Crean Out at Indiana

ibahawkeye said:
The national perception is much different of Steve Alford than the Iowa fan perception. He was a big enough fish to land the coaching job at the program with the most NCAA national titles.... he's a big enough fish for the Indiana job.
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then why did they not pursue him before the Crean hire? They didn't want him then and they don't want him now
 
MelroseHawkins said:
How to you presume Izzo An Matta replacements couldn't sustain their programs or even improve them? You seem to have tunnel vision on the Indiana coach position. I think you could say the same for any high profile BIG team.
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I don't think Izzo or Matta are going anywhere for a few years, but Indiana and Illinois are hiring new coaches right now. Indiana is a heartbeat away from hanging more banners. You can't even compare MSU or OSU to Indiana's tradition or prestige. If you aren't concerned about Indiana and their potential then I fear that you are drastically underestimating them.
 
Adam said:
The AD's job will likely be hinged to this hire. They have always pursued coaches with recruiting accolades. All I'm saying is if they get a great coach and great recruiter combo that isn't a cheater (Sampson), it would be very likely they are the cream of the B1G for awhile. Izzo and Matta are losing their grip on the B1G which creates a power vacuum. I don't want to see the next Indiana coach fill that vacuum. We need the hawks to fill that.
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Lol, Glass is going nowhere no matter who they hire. He's well-loved by the people above him, and similar to Iowa and other P5 schools he's not the one ultimately making the decision. Glass might be the one on camera doing introductions and signing the paperwork, but he's not going to just go hire a coach. It doesn't work that way.

There are plenty of high profile hirings and firings every year and rarely (if ever) does an AD lose his/her job over a hire. The only time they get fired is if they do something illegal or unethical. He's been scandal free and hasn't caused much controversy other than the Big 10 banner thing which wasn't even enough to make it out of the local papers. Glass is going nowhere.
 
damnfinn said:
there's no way IU wants Alford. How many have they had since Knight left, 4? They be going for a bigger fish this time
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He has UCLA back being mentioned as a national title contender. That's not big enough? I'd be surprised if IU didn't at least talk to him.

Just my $.02 .. .. GO HAWKS!!!
 
Adam said:
I don't think Izzo or Matta are going anywhere for a few years, but Indiana and Illinois are hiring new coaches right now. Indiana is a heartbeat away from hanging more banners. You can't even compare MSU or OSU to Indiana's tradition or prestige. If you aren't concerned about Indiana and their potential then I fear that you are drastically underestimating them.
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Heck, I can go back 20 years and Indiana hasn't been close to what they were with Knight in the 1980's. All I'm saying is this can be a very similar situation to Nebraska and Penn St football after the coaches/figure heads that built them up leave. Yes, they have a history, but also have shown they can go thru lapses.

I don't view them as the sure thing like they used to be, but you are correct, with the right coach they can be. Not debating there.
 
Indiana will struggle to get to their old self. It's like Nebby. Indy isn't anymore than another big city. They won't own Chicago.

Illinois, depending on who they hire is the real sleeper.
 
The love for Steve Alford by some Indiana fans is more nostalgia than objectivity. The biggest flaw in Alford's resume is the lack of success in the NCAA tournament. Multiple times his teams at Iowa and New Mexico has good seeds and lost prematurely. I won't predict what UCLA will do in this tournament, but do not be surprised if they disappoint. His projection of blaming the players for coaching decisions he made must be taken into consideration by the AD.
 
HawkGold said:
Indiana will struggle to get to their old self. It's like Nebby. Indy isn't anymore than another big city. They won't own Chicago.

Illinois, depending on who they hire is the real sleeper.
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No argument with Illinois being sleeping giant, but it would take a really good salesman to lock down Chi-town since every blue blood already has connections deep into the talent pool. Bill Self was that guy. Is there another? I'm sure, but harder to find then a guy who can win big at Indiana right away. Indiana is not a program that is in the gutter. Illinois on the other hand is pretty close to it. They also will be losing alot this year. Indiana is the better program. The state has just as many top prospects and they have more pieces and better national perception. I also hope neither school makes a move on Collins. I would hate to see what he can do with a couple top 50 recruits.
 
Illinois has been asleep for a long time. Giant? Mostly a giant disappointment.

I would not be surprised to see Alford to Indiana. Roots. LA is a very big pond, so maybe Steve would like to go home for the rest of his career. I really don't hate Alford, I just do not care about him one way or another.
 
I wonder If Crean is somewhere thinking tonight "If only Barta were my AD." :rolleyes:
 
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MelroseHawkins said:
Don't see lateral BIG moves a lot. Coaches don't generally switch in conference schools.
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I don't disagree .. if you're talking about a coach under contract. But Crean is now a free agent. I could see him taking the Illinois job to stick it to Indiana. Probably won't happen, but if Crean wants to coach it's an open job in the midwest. There'll be other jobs at P5 schools. He won't be out of work for long.

Just my $.02 .. .. GO HAWKS!!!
 
Indiana is much closer to being what they were than Nebraska will ever be. Heck Indiana has won the B1G twice in the last 5 years. They still recruit at a high level as well. Nebraska hasn't won a confernce title in what 18 years?
 
damnfinn said:
there's no way IU wants Alford. How many have they had since Knight left, 4? They be going for a bigger fish this time
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And hasn't IU fired them all?

I lived 10 miles from New Castle in the 80s for three years. There is no bigger home state legend than Alf. He'll be welcomed back.
 
Hoosier nation desperately wants a re-connection, somehow, someway, to the General. That flame has never gone out.

Alf will provide that lineage.
 
As another poster pointed out, Alford has underperformed in the NCAA tourney. If UCLA gets to the Elite 8 or better, he'll be coaching the Hoosiers next year
 
Perusing some IU boards, it seems posters generally take the view that only the older, more nostalgic portion of their fanbase would welcome an Alford hire. Many are citing Alford's handling of the Pierce nightmare and his uninspiring record at Iowa as major reasons he shouldn't be their guy. Rightfully so.

That being said, the deeper UCLA goes into this year's tourney, the more tempting it will be to hire him - especially if they get turned down by the other big names being floated around as more ideal fits. The name that would be the obvious home run hire is Brad Stevens, but I'd be surprised to see him leave Boston so soon. Gregg Marshall would be right up there at the top of the list, too, but he seems more interested in moving the program he already has to a bigger conference.

Ultimately, I can't imagine they would fire Crean - a guy who had won two of the last five conference titles - without being reasonably assured they can land a big-name coach to replace him.
 
BrueCrew3 said:
I don't disagree .. if you're talking about a coach under contract. But Crean is now a free agent. I could see him taking the Illinois job to stick it to Indiana. Probably won't happen, but if Crean wants to coach it's an open job in the midwest. There'll be other jobs at P5 schools. He won't be out of work for long.

Just my $.02 .. .. GO HAWKS!!!
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I'm sure Crean would if the Illini job was his for the taking. But it's not, in fact Crean has been turned away from the Missouri job and the NCST job. He isn't in high demand anymore, it's hard telling where he will land on his feet at. Perhaps he will take his huge buyout and disappear for awhile.
 
OBhawk said:
He is a "Big Fish". Indiana absolutely wants their golden boy. He is a legend in that state.
Iowa fans a still delusional thinking that he's the bottom of the barrel.
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Iowa fans don't think he's "the bottom of the barrel" , they think he's a pompous jerk...which he is.

EDIT: Thing is, this wouldn't be an obstacle in Bloomington, for a couple of reasons. He's the untouchable golden child from New Castle who can do no wrong. And they don't mind a coach who's behavior is a bit out of line once in a while if he wins...particularly if he comes from the same lineage.
 
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