Interesting Tom Crean article from Indy Star

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IU grad here. I was done with Crean a few seasons ago. The problems with Crean's teams have been pretty consistent. Non-existent defense, maybe 5 plays on offense. Yeah, they won the conference last year. But that is stuck in the middle of 3 pretty dismal years.
 

That'd be tough for them to fire Crean after he won the BIG reg. season last year. IU would probably have been a solid NCAA team prior to loss of OG. I would also peg them to challenge for the BIG championship next year given players returning.
 

Interesting article. IMO, Indiana basketball = Nebraska football and Tom Crean is their Bo Pelini.
 

HopHead said:
Interesting article. IMO, Indiana basketball = Nebraska football and Tom Crean is their Bo Pelini.
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Comparison kind of holds up based on their recent (somewhat underwhelming) seasons and storied history.

But Nebraska hasn't won a conference football title in almost 20 years...Indiana has won 2 Big Ten hoops titles in the past 5 years.

There is also a great recruiting base in Indiana, they churn out a ton of talent in the Hoosier State every year. The football recruiting base in Nebraska (and the Great Plains in general) is basically non-existent.

In short, it's much easier these days for Indiana basketball to build a national power than it is for Nebraska football.
 


Tim1406 said:
That'd be tough for them to fire Crean after he won the BIG reg. season last year. IU would probably have been a solid NCAA team prior to loss of OG. I would also peg them to challenge for the BIG championship next year given players returning.
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IU is going to go from finishing 10th to challenging for the Conf Title? "given players returning"? Aren't, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland all bringing back a ton of their current contributors? Hey, its IU, so it might happen, but I don't see it. They may contend to finish in the Top 4-5, but not for 1st. At least not imho.
 

KillmeNow said:
IU is going to go from finishing 10th to challenging for the Conf Title? "given players returning"? Aren't, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland all bringing back a ton of their current contributors? Hey, its IU, so it might happen, but I don't see it. They may contend to finish in the Top 4-5, but not for 1st. At least not imho.
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They went from T-7th to 1st just last year. Minnesota went from finishing 13th to challenging for the conference title.
 

mplarson7 said:
IU grad here. I was done with Crean a few seasons ago. The problems with Crean's teams have been pretty consistent. Non-existent defense, maybe 5 plays on offense. Yeah, they won the conference last year. But that is stuck in the middle of 3 pretty dismal years.
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We would have a statue and name the court after the coach who did that here.
 




KillmeNow said:
IU is going to go from finishing 10th to challenging for the Conf Title? "given players returning"? Aren't, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland all bringing back a ton of their current contributors? Hey, its IU, so it might happen, but I don't see it. They may contend to finish in the Top 4-5, but not for 1st. At least not imho.
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For me it all depends on Thomas Bryant. He returns(currently mock drafted into mid-2nd round) then yes they will be in the top 4 of the BIG Ten baring injuries. With OG this was a team who beat Kansas and North Carolina. Indiana just needs better focus and leadership and they will be right there. Seen as they were a younger team its not out of the question for them to improve those things.

Edit: Also how many teams challenge for a conference title(going into the year). For me its 4-5 each year depending on the year. Next year it should be MN, MD(I guess), Purdue(maybe?), MSU(Bridges dad said he would stay for soph.) and Indiana.
 

I dunno but

KillmeNow said:
IU is going to go from finishing 10th to challenging for the Conf Title? "given players returning"? Aren't, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland all bringing back a ton of their current contributors? Hey, its IU, so it might happen, but I don't see it. They may contend to finish in the Top 4-5, but not for 1st. At least not imho.
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I don't know, but my sources say Swanigan is going to the NBA. That's a pretty significant piece. They also say Trimble is going. Bridges is 8 to 15 in most all draft mocks I see. So, if true those teams are not at the top I'd say.
Iowa loses Jok but nothing else?
Indiana loses nothing unless somebody leaves without graduating.
Wisconsin has to be down?
Not sure how we handle it but we pretty much seem like the clear favorite in 2017-18?
 





60's Guy said:
Not sure how we handle it but we pretty much seem like the clear favorite in 2017-18?
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Next Year:
Michigan St. is likely to be much better, more balanced. The team is really quite young this year and Izzo goes deep on the bench so the talent is always developing.
Indiana - I actually agree with previous poster. Very likely they compete for a Big10 title.
Iowa is going to be very good!
Maryland - w/ Trimble very good. W/o Trimble still very good.
Northwestern essentially loses no one. Better next year.
Ohio St. essentially loses no one. Better next year.
Purdue - as good next year. Top 5 in the country w/ Swanigan, Top 20 w/o him.
Nebraska will be better next year. Essentially graduates 1 guy.

The Big10 is absolutely stacked next year w very good teams. The Big10 will have 5-7 teams in the Top25.
These teams will compete for a conference title w/ no clear advantage evident at this time.
Maryland, Michigan St., Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern

To say we are THE favorite to win the Big10 next year isn't accurate. We are one of several that could win it. We could have the same record the end of next year as this year and be a much better team going into the Dance.
 

Tim1406 said:
MSU (Bridges dad said he would stay for soph.)
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Not very nice of Papa Bridges father to suggest his son will return for his sophomore season, as MSU fans might get their hopes up. Nice to think about that for those who follow Sparty basketball, but can't see a scenario where Bridges returns in 2017-18. He had a front row seat watching a teammate (Eron Harris) blow out a knee.

If Bridges does return by some off chance, Sparty is a national title contender. If he doesn't, they'll still be really good with the incoming freshmen as well as the (presumed) healthy return of Schilling and Carter to help Ward in the frontcourt.
 

Can't see Bridges throwing away money like Bryant and Melo Trimble have done by staying in school. I think IU loses both Bryant and OG, OG is still in the first round of a lot of mock drafts and Bryant may realize his stock will get lower as he gets older. There saving grace is that Blackmon has been such a disappointment, he will grace IU with his presence for his senior year. Swanigan will leave IMO, but Purdue will still be a top 25 team. Minnesota and NW bring everyone back, same with Ohio State, but they need to add some pieces, Maryland, Iowa, and Michigan should all be tournament teams.The Illini have a nice recruiting class, but they lose a lot of seniors. Wisconsin might lose their starting five if Happ leaves, I think he will stay though.
 

Michigan might be worse next year. They lose a lot of guard play.
 

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