Big Ten

Rants & Raves

Crean really must like a challenge

Print the article

This entry was posted on 4/1/2008 5:37 PM and is filed under Basketball.

So I thought Tommy Ammaker liked a challenge when he took over the mess at Michigan but then again he wasn't leaving a major conference coaching gig to take the UM job.

This Indiana job that Marquette coach Tom Crean is taking over in the next few years is a doozey. Your best 2 players are leaving for the NBA, one of your other starters is done with his eligibility and the remaining 2 starters got kicked off the team today for discipline issues.


IU is facing potential sanctions from the NCAA and if that drags on it will mess up 2-3 years of recruiting.

Meanwhile the conference will be stronger over the next couple of years than it has been; Purdue is young, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan have good new coaches entering their second year, Penn State might actually be over 500 in conference next year...Illinois' recruiting for 09 is looking really good. MSU, Wisconsin and Ohio State should be locks to go to the NCAAs the next few years.

I hope he got a big fat contract and really likes Bloomington more than Milwaukee!

 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this entry
  • No trackbacks exist for this entry.
Comments
    Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

    • 4/2/2008 10:59 AM Hoosier Daddy wrote:
      I am sensing a very anti-Hoosier tone in your latest entry. What is not to love about a chance to coach at a top 5 college basketball program? Comparing the Tommy Ammaker's decision to come to Michigan vs. Crean's voyage is night and day. Is the Wolverine program still considered Division 1?
      ? Wasn't sure. As far as the status of the Hoosier team....they will be fine....Don't be surprised at all if Bassett and Ellis are not re-instated very shortly. Their dismissal was a Dan Dakich muscle flexing, and both will be reviewed by Crean. Crean already has re-commitments from in-comers Tom Pritchard and Matt Koth. This also re-opens the door for Terrell Holloway, who is top notch, and originally interested in IU. And dont give up on Eric Gordon just yet....The chances of him getting drafted in the top 5 of the NBA draft have been significantly reduced and he does not make his announcement until Monday.....just enough time for Crean to rub off on him. Furthermore IU may have already done enough by getting rid of Sampson do avoid overly harsh sanctions.....What's not to love over Bloomington, IN vs. Marquette in Milwaukee? There are not enough allowable chracters left in this comment box for me to answer that. Bottom line is that Indiana will be just fine and Crean just found the pot of gold at the end of his rainbow. I predict that Indiana will own a Big Ten title within three years. I also predict that Michigan will earn a bid to the Women's NIT tournament in 2009.
      Reply to this
      1. 4/2/2008 11:48 AM Art Nicholas wrote:
        Actually I like Indiana, I really cannot stand Sampson..never did like him and the Hooiser AD was a dumbass to hire him.

        I think your comment is along the lines of "Is the glass half full or do I need glasses". Bassett and Ellis have been disrespectful on several occassions and Crean would do well to leave them off the team either for a long time or indefinitely. He needs to clean house of bad attitudes and people who think rules don't apply to them.

        However you could be very right about Eric Gordon...if he stays that could make life a bit easier during the transition (probation) period. I would be very surprised if any top recruit however comes to Indiana before the finalize what the penalities will be and if it's full 1-2 year probation...expect a lean class or two.

        Didn't Crean turn down some other choice jobs in the past? Don't get me wrong, IU is one of the best basketball programs..and once they clean this mess up a good gig for the right kind of coach. If the Hooisers cut him some slack for 2-3 years...well maybe in the long run this will be a good call.
        Reply to this
    Leave a comment

    Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

     Enter the above security code (required)

     Name

     Email (will not be published)

     Website

    Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.



      
    Copyright . http://BLOG.BIGTENRANTANDRAVE.COM. All rights reserved.