Note: Here is our Hoosier Hysteria preview that ran in today's paper. Be sure to check out the basketblog later tonight and tomorrow for our coverage.
Tom Crean isn't holding his first official practice at midnight, but you can expect the traditional madness.
Despite being picked to finish last in the conference by "everyone and their brother," as Crean put it, the Hoosiers' first official practice will be a part of two national television networks' Midnight Madness coverage.
"A true 'It's Indiana' moment for me is when ESPNU called me and wanted to be here as part of their kick-off for Midnight Madness," the first-year coach said.
The other four schools on ESPNU's docket are regarded as some of the top teams in the country. Kansas is the reigning national champion. Davidson stars March Madness hero, Stephen Curry. And both Georgetown and Gonzaga are big programs with good teams this season.
On the Big Ten Network, IU will be one of five schools featured on "Big Ten Tonight: Basketball Season Tip-Off Special." The other four schools are early favorites to be tops in the conference: Wisconsin (Night of the Grateful Red), Michigan State (Midnight Madness), Minnesota (Tubby's Tip-Off) and Purdue (Mackey Madness).
And then there's Indiana: A college basketball powerhouse with a small number of expectations and even fewer returning players. Nevertheless, the ongoing saga that is the men's basketball team has drawn the interest of the national media's Midnight Madness coverage.
"We need a huge crowd," Crean said of Hoosier Hysteria last week. "It is going to be a major league recruiting night for us with people that are committed and people that we are going to want down the road."
In addition to preseason coverage, Crean said televised games can be a huge recruiting tool when it comes to rebuilding the Hoosiers.
"We want to put TV at the forefront of it, and we want to put recruiting at the forefront of it when it comes to major games. ... They have to have a recruiting element, and it has to be something TV is excited about."
On Friday night, the Hoosiers will have a slew of recruits in attendance and hope those who don't make the trip will catch it from their living rooms.
"I hope we can look back upon it and say that was one of the greatest things we ever did in our time, and I hope to coach here a very long time," Crean said.
Several, if not all, of IU's class of 2009 commitments will be at Hoosier Hysteria, in addition to a large group of prospective Hoosiers. Scout.com reported that as many as 20 recruits from the class of 2010 and beyond will be in Bloomington this weekend.
"We're out there selling this crowd, this atmosphere, this student body and this tradition every time we recruit, every time we speak," Crean said during IU's Media Day. "The recruits are paying attention to it. That is why Hoosier Hysteria is such a big deal."
In addition to hosting prospective Hoosiers, IU is also bringing back nearly two dozen former players. Among those expected to be in attendance are Archie Dees, Ted Kitchel, Todd Leary, Errek Suhr and Kyle Hornsby.
Unlike previous years when the likes of Patrick Ewing Jr., Sean Kline and A.J. Ratliff had Hall-rocking slams during the dunk contest, Crean said the event will be absent from Hoosier Hysteria this year.
Following the women's basketball scrimmage, Crean will show a video to the crowd before addressing the fans himself. Following his speech, the team will work through drills, participate in a shooting contest and end the night with a scrimmage. Prior to the scrimmage, the men's team will face off against the women's team in a hula hoop contest.
"If it was me, it would be about an hour-and-a-half of full practice," Crean said. "But I know that is not necessarily what is conducive to keeping everybody there that night"
