NCAA Investigation into Indiana Basketball Program

[MaxBuck]

So far I see no link to John Gasaway's (as usual) excellent take on this mess:

Basketball Prospectus | Articles | Bad Calls

[LitlBuck]

After watching last night's game I can equate Sampson to scum. There he was hugging his players like he cared about them and yet he goes and breaks the rules which hurts the entire University which includes the players. If he cared so much about them why did he break the rules. He is just trash in my book.

[MaxBuck]

So who does everyone think are the best candidates for the IU job?

In order, mine are as follows:

Tony Bennett
Scott Drew
Anthony Grant

I'd probably have Grant at the top of the list if it weren't for the difficulty of an African-American thriving in racist southern Indiana. He's a terrific coach. Drew has the advantage of being from Indiana, and what he has done at Baylor is incredible given how screwed up that program was just a couple of years ago. Bennett is just a magician in what he can get out of marginal talent (and don't kid yourself -- Wazzou has no NBA talent whatever); unclear how well he could recruit to Bloomington.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

So who does everyone think are the best candidates for the IU job?

In order, mine are as follows:

Tony Bennett
Scott Drew
Anthony Grant
.

I'm not sure they might just elevate Dan Dakich to the head coaching position unless they get rid of the entire staff. The major reason he was brought in was that the IU people wanted a link back to Bobby.

All three of yours would be excellent choices but I just think that the IU faithful will want someone who served or played with Knight. I remember Wittman's name was brought out last time along with one of his other former players that I cannot remember. I have no idea when Jim Crews is doing these days but if he is still in coaching he might get a look.

[BB73]

There hasn't been much discussion about the media treatment of IU's situation. Perhaps that's because IU is getting hammered like most of us think they should.

The IU game broadcasts have included repeated references to Sampson's unallowable phone calls and the accusations that he lied during the IU and NCAA investigations. Analysts are nearly unanimous in stating that Sampson must go; and Dick Vitale called for AD Greenspan to also get canned at least twice last night.

It's also been a significant story in other ESPN shows, despite coming on the heels of the huge Roger Clemens saga.

I just thought that it was worth mentioning that when it was somebody else's turn in the barrel, they're getting repeated pounded, in a way that I think most of us believe to be appropriate.

[NastyDogg72]

Ironically enough it seems that the most important quality most IU fans are looking for in a new coach is the ability to recruit. The sting of losing Oden and Conley and the impending departure of DeShaun Thomas is still alive and well in Hoosier land.

It goes to show that, in contrast to what most IU fans think, Bloomington is just not on par with the top programs in college basketball. If IU was one of these said basketball powerhouses wouldn't it hold true that anyone could recruit at IU? Wouldn't it just sell itself to would be recruits? Matta recruits the best Indiana talent out of the state to a, in their words, perennial football school. Isn't this as much a statement on the fact that they aren't what they think they are? UNC or Duke would not let the best player in North Carolina get away to Florida for example would they?

Thad is a great recruiter and coach, we all know this. Mike Davis didn't stand a chance against him and Sampson had to break the rules to compete with the likes of Bruce Weber, so what are his chances of competing with Thad head to head for a player?

If the Indiana tradition "sold" itself to recruits we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[methomps]

Originally Posted by NastyDogg72

Ironically enough it seems that the most important quality most IU fans are looking for in a new coach is the ability to recruit. The sting of losing Oden and Conley and the impending departure of DeShaun Thomas is still alive and well in Hoosier land.

It goes to show that, in contrast to what most IU fans think, Bloomington is just not on par with the top programs in college basketball. If IU was one of these said basketball powerhouses wouldn't it hold true that anyone could recruit at IU? Wouldn't it just sell itself to would be recruits? Matta recruits the best Indiana talent out of the state to a, in their words, perennial football school. Isn't this as much a statement on the fact that they aren't what they think they are? UNC or Duke would not let the best player in North Carolina get away to Florida for example would they?

Thad is a great recruiter and coach, we all know this. Mike Davis didn't stand a chance against him and Sampson had to break the rules to compete with the likes of Bruce Weber, so what are his chances of competing with Thad head to head for a player?

If the Indiana tradition "sold" itself to recruits we wouldn't be having this conversation.

I think Kelvin Sampson would cheat at UNC or Duke, as well.

[MONTbigBuck]

For what its worth: ESPN radio said today that according to a St Paul Pioneer Press source, that Sampson would be out and Dan Dakich would finish the season. The new coach for next year would be............Scott Skiles..

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by MONTbigBuck

For what its worth: ESPN radio said today that according to a St Paul Pioneer Press source, that Sampson would be out and Dan Dakich would finish the season. The new coach for next year would be............Scott Skiles..

Interesting.

FWIW (re: recruiting)
Indiana HS State Champ, MSU Star, spent NBA time in Milwaukee, Indy, Orlando, Washington & Philly.

[BuckTwenty]

Any coaching vacancy here in the midwest ought to have Sean Miller on it. The man is a gamer. Would be a PERFECT coach for the Big Ten and would grow with the team.

That said, I'd like to see Tom Crean in the Big Ten too. I've got a lot of respect for him and what he's done with Marquette.


Interesting tidbit there about Scott Skiles, who happens to be from Indiana. Phoenix went places after they got rid of him, and Chicago will eventually make it deep into the playoffs with the young players they have accrued there. What would Scott Skiles do for IU though? Would he be able to recruit Indiana and abroad for the best talent? Can he get the premier guys (McRoberts, Oden, Conley, etc) to stay instate? What could he do WITH that talent that he couldn't with better talent at Chicago and Phoenix? Would he be able to lead IU out of their looming probation and sactions (more than likely)?

Their fans are almost as dilusional as Alabama's football fans.

[jwinslow]

Interesting tidbit there about Scott Skiles, who happens to be from Indiana. Phoenix went places after they got rid of him

Scott Skiles also went places after he rid himself of Indiana.

[osugrad21]

CPD

BIG TEN NOTEBOOK



Sampson hire was wrong call



Monday, February 18, 2008

No college coach in any sport is worth NCAA sanctions. No one can X and O or recruit his way out of a major violation. The Kelvin Sampson case is proving Indiana's decision makers were nuts to hire him in the first place.
Did you know Sampson, along with Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, is one of two coaches to win 20 games each of the past 11 years? Do you care, consid ering that most of the college basket ball world believes Sampson will be fired Friday thanks to the major violations he's been accused of committing by the NCAA?
Who could Indiana have hired instead when Sampson was chosen in March 2006? It's Indiana - the Hoosiers had their pick of the litter. Who would have been better? How about anyone without a cell phone addiction, who wasn't already waiting to hear about NCAA infractions when he got his new job?
It's one thing to stand by your man when the NCAA lowers the boom, although that rarely happens. But at least that's your guy. Taking on someone else's problem is masochistic, especially at a school with a clean reputation that plays in a conference where too many other programs - Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota - have had past successes wiped away by wrongdoing.




Cont...

[LitlBuck]

I still think that the IU faithful will want someone with past ties to the University. They wanted someone with ties to Bobby when Sampson was hired that now that that has gone down the toilet I think they will get their wish. Dakich has past HC responsibilities and there are other guys out there with ties to IU.
I wonder who their new AD will be

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by NastyDogg72

Ironically enough it seems that the most important quality most IU fans are looking for in a new coach is the ability to recruit. The sting of losing Oden and Conley and the impending departure of DeShaun Thomas is still alive and well in Hoosier land.

It goes to show that, in contrast to what most IU fans think, Bloomington is just not on par with the top programs in college basketball. If IU was one of these said basketball powerhouses wouldn't it hold true that anyone could recruit at IU? Wouldn't it just sell itself to would be recruits? Matta recruits the best Indiana talent out of the state to a, in their words, perennial football school. Isn't this as much a statement on the fact that they aren't what they think they are? UNC or Duke would not let the best player in North Carolina get away to Florida for example would they?

Thad is a great recruiter and coach, we all know this. Mike Davis didn't stand a chance against him and Sampson had to break the rules to compete with the likes of Bruce Weber, so what are his chances of competing with Thad head to head for a player?

If the Indiana tradition "sold" itself to recruits we wouldn't be having this conversation.

No one went to Indiana to play at Indiana. They went to be coached by and play for Bob Knight.

When he left, they at least hired a good, clean coach.

They are reaping what they sewed.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

No one went to Indiana to play at Indiana. They went to be coached by and play for Bob Knight.

When he left, they at least hired a good, clean coach.

They are reaping what they sewed.

sowed, unless you are talking knitting....