Break up Rivers and Jones then we can move forward.

I don't think you are selfish at all for wanting to win. I call that being a loyal fan. In fact, if wanting to win is selfish, then I'm probably standing right at the front of the line for seconds along with you.

My fear is what I perceive as a sense of entitlement to top players, Big Ten Championships and additional banners hanging in the south end of AH by some people posting to this outstanding blog. I live in extreme Southern Indiana and interact with many misguided individuals still trying to tune in Kaywood Ledford on the radio and who can quote chapter and verse from scripture giving the Wildcat Nation a god-given right to the best players and at least 2-3 national championships each decade. Anyone who disputes that is guilty of high crimes, treason and heresy.

I would hope that we, the Hoosier faithful, understand that being a premier program is something earned, not bestowed. We have earned that reputation twice in our storied past and I believe we will earn it again.

I guess all we can do is ask for the Almighty to give us patience and hurry up about it.

In conclusion, I, too, would like to see some big time players wearing candy stripes but, again, we have to earn it–I see that as a process we are embracing and will succeed in with the 2011 class.

In terms of the casual sports fan using a blog to say someone sucks. Well, that's pretty much what blogs are for. An avenue to be heard abroad.

You do make some great points though not trying to take away from that. We're all just frustrated. I will confess CTC has made a few decisions this year that certainly makes you wonder. Last year it didn't matter. But to call for his dismissal at this point it's rediculous times 10.

I agree with Kelin, we need that Top 5 guy to break down the defense and finish games. The other pieces are in place. We lack a superstar now and in the future with the current recruits. Wish Eric Gordon was a FR this year!

I'm all for people giving an opinion, but let's not be irrational. He's only coached 35 games at Indiana.

Crean got Wade, and Crean went to the Final Four. You can't take that away from his resume.

Whether Coach Crean is the right man for the job is not the question nor is the “star rankings” of individual recruits. The real question, in my mind, is one that has to do with if we are getting back to our core values as a once-premier men's basketball program. Each fan has to answer that question for himself or herself.

If winning now is the SOLE criterial as far as core values, then our neighbors south of the Ohio River who bleed blue probably have the right set of principles. I would hope we are better than that.

Maybe the whole concept of blogs/forums have compromised the values that make us proud to be Hoosiers by providing a venue for us to take out our short term and not-well-thought out frustrations and publicly air harsh and/or irrational statements like, “(player's name) sucks!” We can think it, we can say it in conversation over coffee or a beer but to express such sentiments for the world to see is a symptom of something wrong with an ever increasing segment of the IU fan base.

Given the four to six years necessary to basically build a program from scratch, I submit it is way too early to pass judgement of the Tom Crean Era overall. I, for one, am happy in the confidence of knowing that our program will be clean, there will unlikely be any embarrassing situations involving our coaching staff, our players will succeed in the classroom and leave it all on the court every time they play in addition to getting better, if only in small increments, each year.

That's my two cents–as Buffalo Springfield sang–for what it's worth

Crean's resume is more impressive than Alford's anyways. You think competing in the Big East from Marquette is easy to do?

We can go the PU route which is fine but can you wait and can you be ok with having NO chance of winning a national championship, but getting in the tourney. That is why crean makes the big bucks but one of these kids has to commit to IU at some point…..

2. This team has 'very good' moments they can build off of….Had a great stretch against Ole Miss and lead at halftime vs Boston. Crean could take these two instances and show the guys what they are doing well and how to extend it for a entire game

3. This tourney is great experience for a young team and you will see the things they have learned show up as the season goes on and at home….I still expect IU to beat MD at home…remember who predicted this…..the blab!

4. Remember last year we were playing a bunch of Frosh and getting blown out, this year we are playing a bunch of Frosh but competing a lot more

5. IU has some good personel….Mo Creek off to a good start…Elston and Wateford have lots of upside…..Hulls is a decent back up to rivers…….

6. One more….the talent gap is smaller but we are still dealing with the experience gap….last year we dealt with both.