Don, He was my first choice, as I wrote here a few weeks ago somewhere in a past topic. I think he's an excellent fit. He recruits well in Indiana, vis-a-vis Dominic James. He's young, energetic, a student of Tom Izzo, and he gets the most of any coach I've seen from his players. He has his work cut out for him, but he knows that and I'm betting he's up to the task. Terry, I don't know how or why he was chosen over other possible candidates like Sean Miller. In comparison to Miller, it could be his greater number of years of experience as a head coach and a consistent track record over those years. Whatever the reason, as a Hoosier fan, I'm happy.
Crean to Indiana <r>Sid and Don,<br/> <br/> As a Hoosier myself I think this appears to be a good, quality hire for IU. They really need someone to get them back on track. The program is in shambles now and it may get worse before it gets better. After the mess than insued after Knight left with Davis and then Sampson, it's time for someone like Crean to step in and slowly, methodically and carefully put the IU program back where it belongs. <br/> <br/> The best thing that Crean has going for him there is that it <B><s></s>is<e></e></B> Indiana and High School Basketball is still king of all sports there. There is plenty of talent to be had and you can get well in a hurry with a couple of the right kids. If he is any kind of a recruiter he will have success there within a few years. <br/> <br/> As a former psssionate IU basketball fan I wish him the best. I long for the days of back to back Big 10 championships and trips to the final four. It's time to get IU back on track.<br/> <br/> Hopefully this will be a long and mutually sucessful relationship for Crean and IU.</r>
Crean/Indiana <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> Yes, I'm happy to see IU begin the long journey to get it's act back together again but the one thing that will make me just "giddy" is to see the Irish go about 9-3 and then get a bowl win this season. <E></E> <br/> <br/> It's just killing my patience to have to wait until Sept to see if we have solved the O-line probem. <E</E></r>
Terry, this may answer some of your questions about why they hired Crean over others. One obvious qualifier is his Big 10 experience. It's interesting that Jim Harbaugh is his brother-in-law.
Crean should do well at IU, I was thinking that since Thad Motta has done so well at Ohio State that they might have gone with Sean Miller from Xavier. I'm actually glad they took Crean, I like XU and I hope Miller stays awhile. I don't like Marquette and so I'm not sorry they are looking for a new coach. I'm sort of neutral on IU, don't really like them don't really hate them, but I respect that they have historically done the right thing when it comes to academics and sports.
That makes 2 of us. I'm not sorry to see him leave the Big East, which I guess is a back door compliment.