This has been a tough sports year in Indiana. This is Indiana. Indiana basketball is the dominant sport, yet the team has won just 9 (9-14) games this season and has looked like a JV team multiple times. Half the team is a year older, and 6 great freshman are emerging but burnt out. With the best player on the team our, Maurice Creek—a freshman, this team has had to play all of conference play without him.
Get this – Indiana basketball and football has a combined 22-56 record over the last 2 years. There’s no question things have been challenging the last two years for Indiana basketball. Nobody could have foreseen these circumstances. Head Coach Tom Crean has tried his best to get IU back to their winning ways.
I remember the days when basketball tickets were nearly impossible to get your hands on. I remember the days when a $20 ticket would resell for hundreds. And I remember the days when Assembly Hall was sold-out and rocking whether it was North Carolina Central or Purdue.
Last nights game was a clear indication that basketball fans are frustrated. Some fans booed the team as they headed to the locker room. But first of all, students continue show up late—at the 16 minute mark. That’s got to change. I think AD Fred Glass and others need to change the way student tickets are handled. There MUST be first come first serve seating. Reward those that have a true, dedicated passion and are willing to show up an hour or so before the game. Indiana needs to make sure that no visiting player steps foot on Branch McCracken Court. When the players come out they need to hear about it from the very beginning until the clock reads 00:00.
But that’s just the first step.
Recruiting is tough but needs to be revamped and boosted. Indiana needs a marquee player to lead this team through adversity. Tom Crean is absolutely trying his hardest but its going to take fans extra support. I sure hope Indiana basketball is moving forward (though at times it seems its moving backwards). This is a delicate and tough situation for coaches, players, and fans.
I still believe this is a quality team. Not a NCAA tournament team, but if playing to potential–could be a NIT postseason team. I hate to criticized young student-athletes but sometimes I wonder where their minds are during games. They just don’t seem to have the focus and effort necessary…with the one exception of Jordan Hulls.
Indiana basketball needs to get back on track in a hurry. This state is slowly turning from a basketball dominate state, into a football state because of the success of the Indianapolis Colts. Led by Peyton Manning, fans are diverting ticket and traveling costs in this tough economy to attend a Colts game rather than an IU game. Tom Crean can get this done and I believe will get this done. However, as a one of the most dedicated fans, we are desiring the prominence of what was Indiana basketball.