I figured he get one more year and chalk this year up to injuries...but I'm not sad. IU grad and fan, but your statement is correct. Most still worship Knight and pray for Alford...christ. (Brad Stevens too, but never going to happen.)
Hope for Gregg Marshall but think he's Midwest Mark Few and not going anywhere.
Bryce Drew? Dane Fife (love him but hope not yet...) ? Middle Tenn coach probably get some love but suspect IU thinks they're above him.
Man, you might be the most rational IU fan I've ever come across. Solid post. I think your reaction to Crean's firing is fair. I wouldn't argue he deserved to keep his job, but the "overdue" sentiment is absurd. The guy saved the program. People forget the dumpster fire of a program he inherited. It's actually impressive that IU is back to where it is considering what Sampson did to the program.
The Brad Stevens stuff is just insane. The guy is going to leave a top 5 NBA job for a borderline top 10 NCAA job? The Alford stuff is pretty funny to me. UCLA fans would have packed his bags for him at the end of 2016. If IU want/expect final fours, why hire a guy who can't get past the Sweet 16. Alford is basically Crean without a Final Four on his resume. Marshall would be a great hire if they can get him. Wichita St moving to the AAC probably makes it a little more difficult to get him, but IU might be able to write a big enough check to make him jump.
Lol...there's a couple of us out there, none of my friends though. I was real excited when Crean was hired and he did turn the program around. His mortal sin that people can't get over is that he hasn't gotten the top Indy kids to IU. That's his main issue. Only one he got was Zeller. Found guys like Oladipo and Anunoby...but I don't know you can credit him with "developing" them. They were just athletic freaks.
Marshall is our best case scenario. Didn't hear it but I guess AD basically requested Alford in the press conference, but unless he brings all the Ball brothers with him, no thanks.
