Comments on: What qualifies as a successful season?

By: Greg Matthews

Greg Matthews — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:44:35 +0000

I'd hang out in that bar.

By: chimoose

chimoose — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:44:35 +0000

I'd hang out in that bar.

By: CoveyDale

CoveyDale — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:05:00 +0000

asking for #5 is like asking IU football to beat Penn State this year.

i hope IU is able to stay within 20 of Purdue at Mackey.

By: jgongora86

jgongora86 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:38:54 +0000

you are correct sir. This year to be quite honest, I have no idea what to expect. I'll just be happy to see coach capable of coaching a team. Thats it.

By: TheFightingHoosiers

TheFightingHoosiers — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:04:17 +0000

It's easy to write off this season when you're looking purely at the numbers, but lets think about this. These players are heading into a season where no one knows their names or what they can do. I mean, what are the chances that an Indiana team will have no expectations going into a season again in our lifetimes?

These players have nothing to lose (except most of the games) and everything to gain. That doesn't mean I expect to see them win 20, but it could make for an interesting season with a team that works hard and plays for the right reasons (something you don't ever see anymore unless you put in your remastered Hoosiers dvd...).

I guess a successful season to me would be growth and identity as a team, good grades, and an upset of a NCAA-bound team (Purdue??).

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:52:51 +0000

J…just to prep you bro, I have heard crean say quite a few times now…they will shoot a lot of 3's this year and they will have to rebound and push the ball. So don't be surprised if you get …dare I say…a mike davis feel intially…

By: dabig

dabig — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:46:18 +0000

I'll settle for #1.

By: RGH

RGH — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:09:20 +0000

I want to be that team that is considered very dangerous to play. We will be aggressive and competitive. If you take us lightly, we'll beat you. A team where we will pull some upsets. A team that during the Big 10 Tournament, the other team that draws us is not feeling good about it.

That will be a successful season.

By: B_MD

B_MD — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:00:18 +0000

I'm going to judge the season by competitiveness and progress. I expect IU to lose early in the season and probably by larger margins since they're so young and inexperienced.

The question will be when IU gets deep into the Big Ten season and the losses are mounting, are they still playing hard? Are they able to go on the road and put a scare into some people when nothing is expected of them? Those will be the signs of progress and heart.

By: tberry

tberry — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:12:17 +0000

IU will be successful it we see a disciplined, hard working, smart team that continues to show improvement and hopefully spurts of greatness. Go Hoosiers!!! Go Coach Crean!!!

By: jgongora86

jgongora86 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:02:45 +0000

I'm not going to care about wins or losses this season. I just want to see hustle and a better flow on the offensive side of the court as the season develops. If we can't score because of our lack of athletic ability, I can live with that. However as the season progreses I want our defense to contest every shot and do better job of closing out space.
As far as Illinois is concerend I would like to beat them at home, but all I have to is IU National Championships 5. Illinois- a big goose egg.

By: Sallad

Sallad — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:33:03 +0000

After the high expectations and devastating let down of last season, this October feels very different to me. Here's a few things that I would look for to consider this season a success:

1. Good academic performance
2. No suspensions
3. Beat Illinois at home (Okay, we can be successful without this, but I really, really want it to happen)
4. Obvious improvement over the season. Comparing our Maui performances against the thick of the Big Ten season will be interesting.
5. A .500 record would be a knock-down, drag-out success in my opinion, and Coach Crean would be a candidate for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Okay, looking back at those, it's pitiful that even had to include the first two. Those should be givens. Unfortunately, last season's made me a pessimist.

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:24:15 +0000

Successful season-

1. No violations
2. Improved Academic performance
3. Competitive.....no 30 point blow outs
4. Strong Stance at home
5. Beat PU
6. Beat Illinois
7. Establish team and player identities

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:44:28 +0000

Good point . I would also look to what the sports media begins to say about IU in late season. Will they say we done enough this year to be realistically optimistic about next year or will they say it will be several years before we recover.

Unfortunately media hype one way or the other begins to become a self fulfilling prophesy.

By: tacojohn

tacojohn — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:17:09 +0000

I don't think you'll get your wish of no drama. Look at the Manuri/Cheek/oversigning issue. Crean is going to take heat for that. Every week there will be Open Record and FOIA requests filed for any and all secondary violations the basketball team is committing. They will make a mistake, they're being watched like hawks, and when they do, a significant and vocal minority of fans is going to pull out their torches and pitchforks. It could be that Crean ran 30 minutes over his practice time for a week, but it won't matter.

I ask that this team not get embarrassed too often. Just be competitive, especially at home. If we're getting waxed by 20 against anyone but Michigan State at home, that's going to be a tough pill to swallow.

By: southsidehitmen

southsidehitmen — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:49:50 +0000

I think it'll be important for some of the guys on this team to prove they're big time players. The 09 class looks good, but they'll be just as raw as this years class.

Guys like Williams, Jones III and Pritchard need to establish that they are legitimate D1 players this year. Wins and losses aside, if a few guys on this years team can do that, the pressure won't be as great for the freshman next year, and it would set up a nice base for the next four years.

By: Hoosier76

Hoosier76 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:38:54 +0000

I was on the other end of the court when Hoff from Minnesota put that up…that whole last sequence was disgusting. But, seeing sustained improvement from the tip of the first exhibition game to the last game of the season is what I will be looking for. Executing the plays and learning more and more of CTC's entire play book would also be extremely positive for next year.

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:30:41 +0000

I agree with you completely. I think it is destructive to measure this team and season based on # wins or who we beat. DOing this will make the season long and no fun.

I will base my feeling of success on 1) playing together as a team,2) playing hard and competing 40 minutes every game, 3 )showing ability to improve and 4) entertaining us with some personality like:

- Pritchard does a behind the back pass to Jones for a layup
- Jobe breaks somebody's nose ( on the other team )
- Roth hits 5 shots from near half court like a new Jimmy Rayl
- Williams avgs 13 pts , 11 of which are from the foul line
-

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:21:11 +0000

That play against Minnesota still gives me nightmares.

By: hoosier07

hoosier07 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:45:54 +0000

What I am REALLY hoping for this season: 1) 14-16 wins 2) beating Illinois on both the road and at home 3) beating wisconsin on a buzzer beater (revenge for last years home loss) 4) a GPA above 3.0 5) a TC push for a better student section in '09 6) NO MORE SUSPENSIONS, NCAA CHARGES, TRANSFERS, etc… oh wait, KS is gone! those won't happen anymore!!