Recruiting as of 5/15/25

[Cheeks]

A good coach knows when to say things publicly and knows how to say them. A coach who fails to understand it one who is bad at part of his job.

I'm sure there are plenty of former Crean players who, at least privately, would not wax poetic about him.

Reminds me a little of Tom Kelly, the old Twinkies manager. His veteran position players and a few select pitchers loved him, and to listen to them you'd think "everybody loves TK." But many, many players, especially pitchers, didn't like him at all.

Biggest difference between Kelly and Crean, of course, is that Kelly actually won something and didn't hang a banner just because it was a day ending in "y."

Crean won a few things....a few Big Ten Championships, got to a Final Four, etc. 

Yes, I agree that some players will swear by a coach and others don't.  I found it interesting with most of Crean's guys that excelled, they have been largely complimentary like Oladipo, Wade, etc.  Maybe because he pushed them so hard to be better and they did just that?

[MU82]

Crean won a few things....a few Big Ten Championships, got to a Final Four, etc. 

Yes, I agree that some players will swear by a coach and others don't.  I found it interesting with most of Crean's guys that excelled, they have been largely complimentary like Oladipo, Wade, etc.  Maybe because he pushed them so hard to be better and they did just that?

Fair enough on your first point calling out my hyperbole. Compared to somebody who actually has won the championship of his sport, Crean has won bupkis. But sure, getting to the FF and winning a conference title is winning something tangible -- we'd take either (but would prefer both) with Wojo.

As for what his coaching did for Wade, Oladipo, etc, who knows? We weren't there. And it's all in context ... did Crean "push" them any harder or better than any other good coach would have.

BTW, I speak this as one who appreciates what Crean did for our program. Doesn't mean he should be a tool, though. They aren't mutually exclusive. One doesn't need to be a tool to win. Neither Wright nor K (to name 2 of dozens) would have thrown kids under the bus like that.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Like the sun rising in the East,  chicos defending his butt boy Crean.  For the umpteenth time Crean does something classless that is called out by the national media and chicos hears it as his call to duty.  Pathetic n nothing less.

[4everwarriors]

Eye'm figurin' dis ta bee a calculated move bye T-Cubed. Essentially, wants da limburger cheese ta leeve da program sew hee kan bring inn sum triple creme brie, aina?

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Eye'm figurin' dis ta bee a calculated move bye T-Cubed. Essentially, wants da limburger cheese ta leeve da program sew hee kan bring inn sum triple creme brie, aina?

And then underperform with it?
Hes definitely developed a pattern.  Suckers falling for the Dwade n Olidipo bait n switch.

[JakeBarnes]

Speaking of things that are stated publicly: Any public statements about how the Dawson Garcia visit went?

[Cheeks]

Fair enough on your first point calling out my hyperbole. Compared to somebody who actually has won the championship of his sport, Crean has won bupkis. But sure, getting to the FF and winning a conference title is winning something tangible -- we'd take either (but would prefer both) with Wojo.

As for what his coaching did for Wade, Oladipo, etc, who knows? We weren't there. And it's all in context ... did Crean "push" them any harder or better than any other good coach would have.

BTW, I speak this as one who appreciates what Crean did for our program. Doesn't mean he should be a tool, though. They aren't mutually exclusive. One doesn't need to be a tool to win. Neither Wright nor K (to name 2 of dozens) would have thrown kids under the bus like that.

You are right we weren't there, so I rely on what those guys said themselves about him.  Isn't that what should matter? 

I know this, Diener, Novak, Oladipo, etc, were not forgone conclusions to have NBA careers of any kind when they started at MU.  Maybe that is why they thank their coach.  Same as other players thank Buzz or others thank whomever.

[onepost]

Speaking of things that are stated publicly: Any public statements about how the Dawson Garcia visit went?

Nah, the Recruiting Thread isn't the place to discuss something relevant and important like this.
Instead let's have a Tom Crean pissing match for the thousandth time in the thousandth thread.

[NWarsh]

You are right we weren't there, so I rely on what those guys said themselves about him.  Isn't that what should matter? 

I know this, Diener, Novak, Oladipo, etc, were not forgone conclusions to have NBA careers of any kind when they started at MU.  Maybe that is why they thank their coach.  Same as other players thank Buzz or others thank whomever.

Funny because you brought those names up on multiple posts here and one of those guys almost transferred his junior year because of the coach. 

Crean was hard on his players, and a real jack@ss to pretty much everybody other than the star.  Yes, he was/is a used cars salesman with a playbook that rivals NFL teams (spend countless hours watching NBA film and their sets), but he pushed guys hard and if you could take it you did get better.

***Edit*** Sorry for posting in the recruiting thread, I would delete if I knew how.  So nobody had any insight on the Dawson visit?  Do we know if the Johnson brothers, Sibley and Dawson got to spend any time together?

[JakeBarnes]

I realize it's not scoop unless we let petty arguments into the thread, but I really would like to keep this one to recruiting of current prospects (which does not include semantic debates about whether we lost or never had a recruit).

I realize this makes me a curmudgeon, but it was a huge recruiting week and I keep seeing updates to this thread only to find literally no information--only bickering.

[TheREALwrk]

Nah, the Recruiting Thread isn't the place to discuss something relevant and important like this.
Instead let's have a Tom Crean pissing match for the thousandth time in the thousandth thread.

Get 'em!!!

[Lennys Tap]

Meanwhile his former players still swear by him....weird

Any coach who's ever carried a clipboard has players who support him....so not weird, but meaningless.

Crean is good at currying favor with people who can do him good, make him money. His stars, A.D.s, etc., think he's swell. Regular folk know better.

Apologies to all who are sick of this.

[JakeBarnes]

Any coach who's ever carried a clipboard has players who support him....so not weird, but meaningless.

Crean is good at currying favor with people who can do him good, make him money. His stars, A.D.s, etc., think he's swell. Regular folk know better.

Apologies to all who are sick of this.

Can we just make an ND/Crean sucks thread and get this crap out of the other threads?

[nyg]

Can we just make an ND/Crean sucks thread and get this crap out of the other threads?

Never happen, he has only been gone for 11 years.  Will not stop or maybe pair down abit when it reaches 20 years.

Great mention for him getting the number 2 recruit in country, especially in the Recruiting Thread, but the endless ATV, karate, limos, ice cream truck, tackling dummies, Riley trophies, Crean sucks, hand shake lines, Crean/Buzz comparisons, being a jerk, not being a jerk, or so much more.  Just a core few here who like to continuously shake it up with him, so just read and move on. 

[GooooMarquette]

So....how's MU recruiting going? Or is this the wrong thread?

[MattyWarrior]

Back on topic please! Let's focus on the present. Good team, Good coaching staff,clean program we can be proud of

[Cheeks]

Funny because you brought those names up on multiple posts here and one of those guys almost transferred his junior year because of the coach. 

Crean was hard on his players, and a real jack@ss to pretty much everybody other than the star.  Yes, he was/is a used cars salesman with a playbook that rivals NFL teams (spend countless hours watching NBA film and their sets), but he pushed guys hard and if you could take it you did get better.

***Edit*** Sorry for posting in the recruiting thread, I would delete if I knew how.  So nobody had any insight on the Dawson visit?  Do we know if the Johnson brothers, Sibley and Dawson got to spend any time together?

Yup, and they admitted after the fact he was really really hard on them and did almost transfer, but now glad they didn't.  It took them after the fact to understand what he was trying to do.

The list of players that said this regard Knight when I was there are endless.  18-22 year olds don't always get it.  For the same reason kids sometimes come to their parents when they are in their 30's and 40's and say, "I get it now, but I didn't then...I was angry then, but thank you for being tough on me but with love".   Why is this a thing, human nature as far as I'm concerned.

[JakeBarnes]

So....how's MU recruiting going? Or is this the wrong thread?

How would Tom Crean recruit Dawson Garcia? How much would Crean be thinking about him?

[cheebs09]

How would Tom Crean recruit Dawson Garcia? How much would Crean be thinking about him?

A whole lot.

[jsglow]

Thank you guys.

Any updates on my chart, boys?  Any news from the visits?  Any recruit say 'I can't imagine playing anywhere else?' 

[onepost]

JayBee, I'm curious your thoughts on our chances with Garcia.
I trust your take on Minnesota guys like I'd trust Mark Miller with Wisconsin guys.  Is there reason to have some legit optimism in this one?  Does the success of both Theo and Sacar make a difference with DG?

[MuMark]

Strawther releasing top 10 tomorrow

https://twitter.com/julianstrawther/status/1095168872934559745?s=21

[Herman Cain]

Commentary on Jalen Johnson from an informed commentator.
https://twitter.com/SwaggyDu1/status/1094698801468764160

[LoudMouth]

Strawther releasing top 10 tomorrow

https://twitter.com/julianstrawther/status/1095168872934559745?s=21

I would be amazingly surprised if we weren't on this list

[esotericmindguy]

Commentary on Jalen Johnson from an informed commentator.
https://twitter.com/SwaggyDu1/status/1094698801468764160

Good lord, this kid looks like a man. I'd be shocked if he doesn't end up at Duke. There's no way he plays for Gard and his 340th ranked tempo.