Indiana upset by Illinois

[4everwarriors]

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=170&f=2353&t=11268871

Doesn't do postgame interview, sending Coach Buckley in his stead.   

Must've learned that move from Jim.

[avid1010]

 Florida just got whooped.  

FL is still the only team i've watched a number of times this year, that when playing well, looked well better than any other team i've seen play.  i didn't see the arkansas game, but a quick look at the box score made me think they didn't decide to play until the 2nd half.  

[4everwarriors]

Sideline out of bounds with .9 seconds left - how does a guy end up standing alone under the basket with no one within 20 feet of him? Incredible.

'Cause a leopard never changes his spots.

[4everwarriors]

A little loss tonight isn't gonna change a thing. 'Cause Too Tan Tommy will always be #1 in my poll.

[MU82]

Should they just retire the #1 spot this year?  Seriously, who deserves it next week?  Florida just got whooped.  Michigan again if they beat the Badgers?  Duke again (currently getting throttled by State in Cameron)?  Kansas pissed away their chance with that bad loss.

Well, I think Pomeroy is overdue to have the Badgers at No. 1, no?

[MU82]

My favorite thing about the ending was that Oladipo gave the ball away with an unnecessary behind-the-back dribble in traffic and then Zeller lost his man on the inbounds. Very possibly two PoY finalists. Crazy season!

[madtownwarrior]

 beating Iowa at home in double OT likely moved them up 10 spots in Pomeroy

Well, I think Pomeroy is overdue to have the Badgers at No. 1, no?

[MattyWarrior]

Crean to good to do a post-game and gives a handshake like he did to Bo Ryan, what a wimp..

[Newsdreams]

A little loss tonight isn't gonna change a thing. 'Cause Too Tan Tommy will always be #1 in my poll.

Chicos?

[Jay Bee]

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=170&f=2353&t=11268871

Doesn't do postgame interview, sending Coach Buckley in his stead.   

He did post game comments and took questions.

[Lennys Tap]

He did post game comments and took questions.

For TV, but the Hoosier boards say he ditched the radio post game  show.

[brewcity77]

Bottom line, Indiana is average away from Assembly Hall. Look at the past 2 years disparity:

• 2011-12 Indiana was 18-1 at home, including wins over Pomeroy's #1, #2, and #3 teams.
  
• 2011-12 Indiana was 9-8 away from home, including losses to #86 Iowa and #158 Nebraska while struggling with #127 Penn State
  
• 2012-13 Indiana has dominated at home. No team outside Pomeroy's top-15 has been within 25 points of them. 14-1 record, only loss to Bo Ryan, who Crean simply cannot beat.
  
• 2012-13 Indiana trailed a bad Georgia at halftime, needed overtime to beat a seemingly inferior Georgetown team, and lost to both Butler and Illinois away from home.

.
It's been said before that Assembly Hall is the biggest homecourt advantage in the country, and I believe that to be true. Kudos to IU for their work at home, but get the out of the friendly confines and they are very beatable.

[buckchuckler]

For TV, but the Hoosier boards say he ditched the radio post game  show.

Are you serious with this?  Cmon. 

[keefe]

Even when "Shooter" had the shakes he still reminded the boys not to get caught watchin' the paint dry.

Tommy Boy ain't no Shooter

[Goose]

Agreed Tommy is no Shooter. Shooter forgot more about ball than TC knows. Not sure if Shooter would have been great recruiter though. In house visits might have been dicey.

[NavinRJohnson]

Did he ever have balls?!!

The guy won't even wear a suit on the weekend when all the coaches wear sneakers. All the other coaches are out there with their suits on, and sneakers on their feet, well aware of how it looks - which is actually the point. Not Crean. He wont be seen in a suit and sneakers, so he runs out there every every year in the wind shirt and warm up pants.

Sounds a bit trivial I know, but its driven me nuts for years, and speaks volumes about how vain he is.

[tower912]

MU had a couple of end-game brain melts in the last few weeks.   Same guy, two different variations of the same mistake.   So I am reluctant to be too critical of the last play other than to say a zone might have worked better. (again learning from MU, assuming that everyone knew they were supposed to be in a zone)   In the big picture, it is another #1 team losing another conference road game.  And I think it is a fair question to the teams and fanbases involved whether they would prefer to lose like Florida did to Arkansas or how IU did at Illinois.   Or to bring it home, which was less painful, the loss to Cinci or the loss to Louisville?

Crean is an effective recruiter, a good marketer and cheerleader, excellent at preparation and average in game.  I don't know if that combination wins a national championship. 

[4everwarriors]

Yeah, he had that solid game prep for Kansas with only a week to get ready, aina?

[Pakuni]

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Rumor has it that I4 was seen in a Bloomington Target, in the back corner by the men's underwear.  He had a hat pulled low, a cart and was shuffling akwardly.

[Lennys Tap]

Horse is very much alive - he speaks, for god sakes!

[keefe]

Agreed Tommy is no Shooter. Shooter forgot more about ball than TC knows. Not sure if Shooter would have been great recruiter though. In house visits might have been dicey.

"Hey, uh, ya got somethin to drink..."

Much rather have a decent common drinker in my living room than a Bronzed Beast of Bloomington pulling up in a tricked out Hummer at midnight

[ChicosBailBonds]

Must have been some quality in-game adjustments by Crean down the stretch.

LOL.  They led by 9 with 3 minutes to go, practically the same lead they had at halftime (12).  The "adjustments" were just fine....just as the "adjustments" made against #1 Michigan the other day were just fine and yielded 80 response threads here...oh wait. LOL.  You miss free throws and the turn the ball over at the end and give up threes, you lose.  #1, #2, #5 all lost this week so far.  Been a fun year, that's for sure.  Illinois is a hard team to figure out.  Wins over Butler, at Gonzaga, Indiana, Ohio State.  Better than losing at UWGB, apparently Buzz didn't make some quality in-game adjustments down the stretch.

I said a few weeks ago IU will be a 3 seed, sticking to it.  Will lose three more Big Ten games and probably the semis or finals of the Big Ten Tournament.  Finish around 10th in the country...3 seed.

[keefe]

Better than losing at UWGB, apparently Buzz didn't make some quality in-game adjustments down the stretch.

There it is. Cue the stooge comment

[tower912]

I would agree with most of that.   I would actually give IU a 2 seed, simply because it has been shown that all of the top teams this year have flaws and they do have some skills.    I think Crean's biggest mistake was the one that Buzz made against Pitt.    The other team was out of timeouts so he didn't want to call a timeout and give his opponent a chance to set up a play.    Well, there was only one way MU/IU could get beat.   A three/layup.   And because Buzz/Crean's team was not all on the same page at the end, they gave up the one shot that could send the game to OT/beat them.     But to give up a lead like that and still have TO's in your pocket at the end is a mistake.  When Illini got hot and was raining 3's, not going to a 'no-help' mentality to avoid leaving the 3 pt shooter open is a mistake.    But I said the same general things about Crean when he was at MU.