The Q & A has wrapped up, and one Sarah Elliot has just won courtside seats to Hoosier Hysteria. Crean's going to stick around and glad-hand those in attendance, I'm going to write a story on this for tomorrow's paper. If you don't want to read this whole thing, a quick review is:
* The past two days have both been pleas to the students to buy season tickets. The same message was there both nights. In addition, tonight Crean showed a little bit of game film to give those in attendance an idea of what he hopes IU's offense will look like. There also was a good old fashioned IU montage, showing highlights and famous moments in Hoosier basketball history. The Q & A and some other observations are below, enjoy.
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Q: (Essentially, the student section question.)
Crean: He went on to say what he said last night, he hasn't had a chance to be educated on the issue, but did say, "The greatest focus for us is we've got to get every student possible in that building."
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Q: How's your relationship with Dwayne Wade?
Crean: Says he and Wade text one another more than anything, (I wonder if he's in Wade's fav' five.)
Went on to say their relationship is good and he's looking foward to Wade perhaps coming to an IU game.
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Q: What was your first reaction when IU first contacted you about the head coaching job?
Crean: 'Nervous' was the first word he said. Evidently the first call IU made was a late night one that woke up Mrs. Crean. Learn something new every day.
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Q: How do you think IU will do in the Maui Invite?
Crean: First mentioned how hot it's going to be. Then mentioned Notre Dame as a tough team. Also talked about Texas and St. Josephs as being tough, before eventually talking about the Tar Heels.
"Anytime you've got Carolina in there it's going to bring a lot of attention," Crean said. "They're the real deal."
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Q: How are you guys going to use Taber on the inside/what's the inside presence going to look like?
Crean: Prefaced that it's impossible to replace a pro like D.J. White, but said, "We have to have people do it by commitee."
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Q: Besides season tickets, how else can students get invovled?
Crean: Mentioned doing something on Halloween, but he prefaced it by saying not so late that will screw up, "anyones game," (IE early enough to still go out and party.)
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Crean gave some closing arguments as to why students should get tickets, it's time for the Q & A
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And the montage closes showing all five of the championship banners. I give it a solid B...(If it's not a Rocky montage it's not an A, sorry.)
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This montage is giving a lot of attention to highlights from last season. (The good parts that is.) Crean is particularly amused by the fans in the montage who are dressed up unusual. The Blues Brothers and the Easter Bunnies are two he's called out specifically.
The montage has also shown highlights from former Hoosier greats, as well as the defining moments from the 1976, 1981 and 1987 NCAA championships.
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The film session is over. Crean is now harping on everyone once again to go get student season tickets. Next on the agenda is a montage of passionate IU basketball fans. This reeks of a sales push to get more students to get student tickets.
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For those of you Hoosier die hards who have been starved for an offense with more motion, Crean looks as though he's gong to try to make that happen. The offense he's shown on tape so far has been a lot of drive and kick, pick and roll and back screens. I think Crean is having a lot more fun than anyone else in the Hoosier Den watching this film.
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Crean continues to show more film of the Marquette offense looking fluid. Crean has been stressing the importance of breaking the defense down in order to create the open pass.
Crean also admitted that the thing he fears most about having a young team is them not getting back on defense.
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Crean pretty much went straight to film. He's currently showing tape of a Marquette Vs. Duke game last year in Maui, giving a hint of what type of offense IU will run. Crean said unselfishness is the key to his offense.
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We've just learned that Crean will literally be breaking down game film. He took the chalk talk thing to heart.
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Alright, i'm finally set up here at the Hoosier Den at Foster. Tom Crean is expected to enter at any moment. A pretty good crowd, a far more laid back atmosphere than last night. For those of you that have never been to the Hoosier Den (This is my maiden voyage) It kind of reminds me of cosmic bowling...without the bowling. Take that for whatever it's worth. T-shirts and free tickets to Hoosier Hysteria are up for grabs. Stay tuned basketblogers and basketblogetts...more to come.
