Hey folks,
No, I'm not Ron, but I am running the blog today, due to the poor wireless coverage down at the Hoosier Room in the bowels of Memorial Stadium. So I'm here in the newsroom offering updates and a little opining for your reading pleasure.
Feel free to sound off below with your thoughts on Crean, IU basketball right now or if you just want to make fun of me. Also be sure to stay with us through the day and next few days for complete coverage of this situation as it unfolds.
12 p.m. And with that, Tom Crean's first press conference as the IU men's basketball coach is over. Crean will apparently be hustling through a few engagements today before heading to the Final Four in San Antonio this weekend. The new coach gave off a few impressions to me: -He seems honestly excited to be in Bloomington. He came off to me as someone who at the same time respects and admires the tradition of IU basketball, and he's ready to hit the ground running. -Crean appeared rather friendly to the press, something not all IU coaches have been known for. He tried his best to remember the names of every person who asked a question, and even singled out and introduced a reporter from the Marquette student newspaper. -The press conference didn't feel very scripted or drawn out. He may not have been the perfect public speaker, but Crean seemed genuine in his words, and in continually emphasizing his family. But we want to know what you think. What are your initial impressions of Tom Crean? What do you see as his greatest strengths/weaknesses? How much short-term success do you think he'll have in recruiting, getting players already here to stay, etc? Sound off on this and more in our comments section.
11:57 Crean is talking students now. He says the student support was negligible when he got to Marquette, but that it grew every year he was there. One would assume student support won't be nearly so bad here, methinks. Our boy Michael Sanserino asks him about his student involvement, and he says he and his family and coaches are excited and "can't wait to start meeting more" students.
11:56 Crean says he's going to talk to Ebanks and Holloway, and he says he's going to "do his absolute best" to let them know what he wants and expects from them, should they come to IU. He said he plans to visit with those players, as well as current Hoosiers, "very quickly." He says it all starts right now.
11:53 Crean is asked about Dakich and the other current coaches. However, he says he's going to visit with his players first, then go to San Antonio for the Final Four. He says that will be the time he'll start assembling a coaching staff, and he says he'll meet with the people at IU now. Crean also says that he will consider the idea of having a former IU player on his staff for recruiting and tradition purposes. However, he says he doesn't have anything "etched in stone" regarding his coaching staff.
11:49 When asked about Tom Izzo, Crean calls the Michigan State coach "a big fan" of IU basketball. However, he does add this: "Make no mistake, we wanna kick his tail." He says Izzo was very supportive of his move to IU. He also says that he plans to recruit "from the inside out," and that he wants to recruit at every level, locally all the way to nationally. Crean says players should want to come be part of the tradition at IU, but it's his coaching staff's job to make them understand that tradition.
11:45 Crean says he's going to be very hands-on with player development. He also says he's going to emphasize conditioning and strength, and he says he wants his team to run the floor. He says he wants his team to score in the lane and drive to the basket.
11:43 Crean says IU is the No. 1 program in the country in terms of tradition. He says it was hard to leave Marquette, but he says he knew IU was the right "challenge" for him. He said the hiring process went rather quickly.
11:41 The new coach says he doesn't want to comment on recruiting just yet, but he says it's a top priority now that he's on the job. He wants everyone to understand, however, that rebuilding IU will take a long time, but that he and his family and staff are here "for the long-haul." He said he wants this year's recruits to understand that. He also says the fans can help by showing the overwhelming support he says they're known for.
11:39 Crean's asked about Ellis and Bassett. Instead he starts talking about the sanctions, which he says he's going to deal with "head on." He never quite answers the question specific to the two players, but he reiterates instead that everyone is going to go into the situation with eyes wide open. He finally says "I don't have an answer for you," but he seems open to anything at the moment.
11:37 In closing, Crean says he's a big fan of Michael McRobbie, and he can't wait to get started working toward next October. He's now going to start taking questions. Part of me thinks Tom Crean looks like a kid in a candy store right now, he just seems overjoyed to be at the podium.
11:35 Crean is talking now about all the fans he met last night, especially the fans he met at the airport and outside the Hilton Garden Inn. "The Crean family cannot wait to be a part of that," he said.
11:33 Crean makes it clear that he knows the position will be challenging at first, but he says the tradition of the program, the level of the University and the supportive alumni base all make him excited to take the job. He's also thanking all of the people he worked with and coached at Marquette. He also talked to the players this morning, and he says he told them that he wants his players to understand the importance and tradition of IU basketball.
11:30 "It's Indiana, and that is the bottom line, and that is the premise that we are going to work under here." That's what Crean says about why he took the job, and what perspective he will be taking on the job. He says he's going to fight hard to learn about IU, the state of Indiana, etc., and he says he's not going to have any trouble understanding and embracing the tradition of the program.
11:28 Crean is talking about his memories of IU basketball, including a time Kent Benson came to Central Michigan for a Special Olympics event and a time he and his high school coaches attended a Bob Knight coaching academy.
11:25 Crean shakes a few hands around the room before taking the podium and holding up a red shirt bearing the words "Crean & Crimson" in giant white bold type. Crean introduces and thanks his family, saying, "There is no chance for me to have any success whatsoever without the love and support my family brings me." He also said moving closer to Michigan will help him see his family in Michigan more.
11:23 Greenspan gives flowers to the Crean family, then thanks Gonso for all his help over the last "40 years." Greenspan says the search process is about hiring "the best individual" to lead the IU basketball program, not about money or leverage. He says Crean understands what IU basketball wants and needs, then introduces the man himself.
11:18 At the table are - left to right - Harry Gonso, Rick Greenspan and the man of the hour, Tom Crean. Gonso will speak, then Greenspan, then Crean. Gonso's up there now, he's first thanking the search committee, many of whom are in attendance. He also says the job was only offered to Crean, no one else. Now he's introducing Greenspan.
11:14 a.m. In the way of things (it would seem), the presser is running a bit late, though my live feed tells me there's at least some activity outside the doors. This thing has to start soon, doesn't it. In the meantime, the guys on First and 10 (ESPN 2) are about to talk Tom Crean's hiring, so anyone in front of a TV can switch over. They're starting the press conference, and away we go.
11:03 a.m. Still waiting for the press conference to begin, so I'll fill the emptiness with this tidbit, pulled from Wikipedia: Crean is married to Joani Harbaugh, sister of John and Jim Harbaugh. You've gotta love him now, Colts fans.
10:53 a.m. The presser is set to begin at 11, so we're in a holding pattern until then. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Crean after having a night to roll his hiring around in your heads? Good move? Bad move?
