Currently, the Hoosiers are 13-17 overall on the season and 3-13 in Big Ten play. I think that nearly everyone is aware of the problems and turmoil that this program has faced with all that Kelvin Sampson did and from other prior issues.

 

Realistically, how far is the Hoosiers away from making things better? Will Coach Crean be the one to do it, or will they bring someone else in?

 

I really don't have any idea about what is to come for them. I would like to see Crean be the one to get it turned around, but it's looking like it won't be an easy task. I've never been an Indiana fan, but it still seems very strange seeing them struggle the way they have considering their previous success.

 

Thoughts?

IU fans seem to be ignoring the current plight and focusing their hopes on next year's frosh class.

 

I'm no expert on IU's team the last few years but Crean didn't inherit the mess that Mick did and he's in a weaker conference.

 

He's not yet on the proverbial hot seat but will be in 2 years if things do not improve. 3 wins in the conference is inexcusable.

Year 3 of the rebuild is really no better than year 1. That's a big problem. They should be in a much better position right now as the talent has increased, but the results haven't followed. Looking more and more like Crean might have just been a product of landing D Wade because of the Prop 48 rule...

Crean didn't inherit the mess that Mick did

Crean inherited stiff recruiting limitations, was stuck on campus to recruit for 1 or 2 years, and inherited ZERO scholarship players. Mick's mess didn't come close to Crean's.

 

This next years class is the 1st that he was actually able to go out and recruit. There are no excuses if the 2 classes coming in do not live up to the hype. (3 - 5 Star guys, 1 - 4, and 2 - 3's committed so far for 2011 and 2012) them mixed with Watford and Hulls should get things going again.

Crean inherited stiff recruiting limitations, was stuck on campus to recruit for 1 or 2 years, and inherited ZERO scholarship players. Mick's mess didn't come close to Crean's.

 

This next years class is the 1st that he was actually able to go out and recruit. There are no excuses if the 2 classes coming in do not live up to the hype. (3 - 5 Star guys, 1 - 4, and 2 - 3's committed so far for 2011 and 2012) them mixed with Watford and Hulls should get things going again.

 

I agree with you Indiana was a mess when he got there, I don't know how it couldn't be considered worse than what was inherited at UC :thumb:. But then again, I probably like Indiana the best out of the other big-time college basketball programs (along with St. John's w/ Lavs) so I'm probably biased. I also really like Crean.

Year 3 of the rebuild is really no better than year 1. That's a big problem. They should be in a much better position right now as the talent has increased, but the results haven't followed. Looking more and more like Crean might have just been a product of landing D Wade because of the Prop 48 rule...

I have always thought Crean was a bit overrated. Wade put him on the map, but outside of that it is not as if he has landed blue chippers left and right and won the league consistently. He did manage to keep Novak in school for 8 years, but that is for another thread.

He was put in a tough spot which had led to some of the better in state players goping elsewhere.

 

I think he will get them back to where they once were if given the chance.

 

The biggest thing he has to do is keep the top 2 or three players at home especially when those players fit his needs.

Crean inherited stiff recruiting limitations, was stuck on campus to recruit for 1 or 2 years, and inherited ZERO scholarship players. Mick's mess didn't come close to Crean's.

 

This next years class is the 1st that he was actually able to go out and recruit. There are no excuses if the 2 classes coming in do not live up to the hype. (3 - 5 Star guys, 1 - 4, and 2 - 3's committed so far for 2011 and 2012) them mixed with Watford and Hulls should get things going again.

 

I agree with you. With saying that, I believe that Cronin definitely took on problems as well from the mess that Zimpher created, but if looking at overall program success and the effects, I think that Indiana's situation was worst.

The IU situation also had a united fan base and a boatload of budget to help clean up the mess that didn't exist at UC when Cronin took over. UC had one scholarship player and hired a mid major coach that had not been recruiting BCS level prospects while Crean was in on a good number of high level kids on his way in from Marquette. It's even at best with a lean to IU in terms of which train wreck was on more stable ground. Cronin had UC in the middle tier of the Big East in year 3. IU, not so much...

The IU situation also had a united fan base and a boatload of budget to help clean up the mess that didn't exist at UC when Cronin took over. UC had one scholarship player and hired a mid major coach that had not been recruiting BCS level prospects while Crean was in on a good number of high level kids on his way in from Marquette. It's even at best with a lean to IU in terms of which train wreck was on more stable ground. Cronin had UC in the middle tier of the Big East in year 3. IU, not so much...

 

In addition Crean wasn't replacing one or two popular coaches like Mick did.

Crean inherited stiff recruiting limitations, was stuck on campus to recruit for 1 or 2 years, and inherited ZERO scholarship players. Mick's mess didn't come close to Crean's.

 

 

Looks he inherited one scholarship player.

I don't keep up with IU much other than seeing them play on occasion. Hasn't IU had some real unfortunate injuries as well over the last 2 years? I don't know iF Crean is as good as everyone thinks, but I think the worst thing that IU could do is get rid of Crean in the next 2 years.

IU has had a lot of injury troubles the past two years as well, which has hindered progress.

IU has had a lot of injury troubles the past two years as well, which has hindered progress.

 

UC did as well at that stage in the rebuild. Lost 5 star Mike Williams for a year with an achilles tear that he never really recovered from and 4 star PG Cash Wright blew his ACL...

It's hard to compare the basketball program at IU to the program at UC. Similar situations, but it's harder to get IU to where their fan base wants than it is to get UC to where they want to go. The Big East is a tougher conference, but I think being in that league opens up more recruiting opportunities than playing in the Big Ten does. IU has a heck of a prestigious program, but their program was a mess and the walls around Indiana have been torn down recruiting wise.