Are you kidding me? IU to Tae Kwon Do

[77ncaachamps]

http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2008/07/10/sports.nw-699962.tms

BLOOMINGTON — Tom Crean's latest practice innovation has nothing to do with basketball.

This fall, when Crean begins his first season as coach of Indiana, the Hoosiers will spend some time doing something that, on the surface, is not related to basketball — tae kwon do.

"We're in the process of figuring out how to do that right now," Crean said last week.

Tae kwon do stresses self-discipline and hand-to-hand combat. The latter part is not indicative of any desire, on Crean's part, for more physical play.

Instead, Crean found the exercises increased hand quickness, which comes in handy on defense, defending passing lanes and stripping the ball.

It was Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien that gave Crean the idea. Crean said he was talking with O'Brien about Travis Diener, the former Marquette star who was attempting to make the Pacers. O'Brien told Crean that the Pacers would have Diener use the martial art in an effort to play better defense.

The idea stuck with Crean, and he implemented it at Marquette last season.

"It helped our mental toughness, it helped our physical strength and it really helped our hand speed," Crean said. "In the preseason and the early part of the season, it was a great conditioner. What it turned into, at the end of the season, was great stretching."

A heavy bag was placed in a corner of Marquette's practice facility, and the players indicated they enjoyed the techniques.

"We're trying to find any edge we can get," Marquette's Dominic James told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

While IU's players have been left hazy on the details ("They don't know anything about that yet," Crean said), the coaching staff is firm on tae kwon do's place in building a roster full of newcomers and unknowns.

"It'll definitely be a part of our coaching life," Crean said.


^^^Read: Coach Crean doesn't know how to effectively defend the three or shut down big guys inside so we're learning how to beat the crap out of them.

[TallTitan34]

That is so 2007.

I hope if Crean comes out on an ATV at their Midnight Madness he tips it this time as he cam very close last year taking the turns on 2 wheels.

[wadesworld]

Shouldn't he be spending time coaching these kids how to play high level basketball since he has 2 returning players back, 1 of them a former walk-on?

[4everwarriors]

So this takes the place of punching a tackling dummy before a big game?

[muarmy81]

Shouldn't he be spending time coaching these kids how to play high level basketball since he has 2 returning players back, 1 of them a former walk-on?

That would require him to have some sort of knowledge on how to teach the game...

[MU B2002]

Shouldn't he be spending time coaching these kids how to play high level basketball since he has 2 returning players back, 1 of them a former walk-on?

He knows there is no hope for basketball, so he is going to focus on Karate in hopes of recruiting the next Daniel Larusso.

[ChicosBailBonds]

You do realize MU performed Tae Kwon Do last year under Crean....right?

Jim O'Brien of the Pacers was using it with Travis Diener to help him get stronger on defense.  When Crean was checking in on Diener, O'Brien passed on what they were doing to Crean and he decided to use it at MU last year.  He has now chosen to use it at IU this year.


    "Tae kwon do stresses self-discipline and hand-to-hand combat. The latter part is not indicative of any desire, on Crean's part, for more physical play.

    Instead, Crean found the exercises increased hand quickness, which comes in handy on defense, defending passing lanes and stripping the ball.

    It was Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien that gave Crean the idea. Crean said he was talking with O'Brien about Travis Diener, the former Marquette star who was attempting to make the Pacers. O'Brien told Crean that the Pacers would have Diener use the martial art in an effort to play better defense.

    The idea stuck with Crean, and he implemented it at Marquette last season.

    "It helped our mental toughness, it helped our physical strength and it really helped our hand speed," Crean said. "In the preseason and the early part of the season, it was a great conditioner. What it turned into, at the end of the season, was great stretching."


http://www.cannotfalter.com/2008/07/10/sweep-the-leg-taber/

[PJDunn]

Probably the martial arts that got us our only post Wade NCAA win under too tan thomas.

[77ncaachamps]

Chico, yes I do remember it...but who knew it was that valuable?

I guess it didn't work as Dwight Burke forgot to karate chop Lopez's arm on the way up...

[muarmy81]

I appreciate all that TC did for MU but these are some of the things that I won't miss.  This and his inability to coach.  Let Indiana be the place where they try to overcompensate for their lack of coaching ability by throwing every famous buddy and "training" gimmick he knows into the locker room.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Does it hurt, does it help?  I have no idea.  Teams have been doing these things forever with some success and obviously some without.

The Dallas Cowboys used to have their linemen take ballet in the 1970's to make them "more agile"...if I recall the Cowboys were pretty good in the 1970's.

If Buzz can lead us to 3 straight NCAAs, 5 of 7 and keep what Crean was doing, I'll be a very happy camper.

[TallTitan34]

Tae Kwon Do isn't the only thing that Crean brought to IU.  Wade, Diener, and Novak all made their media guide! 

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/ind/graphics/mg08/mbb-08mg-1-22.pdf

[mu_hilltopper]

Well .. but Mateen Cleaves..  Steve Smith .. Morris Peterson .. all those guys he ever recruited and coached made MU's media guide too.

[muhoosier260]

Well .. but Mateen Cleaves..  Steve Smith .. Morris Peterson .. all those guys he ever recruited and coached made MU's media guide too.

hahahah. they also mention numerous times the MU Great Alaskan Shootout and CBE victories. unreal. i wonder if crean had them hang up the banners in assembly hall?

[muwarrior87]

Tae Kwon Do isn't the only thing that Crean brought to IU.  Wade, Diener, and Novak all made their media guide! 

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/ind/graphics/mg08/mbb-08mg-1-22.pdf

fat pat made it too...check out the second to last page. all managers listed.

[TallTitan34]

fat pat made it too...check out the second to last page. all managers listed.

WOW!  I didn't realize managers transferred over to Indiana to join Crean.  What a giant tool!

[TallTitan34]

hahahah. they also mention numerous times the MU Great Alaskan Shootout and CBE victories. unreal. i wonder if crean had them hang up the banners in assembly hall?

Didn't we beat Indiana in our first Great Alaskan Shootout run?

[77ncaachamps]

fat pat made it too...check out the second to last page. all managers listed.

I just noticed that on pages 11-12, it mentions Crean's NBA players:

Mo Peterson
Steve Smith
Mateen Cleaves
Steve Novak
Mike Peplowski
Travis Diener
Jamie Feick
Dwyane Wade
Matt Steigenga