About // Advertise //Archives // Contact // Store
Subscribe: RSS Email Twitter

On Dan Dakich and the dismissal at The Dagger

by Eamonn Brennan in Rumors | April 1st, 2008

Headline alliteration is my favorite kind.

Those of you interested, I wrote a quick post this morning discussing Dan Dakich’s huge huevos for dismissing Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis at the Dagger. Here’s a little taste:

The entire situation is incredibly weird: According to this report in the Indianapolis Star, the two players missed a meeting that they weren’t allowed to miss, which is not something one should be doing but which is not at all grounds for dismissal. According to the Bloomington Herald-Times, Dakich wanted the players to run sprints, and they told him they wouldn’t, another act of insubordination that’s not exactly polite but which isn’t grounds for getting the long boot goodbye, either.

Of course there’s more: Both players had disciplinary issues under former coach Kelvin Sampson that caused them to miss games, and those issues were never revealed. So Dakich’s sudden curb-kicking was seen by some last night as an administration cleaning house by using a surrogate lame-duck coach to do so; all the while Dakich gets coaching cred among Indiana’s conservative faithful for clearing the team of troublemakers. [...]

Check out the whole piece if you have a chance, and feel free to leave a comment at The Dagger.

This thing is so incredibly weird. Either Dakich is acting alone, without the permission of the university and the athletic department, and just dismissing players he’ll never have a chance to coach again … or the administration is using him to clean house before they bring in a new coach. I still don’t get it. Does anyone else?

Tags: , ,
  • Disco_Briscoe
    Still...it's a huge mess. Can we please just hire a coach and start to move forward with things.

    Profile on Dixon, Wright, and Kruger?
  • bahickma
    This whole situation is just really embarrassing. It's one thing after another. Sampson cheats, gets fired, wrong coach is named interim, players threaten to walk out, player play poorly for the rest of the season, "blue ribbon" committee is developed to find a coach, main target turns down the job, two starters are booted from the team by a guy who has been on the coaching staff for all of 9 months. When will it end?

    I just want a coach. I don't even give a shit if he coaches the "Indiana" way because I don't think that term even has any place in today's collegiate game. Recruiting Indiana players would be a good place to start (See Dominic James, Greg Oden, Josh McRoberts, Mike Conley, all of the Purdue guys, Angel Garcia, Matt Howard, Pete Campbell, Courtney Lee, etc).
  • xxBHxx
    Im done caring about what IU does as a basketball program for a while. Wake me up when we get a new coach.. this shit is just depressing.. =/
  • JamesHardy
    DUDE...WAKE UP!!!! ;-)
  • I heard "dismissal" in the same sentence as "Dakich", and got really excited.

    Dan, your time is up.
  • xxZPxx
    In no way, shape or form should Dan Dakich be allowed to kick players off of the team. There were rumors yesterday that Bassett and Ellis were trying to leave the team themselves and now we are hearing they got kicked off. We dont know the truth about what's happening and probably never will.
    My thinking is that Dakich is trying to do his best to make a case for him being the coach. I think these players were borderline transferring anyways unless we got the perfect coach (which we probably wont because I dont think one exists) so we had to expect this. Also, dont be surprised with Crawford and McGee following them. After that Assembly Hall should burn down as I said earlier and then if we are lucky...and I mean real lucky, hell will freeze over. Stay tuned....
  • Kelin Blab
    I agree, Dak can discipline them but to kick them off......please. Get ready Kyle Taber you will be the center piece of the team next year.....
  • With Ellis being a Juco guy, is he even able to transfer and still have eligibility? Does anyone know?
  • Kelin Blab
    Big A...I don't think so, I have never heard of a juco guy transferring given they have used two years in juco....

    Did you get my costa rico report???
  • xxZPxx
    I think I have read elsewhere that he can only play D2 or lower if he transfers....
  • BrianK
    " Either Dakich is working on behalf of his administration in cleaning house, or he just don't give a motherflip. Either way, IU looks pretty stupid" Greeeeeeaaatttt. This what we needed even more of. I read he had tried to get rid of 4 players after the tourney loss and they were 2 of the 4 and he wasn't allowed to dismiss them. I think this is on his own. he may think he is doing right I guess but man we look so incredibly ridiculous.
  • easy
    Sean Miller is on Jim Rome's radio show at 1 pm EST. jimrome.com
  • Kelin Blab
    I am there
  • easy
    Cool, I'm not. Let us know what he said.
  • TomCoverdale's Eyebrows
    I can hear it now... "No Jim, I am not interested in the IU job"

    'Thump.... thump.... thump' (my head banging against my desk)
  • Just another reason why Greenspan needs to go. He is either letting Dakich run amok or he is behind the whole thing. How is this helping anything? Granted these two might have some issues but after all the University has put them through they need to just back off for now. Let the new coach take over and deal with them, if he decides they need to go than so be it. This is killing our chances of gettting any decent recruits or coach, who would want to come and be a part of or take over such a disfunctional program?

    Why are these guys even having team meetings when the season doesn't start for 7 months?
  • Kelin Blab
    Just heard Sean Miller on Rome say....."After speaking with Dan Dakich he decided I was not good enough to coach at IU"..............
  • jamesESQ
    Clean house? They were frustrated kids, not criminals. I don't see how getting rid of two returning starters makes us a more attractive job to anybody. I don't know enough details to blame anyone, but it sure seems like something that has again been mishandled and blown up in our face. You're telling me someone couldn't reach them to ask them point blank, "do you want off this team?" If they quit, they quit, but we're in no position to be dismissing players. And these types of little headlines on ESPN.com are becoming quite an embarrassment.
  • jgongora86
    I hope jim rome doesn't take too many shots at us. he's such a jerk how the heck does he still have a show. give me mike and mike morning or PTI any day of the week.
  • easy
    Being ignorant or a jerk gets you a show. You just have to be over the top in some regard. Rome. Stephen A. Smith. Bill Walton. Skip Bayless. They just get a reaction out of people.
  • jgongora86
    I agree with everyone except bill walton, I just think he loves hearing himself talk ( he really loves to hear himself talk).
  • BrianK
    I can't stand Mike and mike. I don't like Rome but he usually does good interviews. Only national guy I listen to really is JT. I try to mainly listen to local guys.
  • easy
    This may be stupid...but who is JT? Only person that came to mind was Justin Timberlake hahaha...
  • Kelin Blab
    I wish TK was still on the radio, I loved the "Snack down" he did each year.
    On a side note.........Dan Dakich just decided we are boycotting the Olympics til the Tibet thing is resolved.
  • easy
    I guess ESPN Radio is about to talk about us if anyone gets that. Let us know what they say!
  • Kelin Blab
    Here we go Pat Forde on IU.....brace yourself....
  • easy
    Wait did you listen to Rome too? Any IU talk with Miller?
  • Kelin Blab
    I heard nothing....not even a question. ESPN radio is lighting us up but we deserve......we are becoming the laughing stock....

    Forde is stunned also about Dak kicking off players..........
  • BrianK
    IM at work and can't listen let us know please.
  • easy
    Nothing new. Talked about what bad shape he's in. Named Montgomery, Kruger as potential candidates. Lawrence Frank is not. Threw out Brownell as a dark horse. Boring. And pure guesses, just like us I think.
  • BrianK
    Has there been the MIller interview?
  • Kelin Blab
    Forde has mentioned these 3 names....
    Montgmery, Kruger, and Brad Brownell......

    Here is what I believe.......a coach will be picked from these candidates.....Montgomery, Kruger, Brownell, or Grant. 50/50 chance of us getting a good coach...errrr young coach
  • easy
    I think it's going to wind up being someone that is not getting mentioned. Just a hunch. I can't believe that we are realistically looking at Monty or Kruger. I still feel like a Dixon or someone has managed to keep this quiet. Someone like that will come. Of the up-and-comers I think you're right. It'd be Brownell or Grant. I don't think Miller will come. I kinda don't think Grant would. So we'll see.
  • Kelin Blab
    Tune in....Katz is coming on next.....I will give it to Greeny and the Pabst Blue Ribbon crew they are keeping a tight lip on this thing now which is good....I don't want hear Miller and Brownell have turned us down....
  • easy
    Random thought I had today: How perfect would this have been?
    -Donovan goes to Magic
    -Grant goes to UF
    -Donovan bombs in NBA or doesn't like it, wants to come back to college
    -Donovan has a top job to walk right into and be a hero, IU has a perfect 2 time National Champion young savior.
    Sad that it didn't work out that way, huh?
  • Kelin Blab
    Just read on the Indy Star Alford still has NEVER been called and he was bothered by it.....what did he do besides suck at Iowa to NEVER get a look....he sounds a little pissed.

    http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...
  • Kelin Blab
    Not sure if anyone read this in the wall street journal, but there is a press conference in an hour on the subprime mortgage crisis and the report says Dakich has made a decision on this too......
  • BrianK
    He kicked has kicked the Head of the dept of treasury off the team for not doing laps around the Lincoln Memeorial.
  • Ryan_Btown
    Kelin, you are killin me with this stuff...that's hilarious
  • easy
    Katz said we are in a chaotic state. He talked to Bennett who "wrestled with it" but didn't want to get thrown into this situation. Talked about all the players we're losing. Seach is "back to square one." Coaches want to shy away from it if they're comfortable in their current situation. Talked about Pitino taking over Kentucky when it was in similar problems. Talked about Scott Drew, said he made some sense. IU was going after Barnes, Pitino, and Matta. That was it....
  • Kelin Blab
    Heard it to easy and still nothing.....Katz usually has some good info but I don't think he knows anything at all right now either.....
  • easy
    Yeah no one knows anything at this point. I didn't like hearing we were back to square one. I guess if we contacted the major names, then they really have said no, which probably means guys like Dixon also would say no. Comfortable situations.

    It was interesting to hear Scott Drew's name thrown back out. I think people could rally around him a little bit, he can recruit like crazy. The scandal stuff wouldn't look good though. And I've seen his style. Very up and down, lots of crazy shots, bad defense. So...it's too bad because it would be nice to have a guy with Indiana ties but not necessarily IU ties come and save the program.

    Monty and Kruger I still just can't see us settling. Still don't think Miller will come. Not sure about Grant. Brownell I don't know if he'd win or has the personality for it. So...I really don't know right now. I'm pulling for the same candidates. I'll support whomever we get. I just hope it's done soon.
  • BayAreaHoosier
    only one man who can turn us around...

    jerry "the shark" tarkanian
  • BrianK
    Jooohhnnnn Woooden Clap..clap...clap,clap,clap
  • Kelin Blab
    More good news EJ making a decision on Monday......
  • easy
    As in today or next Monday?
  • easy
    Nevermind misread it.
  • xxZPxx
    Well I dont think the IU administration/coaching staff could have made it any easier for him to make.
    "Lets see, I can lose a little draft stock but still get paid millions of dollars and be able to carry the ball, turn it over whenever because its not a big deal in the NBA and even get an extra foul to use in the first 30 seconds of the game or.....I can return to a team of Kyle Taber, Brett Finklemeyer, Deandre Thomas etc. and a coach that doesn't exist yet." -EJ

    It was nice knowin' ya EJ... My #23 jersey has been cursed since Keith Smart: Steve Hart (transfer), Sean Kline (Sean Kline), and Eric Gordon. Oh well, it was still nice to see him in an Indiana uniform.
  • xxBHxx
    kelin or easy : can i have your job? you seem to be on the intarwebz more than I and that is astounding. =)
  • easy
    Just on in between classes waiting for the news to break. =)
  • Kelin Blab
    Teacher on Spring break bro....junior is at school, the misses at work.....

    Oddly enough .....I teach computers so I HAVE to be on the internet ALL freakin' day....until dak fires me ofcourse....
  • Ryan_Btown
    love it
  • drode
    Does anyone else wish we would have given Matt Painter that scholarship instead of Todd Leary, or is that just me?
  • I'm trying to hold out hope that some upper tier coach (by upper tier I mean Dixon, Miller, Wright ect...) will take a look and realize that Indiana may be ina bad way right now, but imagine being the guy that restores Indiana basketball!!

    That's what stunned me about Bennett, if it's true that he looked at the current situation and thought it was too messy. I mean if that's true, have some confidence in your skills as a coach, man. If he had restored the Indiana program he would become a basketball god in college basketball, especially being a young good-looking guy. How could he not see that?
  • easy
    Being in his 2nd year, he probably isn't sure yet of his skills. It is a tough job (trust me) that takes a lot of experience. You have to really believe in yourself and KNOW that you can do it at an extremely high level and consistently to go to Indiana. So I can't blame him, it was smart on his part if he wasn't ready.
  • I hear ya, if he doesn't believe that he's ready then it was the right move. But, my point still stands on experienced guys like Dixon, Wright or some of the other experienced guys around the country.

    How can they not see that restoring glory to Indiana would be a gigantic career move.
  • drode
    This is all Eric Montross's fault!
  • BayAreaHoosier
    kevin love is montross v2.0
  • tberry
    It really doesn't matter why the players were disciplined, I'm just glad someone had the balls to tell them to sit down and shut up or leave.

    Dakich is not the equivalent of some high school substitute teacher for a day. The IU Athletic Department, with the administration's blessing, made him coach until a new one is hired. I'm sure he and his bosses have a complete understanding of what he can and can't do and what his responsibilities are. The team is his now and he is the coach.

    I find it hard to believe that any fan wants to give leadership of the team and decision makeng power to these whining basketball babies. The only responsibility they have is to obey the coach and play basketball for IU. In return they get an education. They are not the coaches.

    I hope any player or possible coach, that has the least doubt as to what their role will be at IU, either turns the job down, goes to another school or goes home and pouts.
  • No we don't want to leadership of the team to the players, but we also don't want to give it to an interim coach. Dakich should have the authority to discipline, but not to kick kids off the team.

    Leadership is in flux until the new FULL-TIME Head Coach is named. That coach should be brought up to speed and allowed to make a decision on how to discipline.
  • tberry
    so what do we do in the meantime? Just let the players do what they want until we have a new coach who will beg them to be good little boys?

    Never! the biggest mistake we have recently made was hiring Davis because some of the players were whiny and didn't want this or that. Who gives a shit. If they want to play, listen to the coach whomever it is.
  • I don't know who the next head coach will be at IU, nor does anyone else. I do know one thing though, for IU to move forward, we the IU fans, need to support whoever the next coach may be, one hundred percent. No more factions or a divided fan base. It's time to get over ourselves, that is what i do know. IU fans haven't been in unity since Knight was fired, it's time to forget him.
  • Atwater
    I agree!
  • BrianK
    We need a "Pitino-ish" coach who wants the challenge of rebuilding a storied program. A successful or quickly up and comig hungry coach. Bennett obviously doesn't have the gonads for it. Hopefully miller does. With those crazy looks he make son the sidelines I would think so.
  • Despite reports that Miller said no, i still think he might be in the running. In fact, a lot of the coaches people have written off might also still be in the running. The "blue ribbon search committee" was sworn to secrecy, so i don't see how anyone really know anything, outside of them. BrianK, i really don't know if Pitino would leave U of L for IU, he has a top 5-10 recruiting class coming in this year with some very good players returning as well, although if there is a "mass exodus" to the NBA by some of his players, it's not out of the realm of possibility. I wonder how much he is making a year $$dollars wise and what his contract looks like. Anyone know anything about that?
  • BrianK
    I'm not saying Pitino, i don't want Pitino myself, Im just saying someone like him because he was teh type who was always hungry for a challenge. The mess at UofK didn't scare him away.
  • BrianK
    He is making around 1.5 I think but he jsut got a loyalty bonus plus his salary is going up per year and other loyalty bonus'. New stadium, awesome recruiting class. he has tons of incentives not just from his contract. I think he is in Louisville to stay which he should.
  • You said we need a "Pitino-ish" coach, well what about UMass' coach, Travis Ford?! He went from Eastern Kentucky, to UMass, and has won at both schools. He can coach, recruit, plays by the rules, very similar to Pitino and played under Pitino. I wonder why he hasn't been mentioned.
  • He also has rebuilt UMass into a respectable program again, i think he would be a really nice hire. I really don't care if he played at UK or not, at least it wasn't Purdue. IU could probably get him for relatively cheap dollars and lock him into a long term contract. Just a thought.
  • I thought about him too when I saw some of their NIT win over Syracuse. I think he might need a little more seasoning. He could be a great hire for a program like our in a few years though. I'd like to see him make a NCAA tourney run at UMass first.

    Who knows, maybe with out current situation (possible sanctions and all the players leaving) the first year or two at Indiana with no expectations would qualify as that seasoning.
  • BrianK
    I hadn;t thought of him but I like.
  • LivingAmongWolves
    Petino... I wish!
  • cooper
    Do we play Northwestern or Penn State next year? I'm just wondering if we will win one Big Ten game next year. Everyone is dreaming if they think a quality established coach is coming to IU at this point. reasons, too much BS to deal with and not enough money. Not to mention the fact we have no talent left on this team and no talent coming in. Crawford is the only player left and he will be gone within 2 weeks. Who is are starting 5 right now? We don't even have one.


    If IU wants to get back they need to stop thinking coaches will coach here just because its IU. They won't either come up with the money or we are going to get an average coach.

    Hopefully they hire Grant at this point, I don't know if he is a great hire but atleast he can recruit. Get a coach by Thursday so they can send Dakich packing and ask the players to come back.
  • I think people are getting to hung up on coaches not wanting to come here because the players from last years team won't be here and it's not a great recruiting class.

    These coaches don't switch to a job like IU or any for that matter because of the current team. Almost any coach moving to new position will have to deal with defections and probably a rough first year. The switch for the possibility of building that program.

    Now your point about the mess at IU and bumbling administration is definitely valid and probably scaring off coaches.
  • As talented as Ellis and Basset might be, i don't think they need to come back if they continue to have "attitude problems". If IU is wanting to clean up it's "image", then getting rid of Ellis and Bassett is a good start. If they don't want to be part of the team, then so be it. North Carolina, UCLA, and other big time schools have been through stuff like this before and in a few years IU will be OK, if they get this hire right.
  • My question is, what and who would be the right hire? I don't think there is one, because no matter who gets hired, not everyone will agree with it.
  • I think there's a right hire for IU out there, but unfortunately whoever that person is, I don't think they're interested.
  • xxBHxx
    Per Bob Kravitz : Tom Crean contacted IU inquiring about the position. I wouldn't mind getting him but not until after we go after Pitino and Calapari. We have to give Calapari a run, that guy could save us.
  • easy
    Link? I wanted him last time, but he hasn't been that impressive the last two years. He could get much better recruits here. I think he could win big time. Really good guy too.
  • xxBHxx
    sorry easy no link.. was said on his radio show. 1070 da fan, all they are talking about so far is the IU job.
  • easy
    Did he expand much? Any other names?
  • xxBHxx
    not really man.. they have been preaching for izzo/pitino/calapari like crazy. dakich is on right now.
  • xxBHxx
    shit.. missed most of the dakich interveiw due to work. friggin work.. don't these people know that this is more important!?!? hopefully ill be able to pick it up on podcast later tonight. 1070thefan.com
  • Crean would be a decent hire, but i'm not all that impressed with what i've seen out of his teams as of yet. Almost all of his teams have little or no post players and anyone watching IU knows that has been one of our weaknesses, lack of post depth. His teams play small ball, and that doesn't get you very far in the tourney, excluding the team he had with Wade that beat Kentucky. I would like to see the next coach, whoever that is, make that a point of emphasis, to improve post play and depth.
  • easy
    Yeah but if you're being recruited by Big East schools, Marquette is not going to be your first choice. Crean is well known for developing talent extremely well. And the Big East called Marquette the most physical team in the league, which is really saying something. I think he's maxed out Marquette's potential. If he came to a big time school I think he can win big. Get very good recruits and really teach the game. He's intense and a very good guy. His personality is the type we need to get us out of this mess. I'd be semi-surprised though. He's always seemed to want to stay at Marquette, and he's making 1.7 mil as it is. But I could see him as the type who would want the challenge like this. Exactly what we need.
  • Someone was telling me earlier that IU's next coach would be the "transporter". I was like who, and they said that guy Scott Skiles, he looks a little like Jason Statham, lol. I really wouldn't know what to think if he became the next coach.
  • I think if IU offered, Crean would take it. He's always rumored to be looking to get out and go somewhere else, like when he was interested in the UK job. He was interested in the IU job a couple years ago when Greenspan & Herbert hired Sampson. Now there's a question, the coaches who were interested the last time around in this job but were "burned" or passed over, i wonder if they would have second thoughts because of that?!
  • easy
    He wasn't burned or passed over. He wasn't interested. He's always RUMORED to be a candidate, but has always maintained he wanted to stay at Marquette. He's very highly thought of there and he makes 1.7 mil which is great. He had no reason to want to leave and hates continually being rumored to be leaving.
  • peaychris
    but i dont really want a coach who looks a lot like my favorite TV character. i just cant take him serioulsy..... lol

    http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/blog/images/...
  • peaychris
    I hear from someone who knows a Tennessee player that Pearl is considering the IU job. i dont know how reliable this is, but hey its the glimmer of hope that gets me through today....
  • easy
    Hope not.
  • Phil Jackson, LOL.
  • Ryan_Btown
    I was talking to a professor of mine who used to be Knight's PR person when he was here, so she knows lots of athletics people and all the former staff/players and such. She told me that this committee is being so tight lipped and keeping things under the radar that even people with connections are tracking planes from airports. As far as she knows, any information given to us from Katz or blogs, etc... is purely speculation because this committee is being very secretive.
  • easy
    Good stuff Ryan. I kinda feel that way too. Everyone is guessing.

    Where is the LINK on the Crean thing?
  • That's what i have heard as well. No one really knows anything, except for the committee, and they're not saying anything. So the next head coach could be someone we haven't even mentioned as of yet, who knows?! The "beat writers", blogs, sports sites, and everything in between that says they have "inside sources" and they know something is just a lie to fire up the fans and bring attention to their columns or whatever.
  • Ryan_Btown
    On another note...Eddie Sutton's son is resigning from OK St. Anyone think Bill Self may jump ship after getting his ass kicked by UNC and head to his Alma Mater? That may take the media heat off of us for a while!
  • I doubt Self would leave Kansas for OSU. Of course, the power of the dollar bill can influence a person into doing something such as that, i heard OSU would offer ridiculous amounts of money to have him (like 3-4 million a year).
  • This Just in.......

    Robert H. Menke, a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and a southern Indiana industrialist, has died. He was 88.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=332...
  • He was a member of 1940 Indiana title team.
  • Ryan_Btown
    I guess we can cross his name off the potential candidate list...kidding (that was disrespectful on my part)
  • Ryan_Btown
    I just realized who that guy is. Bob Menke started Styline in southern Indiana. My father used to run their furniture division for his son Hank Menke who now runs the show. I never realized that he one a title at IU. Interesting.
  • Is Steve Alford really that bad. I wasn't for Steve Alford at first, but now I think he maybe be the guy. Look at what we have here....Lon Kruger....Mike Mont..........come on.....home run I think not. Thats like a foul ball...or actually a strike out. No Dakich. This guy is out of control. I understand Bassett and Ellis were in the wrong to an extent, but Dakich has no right to throw players off the team. This is an outrage. We need Matta or Pitino. Like I said with Pitino....he is there for 10 years pick us up and when he retires the position would be more attractive. Matta would be the same, but for more like 20 years wich would be better. My other choice is Anthony Grant. I like was I read about him, but if these guys won't come. Why not alford? Coaching in the big ten when Knight was still in the big ten was a mistake. Going to Iowa was a mistake. If he was here in Indiana he might of been our matt painter. Do you think matt painter would be in as good of shape if he was coaching Penn State? Please don't hate me for saying this...but lets get alford.
  • southsidehitmen
    There are still better options out there than Alford.

    Honestly whatever happens from here on out, the new coach should be playing with house money, at least for year one.

    Anything IU basketball does that is positive with all that's happened will be gravy, and if they have a horrible year, well, he'll get a mulligan to rebuild his team within the next few years.

    The pressure is officially completely off whoever is the head coach next year.

    Unless of course it's Dakich
  • From what I've read and herd the everything is speculation. I mean Barnes, Pitino, and Matta may be considering the job as we speak. Look at all the speculation about the last hire...and we end up with Sampson. Nobody saw that comming. I think we should all just stay positive and hope for the best. Tony Bennett declined the job because he wants to coach wisconson someday. He said we wasn't interested in he Cal job because it was an interconference change and I think that is what we are seeing here with the IU decline.

    Expect Crawford and Thomas to be dismissed as well within the next few days.

    Expect the new coach to get them all back on the team.
  • peaychris
    I dont see why Dak is so unpopular. we need to respect what he has done, and his lifetime loyalty to IU! He came into a most difficult position of unrest where IMO the players quit on him(exception DJ). we should be hating Samson not Dak. look i dont think Dak is head coach material, but i do think hes deserved everything IU has given him and our respect (and the players). i think he would do anything for IU basketball and we should get off his back about getting rid of these two players. hey i hope coach knight comes back to a team like LSU and hires Dak. i just think Dak wants whats best for IU, and whats best for IU is to get rid of trouble makers. look slavery ended with the civil war they didnt have to be at IU they could have quit, but i think they wanted to be martyrs.
  • He is kicking players off a team his isn't for certain he is even going to coach.....and the starters at that. Haven't we gone through enough
  • peaychris
    I would rather lose, then to have a buch of thugs run all over the coaches!(interm or not hes still the man right now) I you let the inmates run the asylum you'll get Florida State Football...
  • BrianK
    But they could of also been coached which they haven't been.
  • your know its funny.......if that 3 by wisconson hadn't dropped and sampson would of stayed....maybe won a part of the big ten.....maybe a run to the final four...everyone's tone would be different
  • Ryan_Btown
    I respect him, but I have a lifetime of loyalty to IU as well but that doesn't make me a candidate.
  • peaychris
    No i am not advocating his hire as coach. i am just suggesting that the players treat him with the respect they would treat any other coach. i think hes a great asst coach or "director of basketball operations" but not a head coach
  • Ryan_Btown
    You know, I would tend to agree with you. But my question is, it seems that ALL of these players hate him. I'm not saying they have a reason to and I'll be the first to agree that they haven't been playing for Indiana this whole season, but Dak's record as a player's coach isn't exceptional. He'll tell you that himself. I just don't know if keeping him around the program will be on the top priority list for the new coach. Would you rather have talent that Dak ran off the team (rightly or wrongly) or the guy who thinks he should have your job?
  • peaychris
    Look i think these are not the type of players Dak would have recruited. i think he likes the people who are coachable. these current guys are a different breed. if you went to play for knight you knew what you were going to get. i just think that IU fans espically would want players that are respectful, instead of these pre-madonnas we have on the team now.
  • Ryan_Btown
    Yeah, I'm not arguing with you. I'm just saying that the new coach, if he wants a shot at winning, may agree with Dakich about the kids being a handful, but he would probably rather have them back for 2 more years and then recruit his own guys. I would rather win too. After what we've been through the last 10 years, what's another 3 or 4 of losing if we just disassemble the current program and rebuild. But most coaches probably would rather win now. It's a lot different than the old days.
  • Ryan_Btown
    I meant i'd rather rebuild, not I'd rather win...although I do love to win, but I'm afraid i'd miss all the losing.
  • peaychris
    i am feelin ya! i just think that a coach can recruit his own players and be good in 2 years now.
  • BrianK
    Listening to the Afternoon Underdogs at lunch and Adam Neft saomething that makes sense. We are obviously still going after a big name coach and talkign to people because if we were going after someone smalled we would of named them already more than likely. If SC can get Ben from Western in a couple hours then we would be able to also. If it was someone who was coming from a mid major or smaller program and they're only making around 500k we could double or more and get them in quick. So hopefully this means they are still going for MIller or the like.
  • excellent....logical point
  • Ryan_Btown
    I agree. I think it will be a bigger name than we expect, but even for a smaller name guy, there will be some hesitation. I'm sure Bennett had his pad of paper with a list of questions ready for when Greenspan called. My guess is a lot of those questions either couldn't be answered, or Bennett didn't like the answers. I don't doubt we could have offered him plenty of money, but are we going to have a postseason next year? How many scholarships are available? Can he recruit off campus? Who is returning? Lots of unknowns.
  • cooper
    At this point I hope we get either Crean (who will be better at IU than Marquette and has Big Ten experience) or Grant (he is a great recruiter, UF has not recruited as well without him).

    I just don't see Pearl who is creating another IU at UT coming or Miller leaving. Plus I'm not sure if IU fans are ready for head bands, earrings and tattoos which are the players Pearl would bring in. Though its time some fans realize its ok to have tattoos or a head band and its not disrespecting anyoone or anything. We are too cheap to pay Miller's buyout even if he would leave.
  • Um, Florida had two McDonald's All-American's as freshmen this year. I don't think there recruiting has dropped off much since Grant left.
  • zvex1
    IU fans have always cheered passionately for players with tattoos. I don't know why this is even an issue. As long as the players play their asses off, the fans will be fine if they have tattoos of hot dogs jumping rope.
  • jgongora86
    cough. ahemm...... Anthony Grant
  • sierracoach
    Lon Kruger? Wow....if true, guess the IU job is now even more radioactive than I feared.
  • Atwater
    DD is on JMV. wnde.com
  • Atwater
    Now pat forde is on.
  • xxBHxx
    lon friggin krueger!? tell me its not true...
  • easy
    What's being said? What's the deal with people talking about Kruger now?
  • xxBHxx
    peegs says he has two sources that krueger is the man now...
  • xxZPxx
    Kruger talks are rapid and frequent on other sites that you have to pay for *cough
  • BrianK
    SO whats being said
  • easy
    Tell me it's an April Fools joke...
  • Atwater
    Forde mentioned Krueger, brownell, montgomery, and Crean, but it just seemed like a bunch of speculation. He did say that Krueger would be a good choice and that he has won everywhere.

    Regarding DD, I like him and I don't blame him for what happened. I DON"T think he should be our coach, but I blame the players for what happened. They had a one on one meeting with DD discussing things like going to class and coming to meetings, and then they were several hours late to the next meeting. They then chose not to come and run even though they knew that they would get kicked off. They made the choice, not DD.

    During the interview, DD got a page saying that everyone had gone to class that day, and Thomas had done well on something (he didn't say what). DD seems genuinely concerned about cleaning up our program. I don't blame him for that.

    JMV just said that someone from WGN is reporting Krueger and that he may be on the show soon.
  • peaychris
    Great Post!! i think you put what i wanted to say just more eloquently than I!
  • xxZPxx
    Something is going to be announced about Kruger on WGN radio at 5:30 or on Kaplans WGN show from 7-9. Thats all I am hearing from other sites. No I dont think its a joke....be careful about freaking out about him. However shocking it is, we could do worse.
  • xxBHxx
    agreed we could do worse.. but it seems like we are settling. why not wait a couple weeks and go after the big guns? calapari.
  • Ryan_Btown
    forde says: Krueger, then Brownell, then Montgomery
  • this sucks
  • easy
    Where does he say that? On the radio show earlier today? He was more or less throwing out what ESPN had already been reporting.
  • xxZPxx
    Well he heard what Forde was saying from this Kaplan dude on WGN radio. Kaplan has Kruger ties. I think he was even in his wedding. Kruger first choice and Brownell is second if Kruger turns it down.
  • Ryan_Btown
    on the radio. Now caller's are calling in and responding to what dakich had to say.
  • peaychris
    i would rather take the Too Young Butler coach over any of those three
  • Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!
  • I meant my nooooooo!! to the Kruger, Brownell, Montgomery post. I too would rather have the butler guy, something anything to get excited about.
  • easy
    Um. So. It's really true that no one good wants to come here huh? Wow....
  • I can't decide if no one good wants to come, or is the administration so inept that they think Kruger is the right guy?
  • easy
    I'd be so furious if they took Kruger over someone like Crean (if he's really interested). Wow. I'm going to choose to not believe this until it is reported later. I have a test during the time that something is supposed to be announced about Kruger so...
  • Maybe this is a ploy to lower our expectations so when they announce Crean or Wright all the fans will be doubly excited!!

    Wow, I think I have to go throw-up...I'll be back.
  • no kruger.....this sucks
  • This is the guy who promised the Atlanta Hawks season ticket holders their money back if the team didn't make the playoffs...WITHOUT approval from management.

    I think that was the same year the team did so bad that he was fired mid-way through the season, but the team still had to give their money back.
  • cooper
    Lon Krueger, if this is the best we can do, we are in trouble
  • cooper
    There is still time before Thursday to hire Krueger, then fire everyone in the AD Dept, hire a new AD and hire someone else...I mean this is possibly right, maybe this is just a joke?

    I just vomitted in my mouth
  • xxZPxx
    Kruger has 2 "3-star" recruits committed but not signed to UNLV for next year....both from Cali and Nevada but non-signed recruits could follow him...we need all the bodies we can get since right now just about anyone could walk-on next year.
  • easy
    You sure this isn't an elaborate Peegs.com joke?
  • xxZPxx
    I dont know if its a joke or not...im just repeating stuff for you guys thats probably illegal and may lose my subscription but I feel like this week is an exception...you guys are welcome in advance, haha
  • i'm not so sure ellis and bassett are for sure gone. Kruger sux
  • peaychris
    thats like putting perfume on crap. kruger is a re-tread. we need someone on the upswing of life, not on the the down
  • cooper
    Does anyone else think the Indystar should be embarassed by their coverage or lack of. I understand Hutch's point of not wanting to comment on every rumor but at least come out and mention them. He hasn't had one decent thing other than reaction. I'd think he would be the 1st to break some of the rumors or go over the possible coaches but he makes one update a day that another site breaks hours earlier. Time for the indy star to step up their game
  • xxZPxx
    Well ESPN 1000 just reported Kruger to IU...hes on a plane right now to B-town to accept.....Peegs message boards has people even tracking the flight....so I think its legit.
  • NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
  • somebody shoot that plane down...lol
  • cooper
    Call in a suspicious person boarding a plane in vegas by the name of lon krueger
  • cooper
    any bad weather blocking it, any chance the plane turns around...boy are we going to suck
  • CJames0569
    I am in utter disbelief right now, how could we settle on Lon Kruger?
  • xxZPxx
    From UNLV board:
    There is a plane from Cook Medical (a huge IU booster located in bloomington) that left bloomington for Mc Carran Intl.

    Dept Bloomingotn at 11:20 est
    Arv Mc Carran Intl at 12:19 pdt.

    Deot Mc Carran Intl at 12:59 pdt.
    est arv Bloomington at 6:48 est.
  • xxZPxx
    He did go 57-15 the past two years....just looking for positives.
  • bassett and ellis may only of averaged 15 points a game, but there are going to be a whole lot of points to cover with dj and ej gone
  • Ryan_Btown
    If it's between him and Montgomery, I'd rather it be him.
  • cooper
    that booster should be shot for allowing IU use of the plane to hire him
  • zvex1
    There is a scene in Austin Powers: Man of Mystery where a henchman gets run over by a steamroller...at 1 mph.

    That is this entire situation in a nutshell: something terrible is coming right down the pipe and there isn't anything you can do to stop it.

    I gotta go get a taco.
  • xxZPxx
    No, this is the situation in a nutshell "Help, Im in a nutshell! How did I get in this nutshell?"
  • xxBHxx
    ok, that was hilarious.
  • Ryan_Btown
    Way off topic, but this Bob Menke death got me thinking. We are always wondering who anonymous donors are and it's always the same few people we come up with. But let's take Bob Menke for a minute. He lived 30 minutes from me and I never once knew he was on the 1940 National Championship team. This is a guy worth millions upon millions of dollars. No telling how many times he might have gotten us out of a sticky situation. You just never know who those donors might be.
  • Kelin Blab
    Fellas I am not sure but a 163 comments on one topic has to be close to a record
  • xxZPxx
    A lot of people think its an April fools joke....
  • pardon the interuption has indiana on its talk list...its on right now
  • b_side
    For what it's worth, I just heard Lon Kruger is our new coach. ESPN Radio is reporting it right now. Whoopty friggin' do.
  • xxZPxx
    Yeah the fact that its now being reported by many sources kind of ruins the April Fools Joke hopes...
  • peaychris
    i am hoping this to be APRIL FOOLS... a very elaborate april fools. not my girlfriends text this morning telling me she pregnant... lol
  • this just sux
  • espn say tom crean
  • Ryan_Btown
    hahah...that's funny...unlike lon kruger to indiana
  • maybe there is still hope........crean does look a lot better now
  • CJames0569
    ESPN.com apparently is reporting it is Tom Crean
  • xxZPxx
    Yeah...I am done for the time being until I hear some sources for myself....
  • cooper
    No offense but of the two I'd pick your girlfriend being pregnant as true
  • peaychris
    haha well i wasnt too amused at the text! but i did play along and say... man i hope its a boy. that kinda scared her. i dont want kids... at least for a couple years lol
  • Ryan_Btown
    where's the espn.com link? I like that rumor a lot more
  • CJames0569
    I just heard it on wnde
  • CJames0569
    I'm looking for it myself, but can't find it so...idk
  • pardon the interuption has indiana on its talk list...its on right now
  • zvex1
    The PTI guys talked about the justification that Dakich can dismiss players given that he's only an interim coach. No guessing for a new coach...
  • Ryan_Btown
    dude...i'm flippin out...on one hand, we have old ass lon kruger...not exciting... on the other, tom crean...given those two names, crean sounds like superman!
  • Kelin Blab
    If lon krueger is our coach.....
    Greeny should not be able to delete the emails he gets in his box daily.
    IU fans should protest immediately....
    I find nothing on the net about this so it may be a bad and cruel joke
  • Radio says CREAN!!!!!!
  • peaychris
    an hour ago i thought we were really getting Kruger, but now i might Crean in my pants at hearing this!!! i wonder if we can get Dwight Schrute (assistant to the regional manager) to do some commericals with Crean for IU basketball
  • Ryan_Btown
    WNDE says that ESPN is just waiting on a signed agreement but it's a done deal. I'm listening to ESPN radio now but haven't heard anything.
  • Ryan_Btown
  • Ryan_Btown
    link for the crean story
  • zvex1
    Katz talking on SportsCenter now....
  • hoosiergal
    Crimson and Crean.
  • BrianK
    Off topic I'd like to say Sorry to the U of K fans for the loss of Bill Keightley.
    On topic crean is alot better than krueger. You think the Committee through out the Kruger thing to amke us crap our pants so getting Crean would feel good lol
  • BrianK
    Marquette as said its true
  • BrianK
    Well guys let's Crean and bear it. I think it's a good hire. He has done good at Marquette and theres tons of competition in the Big East. I think it's it's a great hire just not name popping. He's got a solid record at Marquette and has Final Four appearance and he is till young. He kept the program Crean at Marquette and I thnk he will keep us Crean also.
blog comments powered by Disqus

Joe's Bar on Weed Street Poll

  • Do you support NCAA Tournament expansion?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...

Resources

ITH on Twitter

Recruiting Classes

Recommended Reading