Is Indiana a one year wonder...

[FirstTimer]

Or are they the real deal moving forward down the line?

I just can't see them consistantly pulling really great classes..but maybe that's because I'm not used to them doing it as much in recent memory.

 

[Senser81]

Moving forward. Tom Crean is a really good coach and recruiter, and I think he has turned things around at Indiana. You might think Indiana is a black hole, but I think thats because the coaches they've had were terrible. Old Bob Knight, Mike Davis, Cal Sampson, the guy that took away all the scholarships then quit, etc.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I think they are an upstart kind of program right now...but, I think because its Indiana, they are now moving forward and coming back from exile.

Crean is a good coach, a good recruiter, and Indiana, when doing well, recruits itself as a basketball program.

They should be pulling in a few big classes in the next few seasons, for sure. And from there, its just going to be about Crean keeping it going.

I think they've finally turned the corner and they'll be a strong team from here on out, as long as Crean is there.

To add -

A program that was in Indiana's position...a former powerhouse in a fertile bed for recruiting...especially one as down as Indiana was...they are a team that always needs that one kid, that top kid in-state, locally, that stays home. All it needs it one to start the trend. For Miami, back in the late 70's, when Miami was giving away tickets with a purchase of a Hamburger, there was a kid named Lester Williams that was a monster SoFla recruit, ended up being a great collegiate player, pro player...he was a big get at the start of the Miami dynasty. For Indiana, on this new upswing, for Crean, the big get was Cody Zeller. The best kids in Indiana were getting away for years...but finally, they got one, and now, they are locked and loaded. Already have 3 of the Top 5 players in-state committed for 2012.

Back on Crean's honeymoon class, he picked up Jordan Hulls and Derek Elston in-state and picked up some vital OOS kids in Christian Watford and Maurice Creek, and those kids are some of the key guys on a total team effort. Still have a year of eligibility left.

I definitely think this team is on the upswing. Crean has built a solid foundation and his upperclassmen are seeing the fruits of their labor this year and as a result, Indiana is able to recruit at the high end again, as we are already seeing on that front.

 

[Berowsk]

I think we'll be okay moving forward. Shit, we have a whole starting lineup coming in this offseason. That + Zeller, Hulls, Oladipo, Creek etc and maybe Watford? Wow.

 

[ralaw]

Yes, for the reasons mentioned Indiana will be a solid program with Crean. Also it may just be me but it seems this team is on tv every week...I've been very impressed with with Victor Oladipo as well....he reminds me of Dwayne Wade when he first started with Crean.

 

[zack54attack]

Absolutely not. We have the top ranked recruiting class next season and only lose two players, both of which suck (Verdell Jones who I fucking hate, and Tom Pritchard who only plays because he's tall and can give fouls). Meanwhile, we keep all of our returning players, add likely our BEST player Maurice Creek who tore an achilles in the preseason, and add five more Freshman [three will likely to have an immediate impact].

We aren't going anywhere, even if Christian Watford goes to the NBA with the season he's currently having.

EDIT Personally I don't think IU is a top 15 team this year. We won't win anything great on the road and will be a Sweet 16 team at best depending on the tournament draw.

Nope.

 

[G-men]

LOL at Blackmon Jr and Lyles committing to a school in September of their freshman years, before they even played a high school basketball game.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

LOL at Blackmon Jr and Lyles committing to a school in September of their freshman years, before they even played a high school basketball game.

Really is ridiculous.

The only thing more ridiculous is putting grades on these children.

 

[Berowsk]

LOL at Blackmon Jr and Lyles committing to a school in September of their freshman years, before they even played a high school basketball game.

I think Lyles or Blackmon committed in like 7th grade or 6th grade.

 

[NAHSTE]

I think they are an upstart kind of program right now...but, I think because its Indiana, they are now moving forward and coming back from exile.

Crean is a good coach, a good recruiter, and Indiana, when doing well, recruits itself as a basketball program.

They should be pulling in a few big classes in the next few seasons, for sure. And from there, its just going to be about Crean keeping it going.

I think they've finally turned the corner and they'll be a strong team from here on out, as long as Crean is there.

To add -

A program that was in Indiana's position...a former powerhouse in a fertile bed for recruiting...especially one as down as Indiana was...they are a team that always needs that one kid, that top kid in-state, locally, that stays home. All it needs it one to start the trend. For Miami, back in the late 70's, when Miami was giving away tickets with a purchase of a Hamburger, there was a kid named Lester Williams that was a monster SoFla recruit, ended up being a great collegiate player, pro player...he was a big get at the start of the Miami dynasty. For Indiana, on this new upswing, for Crean, the big get was Cody Zeller. The best kids in Indiana were getting away for years...but finally, they got one, and now, they are locked and loaded. Already have 3 of the Top 5 players in-state committed for 2012.

This is so true. For LSU it was Kevin Faulk who stopped the in-state guys like Warrick Dunn and Kordell Stewart from leaving. Anyway, I think Indiana is on the right track. CBB is more interesting when they are good, so I don't mind it at all.

 

[Esjay]

I think we're finally on the right track. I missed the IU glory years, although I remember the 2002 run pretty well. I never got to see guys like Calbert Cheaney or Steve Alford so it's exciting.

Oladipo is my favorite player on the team by far.

Sidenote: I played against Elston all through middle school and first few years of high school. He was unguardable when he shot up to 6'9

 

[Herm]

I think IU is for real and will be until Crean is gone or another recruiting scandal hits


IU being good is good for college basketball as others have said, they are a traditional power who i'd like to see rise back up to prominence.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Bob Knight, Mike Davis, and Kelvin Sampson were some of the most unlikable guys as well.

Crean is a guy, pretty damn likable, and as a result, you want to see him and his team do well.

 

[Bear Pand]

Sadly they aren't a one year wonder.

Matt Painter get on your job.