OT: On May 1st it seems fitting to learn that...
- Thread starter DanL53
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Was it homesick, caring for a family, or credit line decline reason?
I was chuckling so hard while reading PEEGS that I don't recall. I believe it was the old playing time issue. And I probably shouldn't be such a cynic, maybe the staff at Indiana was fully prepared to tell Thomas Bryant that no scholarship was available after all.
It just amazes me how Crean is still able to sell highly-rated kids on coming to IU knowing that they're having to kick other kids off the team to do so. The first couple of times I could see Crean being able to sell it but by now, I'm left with either being highly impressed with Crean's snake oil salesmanship or disappointed with the kids'/parents' lack of ethics or intelligence.
What is really sad is that there are still kids who buy into what Crean is selling. It is obvious that coaching at IN is clearly lacking in all other phases.
I like that Crean is still there as it gives McC and staff a chance to get a foothold in a state where IA has never really had good recruiting karma other than a few Alford recruits. I have a feeling that if McC can make some headway there like he now has in IL, he will be able to establish a recruiting presence there for many years. The key will be competing with OH State and the Michigan schools. There are usually enough recruits between Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois for all of these B1G schools to get quality recruits.
I like that Crean is still there as it gives McC and staff a chance to get a foothold in a state where IA has never really had good recruiting karma other than a few Alford recruits. I have a feeling that if McC can make some headway there like he now has in IL, he will be able to establish a recruiting presence there for many years. The key will be competing with OH State and the Michigan schools. There are usually enough recruits between Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois for all of these B1G schools to get quality recruits.
Calipari and Hoiberg have shown us there is more than the traditional way to run a program. I am not a fan of Crean, but it doesn't necessarily mean he is running a scurrilous program if he is up front about playing time. What parent doesn't think their kid should get the free ride?
It's the fact that Crean convinces a kids' team that he'll make room for them when there isn't a scholly apparently available and they're OK with that- not registering or being fine with the implications. I mean it isn't like IU has the national reputation of Alabama in football, where everyone football player seems to be standing inline to go there,
I think Crean probably tells kids, "look, you are going to play if you come here, and if for some reason you don't get the minutes you need I will help you transfer to a situation better suited for you. Either way you are going to get the minutes on the court that you need to develop as a player. At IU we don't bring in kids to sit on the bench." It is all about how you sell it I guess.
Of course any coach could say the same thing. The truth is over-recruiting is getting to be quite common. For some reason it has caught on much slower in the Big Ten than in other conferences. Probably how Crean managed to stand out and earn a legacy for himself in the Urban Dictionary. I think I recall counting something like half the schools in the SEC had done it last year. My memory may be faulty, but I know it was a large amount.
My stance on Creaning is pretty much the same as it is for many practices such as the mentioned Calipari and Hoiberg (I wonder if Hoiberg enjoyed having a chair tossed at him by one of his players this past season? And, that is second hand and I can't prove it. But I believe it.) Anyway, as far as I'm concerned if it is dirty, even not against the rules but dirty....I hope we don't do it at Iowa. And if that means a 12-6 season is a great year....fine. I'm happier that way than I would be 15-3 and needed a shower to wash the filth off.
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