as many as they lost.  

PS.  If we extrapolate on the first half, MU and Villanova should still be playing in the BEAST tourney as we speak, or they should have lost to Cincy by 12 rather than winning by 3.

[Doctor V]

Last year was a case of near cardiac arrest every game - no one disputes that.  If you couldn't see that MU was completely gassed against FSU in the 2nd half, or Georgetown in the Big East tourney - situations where the team was playing games 3 striaght nights - you are an idiot...which it is becoming more and more evident you are.  In your entire reply above not once do you address the fact last year's team went 8-8 in games decides by less than 4 points.  What do you expect, an undersized, undermanned team, with no post threat to go 16-0 in games by less than 4 points?  12-4?  I don't blame Crean for the thin roster left at MU after he left...but that was just the reality...and Buzz did a great job in dealing with that reality.

I am an idiot? Half of the people around here call you an idiot, but Ill take your word for it. You can use numbers all you want, but the fact of the matter is that many of those close wins were blown leads:

GTown- Close throughout
UConn- MU up 43-33 in the 2nd half and had the lead basically the entire game until the 7 minute mark, wins by 2
Providence- MU up 8 78-70 with 2 minutes left, wins by 3
Cincy- Close throughout
St Johns- Close throughout
SH- MU up 34-26 at halftime and 78-71 with 1:43 left in OT, wins by 1
St Johns @ MSG- MU up 27-17 at half, close throughout the 2nd half, wins by 2
Nova- MU down slightly most of the game, up 65-57 with 4:54 left, wins by 4

Oh and some of those close losses were huge blown leads as well:

FSU- MU up 30-18 at half, 40-26 in 2nd half and still up 10 with 10 mins left, lose by 1
NCSt- MU up 36-25 at half, lose by 4
WVU- MU up 62-57 with 1 minute left, lose by 1
DePaul- MU up nearly entire game (by 6 at half) and 50-46 with 20 sec left, lose by 1
ND- MU up 42-33 with 12:40 left in the game, up 50-43 with 1:19 left, lose in OT by 3
Washington- MU up 60-45 with 13:58 left and we know the rest

So there were 5 of those close wins, and 6 of the close losses where MU had a big double digit lead at halftime or some point in the second half. Also, there were unfortunately quite a few with pretty good leads in the final 5 or even 1-2 minutes of the game.

Clearly this is going to play right into your "undersized, undermaned" theory, and fall back on Crean leaving the cupboard bare. This is gonna prove that super Buzz took pathetic little MU and miraculously had them up in those games. AGAIN, I am NOT saying the team didn't overachieve. I am also not doubting that they were probably gassed in some of those games. HOWEVER, unlike you, I believe Buzz deserves some of that blame (as most reasonable people would). If you see a pattern and assume its because your team is gassed (which btw he repeatedly denied) you play some of your "scraps" by necessity so that guys are fresh. Also, many of these blown leads are at the beginning of the 2nd half, and within the last 2 minutes, areas directly involved with important coaching decisions

The fact of the matter is, and I have said this the entire season, as a young coach Buzz still has to prove he can get the most out of guys #7-10 on his roster. Also, he has yet to get over the hump with regards to blowing leads, especially in end game situations. Anyone with any basketball sense can see this, but only if they allow their Buzz hard-on to go limp for a few seconds.

Anyway, I am done arguing with you because you sir are a clown, and have wasted 30 minutes of my night

PS: My sincere apologies to every MU basketball fan for bringing up some of those heart wrenching losses, I am now ready for a drink

[LovinCrowder]

I think Crean's deficiencies are coming to light at IU. He is a very inconsistent recruiter and doesn't bring much dynamic to game management. I'm not sure why he can't get more top-level players to come to that storied program. He has all the playing time in the world to  offer, which Buzz seems to have used to attract some elite talent. And Indiana produces so much high school talent. He just needs to recruit his state and he's have a power. I would laugh if we got a top-10 guy out of Indiana (Dawson).
That being said, I think it would be unfair to not give him 4 years to turn things around, considering where that program was. Not like I'd lose any sleep over  it, just sayin...

He can't get "more top-level players" to come to that "storied" program because Indiana hasn't been considered a storied program for quite some time now.  The Indiana of today isn't the same as it was when BK was there.  These kids don't care about what happened "back in the day."   These players today want instant gratification and instant success - which is why Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State and the other top teams of the last 8/9 years or so draw all the talent.  Kind of liken it to the "flavor of the day" or the "flavor of the month."   The same with Notre Dame - who cares what they did years ago....they aren't the same either.  Both of these school's stars have faded over time ... the prestige has been long gone .......and I couldn't be happier. 

[mviale]

He can't get "more top-level players" to come to that "storied" program because Indiana hasn't been considered a storied program for quite some time now.  The Indiana of today isn't the same as it was when BK was there.  These kids don't care about what happened "back in the day."   These players today want instant gratification and instant success - which is why Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State and the other top teams of the last 8/9 years or so draw all the talent.  Kind of liken it to the "flavor of the day" or the "flavor of the month."   The same with Notre Dame - who cares what they did years ago....they aren't the same either.  Both of these school's stars have faded over time ... the prestige has been long gone .......and I couldn't be happier. 

This is sad but true.  Buzz makes these recruits feel wanted and they can feel his religion for the game.  He also has recent results with not much talent.

[rocky_warrior]

mudimitri, Ners.  Any more name calling and you'll both get summer vacations compliments of MUScoop...

[CrimsonNCrean]

He can't get "more top-level players" to come to that "storied" program because Indiana hasn't been considered a storied program for quite some time now.  The Indiana of today isn't the same as it was when BK was there.  These kids don't care about what happened "back in the day."   These players today want instant gratification and instant success - which is why Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State and the other top teams of the last 8/9 years or so draw all the talent.  Kind of liken it to the "flavor of the day" or the "flavor of the month."   The same with Notre Dame - who cares what they did years ago....they aren't the same either.  Both of these school's stars have faded over time ... the prestige has been long gone .......and I couldn't be happier. 

LOL....    The state of Indiana is and always will be a "hotbed" of high school basketball talent...   and IU will always be "the" top state university.   IU has 5 banners for a reason, and 2 of them were won by a coach other than the legendary RMK....  Mike "freaking" Davis nearly got one....     

Just because you are obviously biased against IU, please do not underestimate the "brand"...   IU will be back, it just will not happen under  Tom Crean.  The head BB coach at Indiana does not even need to leave the state to recruit and he would feild a Big Ten champion caliber team...   (Crean has yet to figure this out tho..  ?)

Look me up in 20 years when Izzo and K are long gone from their schools....   they will fall right back where they always have been....   to being "average"...   

UK, IU, NC, Kansas, and maybe UCLA.....     they all represent "tradition" ....   that is something that does not ever fade away...