Comments on: History Suggests That Indiana Basketball Should Be Elite Again “Sooner” Than Some Think

By: football

football — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:59:23 +0000

i love uk football and i love this site!

By: Rick IU fan and Alumni

Rick IU fan and Alumni — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:38:13 +0000

@JRod, Great observations and enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work. I am truely a passionate fan of IU sports as you are. I remain positive because I know most programs hit hard times as UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke have. Its our turn, I guess. I was at the game sunday vs Illinios and for the stands to be packed for a team that has the record Indiana does is truely incredable. The fans that were there like me feel the same love and pride about the basketball program and will support them through the good times and bad. I am excited about the future and cannot wait until next season!

By: JRod

JRod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:27:27 +0000

As I expected, the poll results are overwhelmingly in favor of the Hoosiers’ becoming an elite program again. 95%-5% as of this comment. Sure, most of the readers have probably been IU fans, but at least hope is strong among the faithful.

By: JRod

JRod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:26:16 +0000

@big dog, I’m excited about Hulls. I haven’t seen any of these guys play yet now that I don’t live in Indiana anymore, but I can’t wait until they get on campus next year. All of them should see minutes right away.

By: big dog

big dog — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:22:32 +0000

I think Hulls is one IU faithful will love the most. He just knows how to play the game the right way.
Agreed, the class is really good.

By: JRod

JRod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:17:05 +0000

@RSDan, agreed.

The coach who shall not be named definitely brought some short-term excitement to Bloomington by nabbing Gordon and getting the Hoosiers to play at a high level again for a brief but exciting. Unfortunately, the deal with the devil we made to bring him in bit us all quite harshly in the rears and the progress we thought we’d made went up in a puff of Armon Bassett’s (and others’) smoke.

I actually think that Tom Crean is a better coach than what’s his name, a better recruiter, and he seems to have impeccable integrity (fingers crossed). We are in great hands now and it is only a matter of time before we are seeing the success that we’re used to.

By: JRod

JRod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:13:23 +0000

@Rick IU fan and Alumni,

“As it has been said Indiana is the greatest program of any sport on the planet.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Love the optimism Rick!

By: JRod

JRod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:11:37 +0000

@big dog, ouch. Well I stand corrected on that one. I had not seen one that had IU rated less than ten.

For those interested, here are the Scout.com rankings, where IU is #11:

Scout.com College Basketball Recruiting Rankings for 2009

To be perfectly honest, I’m fine with that. We have two renowned studs in Maurice Creek and Christian Watford, a local kid in Jordan Hulls, and a tough banger in Capobianco. Plus Minuru and Elston to provide depth on the inside. All things considered, for Crean’s first full recruiting class, it’s pretty damn good. And for a program that many have suggested is close to destitute, it’s really good.

Once IU starts winning big again, which they will, and Crean has a chance to make real progress in-state again (where we have been losing far too many good players — good IU teams are always build around in-state kids) the Hoosiers will be right back up where they are supposed to be: as an elite national program.

My apologies for misleading you on the recruiting rankings. But thanks for the info and comment big dog.

By: RSDan

RSDan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:06:39 +0000

No need to go the football route. UK, UCLA and even NC are all fine examples of what the right coach, in the right situation, can do for a basketball program. Maybe none were down as long as IU has been, but none of them gave Mike Davis a contract extension. The “coach without a name” in his brief phone fetish days at IU already had them back in the top 10 and well on their way to the top of the college basketball world just a year ago before the implosion. If Mr. No-name, during his short, “can you hear me now?”, tenure could have the success (while on probation) he did, I have no doubt that Crean & IU will be just fine.

By: big dog

big dog — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:55:42 +0000

“Any rating service you find has it rated in the top-10″
Flat out lie.
I found several in less than five minutes that IU outside of the top ten.
Scout #11 for one.
RSCI has IU at #16. RSCI is a combination of almost every professional site ramking. IU isn’t even in the top #15 2009 according to the experts.

By: Rick IU fan and Alumni

Rick IU fan and Alumni — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:30:40 +0000

Great article!

Without the comparison with Oklahoma, which truely brought up alot of good and valid points. IU is and always will be an elite program. Look at all the great players and hall of fame inductees that have played at IU. This is another point that can be made for the rebound of this program. It is a esteemed club that players want to be apart of. The tradition has defined that. IU will be relevent again and it will happen quickly and Tom Crean knows it and that is why he is here. As it has been said Indiana is the greatest program of any sport on the planet.

By: Kelvin Sampson, a year later, at ESPN the Mag | Inside the Hall | An Indiana Hoosiers basketball blog

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:13:16 +0000

[...] and if you want another take on the whole Deadspin topic, Midwest Sports Fan has an indepth look at it today. Tags: Kelvin Sampson, [...]

By: JRod

JRod — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:30:04 +0000

@josh q public, thanks. I realize that I am not always objective when discussing the Hoosiers, but I’d try to be as objective as possible in searching for legitimate reasons to believe IU basketball is down, but far from out. Luckily, and as I subjectively expected, I found plenty of hope to stay latched onto.

By: josh q public

josh q public — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:18:06 +0000

Great work here J-Rod! Great work. Like I’ve said before, when such an esteemed program like an IU or an ND or a BU hockey hits an all time high for losses, it’s gonna raise some eyebrows. I am really surprised it was not covered more heavily. It is not a knock on the Hoosiers, it is what it is.