Matt Painter has already learned the lesson Archie Miller may need to fully embrace. Fans definitely need to climb on board.
Indiana Basketball does not need to figure out how to compete with Duke and Kentucky – it needs to find a way to catch up with Purdue.
Oof!
For an Indiana guy, that was hard to write, but it’s true.
Purdue has gone to the NCAA Tournament five years in a row, 11 of the last 13 seasons, and over the last four seasons has been a 5, 4, 2, and 3 seed. The Boilermakers record in Big 10 play over the last five years is 69-23 – that’s a winning percentage of .750.
Do I really need to drudge through IU’s recent past – and not so recent past – to paint a picture of how this former blue blood is not even a gold and black blood anymore? Alright. In the spirit of being complete, here you go.
IU is 48-44 during that five-year stretch with two NCAA Tournament bids.
Purdue’s success came because Matt Painter figured out that culture is a big deal. He pivoted a bit toward additional athleticism and length in 2012, and the result was disastrous. When he returned to a recruiting filter that valued toughness, the Boilers bounced back.
Indiana has been struck in a purgatory of recruiting the most talented players – rather than finding “Indiana” players. When you walk into a summer tournament, you see kids who look like fits at Duke, Kentucky, Butler, Michigan State, Purdue, and many other programs that have adopted a specific culture.
I’ve been to dozens of these events, and I have never looked at a player and thought, “Now there is a Hoosier!” Indiana needs to get there, and fans need to embrace it.
Five-star players are not always the key to success. Michigan under John Beilein has enrolled exactly one five-star recruit in the last 10 classes – Glenn Robinson. All they have done is win. Well, except for an 8-10 Big 10 record in 2014-2015, but the Wolverines have played in two National Championship games over the last six tourneys.
Beilein’s average ranking for his last 10 recruiting classes is 36th.
Conversely, Indiana’s recruiting classes have an average ranking of #27, and Tom Crean and Archie Miller have combined to land seven five-star recruits.
Let’s go back to Purdue for a second. Painter has landed one recruit ranking in the top 60 of his class during the last 10 classes (five-star Caleb Swanigan). Several years Painter didn’t get a bite from anyone in the top 100.
The point of all this is for fans to take a deep breath about the commitments of five-star recruits like Keion Brooks. Twitter was filled with angst Friday night when Brooks announced he was headed to Kentucky instead of Indiana.
I’m not saying that avoiding five-star level guys is a strategy for success – just that acquiring them does not put Indiana – or anyone else – on a sure path for success.
When will Indiana fans learn the lesson that talent isn’t enough? And when will the culture Miller is trying to develop show itself on Branch McCracken Court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?
It’s about culture, dummies!
Painter figured that out six years ago, and the sad truth is that Indiana longs to be where the Boilermakers are today.
True!
Great article . Its time the Hoosier Nation realizes the culture is the one and only way to catch Purdue. We all hate to admit it but it is a proven fact.
The IU fan base need to come to terms and accept where this program is at . Sorry guys……it’s not the glory years of the General anymore . The old guard keeps holding on to that era panning for that. Not saying it can’t be an upper Big 10 ten, but the dominate force it once was? Not so sure. The relevancy of the program is not at the level it once was and will take a heck of a lot to get it back. Kids are leaving the state and playing else for reasons. The delusional fan base are so self righteous in thinking IUBB should get all of the top recruits is nauseating. Maybe at one time, but not anymore folks. Get off the ledge,take some meds,get some therapy and start living in reality.