Welcome to Indiana, Coach Crean

You know it’s a big day for IU basketball when, on the day that former President Bill Clinton visits Assembly Hall, he’s not even the biggest story on campus. No, the hiring of Tom Crean as men’s basketball head coach took the headlines last week, and rightfully so. \nCrean’s hiring represents a much needed beacon of hope after a tumultuous several weeks at IU. The Hoosiers went from a Final Four dark horse to an utter mess while losing in the first round, and the athletics department became a national laughing stock. Crean’s hiring couldn’t have come at a better time. And no one was a better and more realistic candidate. \nMost importantly, all IU fans can already see that Crean is genuinely excited to be here. He knows the program’s tradition, and even if IU basketball hasn’t been as strong in the last 20 years as it was in the previous 20, it’s just like Crean said: “It’s Indiana.” Even those initially cynical about Crean’s hire can’t deny his overwhelming enthusiasm for the team. After the dark days we’ve seen, this enthusiasm is definitely needed.\nCrean also has the spotless record we’re looking for. No recruiting violations. No payment to players. And no excessive phone calls. Let’s not forget the NCAA is still going to hand down sanctions in some regard this summer, so hiring a coach with the highest level of credibility was crucial, and thankfully the athletics department got that part right.\nSimply put, Crean just knows how to do things the right way. Aside from no violations, Crean’s teams at Marquette always played basketball right. His teams seem to play hard-nosed defense, and they constantly hustle. He also closely manages shot selection. These are all areas our Hoosiers have struggled with during the last few years.\nBut we must not forget – this is just the beginning of a difficult journey for Crean and IU basketball. Things aren’t going to get better overnight. Four seniors and Eric Gordon are gone. Two other stars, Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis, were recently booted off the team, and some other players aren’t even sure if they want to stay. Plus, the recruiting class for next year might not be as great as we once hoped. \nSo, yes, we are in quite a hole. But the Editorial Board thinks both Crean and the athletics department understand this, and we see this as a fresh start for everyone associated with IU basketball. But the IU fans must have patience. It’s unrealistic to assume we should be in Sweet 16 contention next year, so there needs to be no one calling for Crean’s head this time next year if we end up in the NIT. \nCrean’s hiring is a massive step in the right direction for IU basketball. Thanks to Crean’s arrival, we can all attempt to let the healing process begin and feel proud yet again to call ourselves Indiana Hoosiers.