by Kent Sterling
Assistant coach Kenny Johnson is off to Louisville, and it might be the best thing that could have happened for Tom Crean and the Hoosiers.
Kenny Johnson decided to chase cash 90 minutes south of Bloomington at the University of Louisville, and the pipeline to solid east coast recruits likely went with him.
So far, Indiana has a 17-15 record and no trip to the NCAA or NIT to show for Johnson’s influx of players from the east, so concern over his departure should be minimal.
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Nothing wrong with a guy selling his services to the highest bidder or chasing greater likelihood of bouncing into a head coaching gig from a team that regularly goes to the NCAA Tournament. And there is also nothing wrong with Tom Crean seeing this as an opportunity to upgrade the staff with someone who can recruit Indiana and bordering states at a more productive rate.
Indiana fans have grown tired of seeing the best in-state talent leave for Kentucky, Michigan State, Michigan, Xavier, Louisville, Ohio State, and beyond. Over the last decade, dozens of pieces to potential championship teams have left – Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Gery Harris, Zak Irvin, Trey Lyles, Trevon Bluiett, Josh McRoberts, Deshaun Thomas, Jeff Teague, and many more have taken their talents outside the borders.
If Indiana is an elite program, as is so often claimed, it needs to start grabbing the best players from Ohio and Michigan, rather than having top Indiana kids poached. Losing an assistant from a staff that authored mediocrity can provide a chance to keep the best and brightest closer to home. If Indiana can’t recruit Indiana, Indiana can’t win.
Johnson was a productive recruiter who was responsible for bringing in Noah Vonleh, Stanford Robinson, Troy Williams, and incoming freshman Robert Johnson. Vonleh is gone to the NBA, and the other three are mostly unknowns in terms of what they will bring to the Hoosiers in the 2014-2015 season.
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Nothing wrong with kids from the east, and Robinson, Williams, and Johnson might be all time greats at IU, but Crean must win the battle for in-state kids. The Hoosiers brand must be dominant close to home if Indiana is going to succeed long term.
If the result of Johnson leaving is hiring a new assistant who can dominate Indiana, today might have be remembered as very good for the Hoosiers.
Wow Kent and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is no big deal either. If it’s no big deal then why did Crean hire him in the first place. Crean had already missed on many in state recruits so NOW he’s gonna find someone to recruit Indiana? Tell me this Kent when did Duke last lose it’s best recruiter or for that matter an assistant coach to another school so they could be an assistant someplace else. To leave to be a head coach that’s a different story. The program is in shambles. Maybe there is another has been Ball State coach we could get as an assistant.
The solution to Indiana’s issues were not – and would not have been – answered by Kenny Johnson’s continued presence in Indiana.
So where do the answers come from then??? Crean? You think Crean didn’t try to keep Johnson and his pipeline of recruit? Don’t worry at least we got Shooter McClain who just solidified our inside needs….
Oh yea if Crean can’t lock down Indiana then what the hell is he doing, did we need a recruiter for freaking Indiana?? What a joke.
I trust two time National Champion Rick Pitino. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
There is nothing wrong with Kenny. He’s a good guy and a good coach. Good hire for Louisville. The Cardinals success doesn’t hinge on attracting local or in-state kids. Kentucky and Louisville’s success exists in spite of the dearth of talent in the Blue Grass State.
Trust me, Pitino would not have hired the guy if losing him was no big deal.
But that doesn’t mean Indiana can’t get a decent replacement.
My recommendation: Drew Adams! He’s already been responsible for a slew of Indiana recruits, and that was before he’d ever held a job of any sort in athletics: (From an ESPN expose — “After Drew Adams, the son of Mark Adams, was promoted to director of operations/video coordinator in April 2010, Crean signed or picked up commitments from eight players with ties to A-HOPE and/or the Indiana Elite program.”)
And the names of the players he supposedly provided Indiana? I believe Tijan Jobe, Bawa Muniru, Peter Jurkin, and Hanner Mosquera-Perea all came through that pipeline. That 0-4 (so far) disqualifies him from consideration.
I actually watched part of a high school game of IU’s latest recruit, the April kid. Based on that, the Hoosiers don’t need a recruiting coach. They just need a measuring tape. Because the only characteristic he has in common with a basketball player is height.
Pitino does not operate on the principle of not losing him is no big deal. You need to face reality I was fooled by Crean but he is just not cutting it.
Nobody will be fooled next year when Crean fails to get James Blackmon 15 plus shots a game……
Pitino recruiting to Louisville is fundamentally different than recruiting to Indiana. Pitino needs Kenny Johnson much more than Indiana does. It’s a good career move for Johnson, and opens an opportunity for Crean. This can be a win-win.
tom crean has to win NOW. Kenny Johnson was getting recruits NOW. who can crean hire that will get Indiana recruits NOW and keep him from getting his ass fired next march? I don’t know either. and neither does he. and the clock is ticking. Indiana basketball is all creaned up right now and the only fix is to get rid of the source of the creaning. next year of course. tom crean can get creaned as far as im concerned. we just signed a really tall chump. we lost one of the best recruiters weve ever had at Indiana. ever. crean wears religion on his sleeve and does that aau crap with adams and fails to punish pariah because it will make it harder to win. then the media releases a story about the iu team doing habitat for humanity. lets call that what it is folks: COURT ENFORCED COMMUNITY SERVICE. tom crean is washed up. he is an average coach. he has sacrificed his morals and the ethics of the university. he is behaving in a way, albeit mildly at this point, like the guy before him. and lets face the facts tom crean looks like he should be collecting tolls at a bridge.
By what measurement is Johnson one of the best recruiters Indiana has ever had? When a team misses the NIT, no one is sacred.
Indiana has two scholarships left for next year, and unless one is a grad transfer, they won’t have any scholarships to recruit with next year.
Who would you like Indiana to recruit without scholarships to give?
crean. tolls. bridges.
This can be a win- win? This program is in complete shambles as stated above. Crean has to win and win now. If he bombs again this year he has to be shown the door. This was a huge loss.
I absolutely hate Indiana and have for forty years. I am not sure what has happen to their program. Davis and Sampson were very poor choices following Bob. I really thought Crean was a good coach after all Kentucky considered him at one time. Calapari and Crean are supposely close friends and respect each other.
If Indiana allowed a coach like Knight would they consider Bruce Pearl after this year?
Anyway I think they need to turn their program around quickly. Zeller was a local boy and kept them alive but it is my opinion they need to be aggressive with whatever decision they make.
How do you suffer a huge loss from a 17-15/no tourney team?
Well you are a diehard Indiana fan so you just keep faith. One thing I noticed pre Zeller during those losing years the fans kept filling the arena cheering on their team. Indiana needs to improve their non conference schedule for example Kentucky played Baylor in Dallas this year and Kansas in Indianapolis both where the Final Four was and is being played. You need wins but against quality opponents. Unfortunately the team u will put on the floor next year will have serious problems in their conference. Just hope for the best and beat teams on your home floor when u r the favorite.
This program is a complete mess
doug, youre an idiot.
Having a blast in Kentucky as we prepare to play in another Final Four next year as your Hoosiers are trying to figure out who will be your coach and players. Most likely they are USING FAKE I.D.’s
yeah yeah. our coach sucks. our players are idiots. your coach is better. I say these things without sarcasm. they are true. and so is the fact that you are a fool. go crean yourself doug.
Do u think Wade made Crean? Because I was fooled by him as well thinking u guys were getting a good coach. Something went wrong somewhere!
Implying that because Kentucky considered Crean, he must be a good coach is a little odd. Billy Gillespie was hired by Kentucky, and everybody in college basketball knew he didn’t know much about the game.
Crean knows a hell of a lot more about basketball than many Indiana fans believe, but the proof is in the pudding – Indiana was 17-15 last season, and didn’t earn an invitation to the NIT.
iu has consistently signed 4 stars with a couple 5 stars and some three stars. they have signed 2 2stars since the rumor started of johnsons departure.
I am not convinced now that Crean is any better then Billy G. They both had great players that put them on the map. Calapari got his start with Marcus Camby and the likes of Rose, Wall, Cousins, Knight and the list goes on. The question I ask you like it or not if you were one of the BEST high school players in the country where would you go to school. During the summer months Lebron [ friends with Calapari ] brings friends along with the previous mentioned including Anthony Davis and workout. There is a picture of James Young sitting next to Rihanna at a basketball game. DRAKE is often seen in the Kentucky dressing room. I do not give a shit about him or his music BUT the kids think it is cool.
Unfortunately except for an occasional season Indiana basketball as you knew and loved it MAY be a thing of the past. You can not let the Trey Lyles, Kyle Macy, Darius Miller , and Mike Flynn’s to name a few leave Indiana and play at Kentucky.
Sadly, choosing a school for academics wouldn’t have floated my boat. Wish that I could say it would have. I would go to the school that felt the most comfortable – as though I had been there before. Access to Rihanna and Drake wouldn’t have been a big deal to me. I’m sure it is with the Kentucky kids.
LeBron works out at Akron all the time during the offseason. Not a lot of guys lining up to play for the Zips.
I get your point, but take serious issue with Billy Gillespie being the equal of almost any D1 coach. People I know in college basketball have told me he knew nothing about the game. Their examples of ignorance were stunning. Crean knows basketball.
No question Indiana has to keep Indiana kids home, but most have forgiven the great Mike Flynn and Kyle Macy – or have no idea who they were.
Your right about Billy G. , Rihanna and Drake. It kind of scares me when I agree with an Indiana fan very much! I am sure if you guys were as good as you were during the Knight era there would be a conflict. I have always said the most obnoxious fans were Kentucky then Indiana followed by Kansas. You agree with that assessment?
That Kansas fans are obnoxious, we can definitely agree. Arrogance without justification is always annoying.
Good news I saw where Kentucky is 5-1 to win next year but I was shocked when I saw Indiana was 100-1. More good news PURDUE was 200-1 I don’t know if you follow horse racing but that is my other love in life. The Cats at 5-1 and Indiana at 100-1 should both be higher I would not bet either. Before the twins announced they were returning we were 12-1. The boys in Las Vegas know what they are doing.
Virtually the entire top 100 were gone when Johnson left. The two things have nothing to do with one another.
just saw tim prillers highlight video.not an athlete. slow painful release.