“He’s an idiot!” That’s what Syracuse basketball coach said yesterday when asked about Tom Crean’s draft night assessment of former Orangeman forward Tyler Lydon. Lydon was selected 24th in last week’s NBA Draft, and Crean questioned the wisdom of the pick during The Vertical’s draft night webcast, “The whole strength is supposed to be the shooting, […]
Tom Crean may or may not return to coach a 10th season at Indiana, but a job opened yesterday where he could land and succeed. Missouri and Kim Anderson are parting ways three years after he was given a five-year deal to take over for Frank Haith – just ahead of an internal investigation that accused […]
Is Indiana’s mediocrity this season because of injuries or incompetence? Is it an inability to recruit Indiana high school stars or an inability of current players to invest in the process? Is it Tom Crean as a coach, Tom Crean as a recruiter, or a series of unpleasant and unlucky circumstances? All good questions that can be […]
No one in sports is as clumsy and obvious in banging his own drum while defending others as Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari. Listening to Cal whine about how college basketball coaches paid millions to educate and lead students are victims in our society is either nauseating or funny depending upon your ability to laugh […]
So often, the answer from Indiana fans when asked about Tom Crean’s leadership of the Hoosiers basketball program is, “Poor game coach, quirky guy, but great recruiter.” His rep as a challenged game coach is overblown, but so is the usual valuation of his recruiting process. We all agree on the quirks. Normally, I am not […]
“Thanks for coming out at a weird time. I know you were in bars, malls, watching Indiana beat Michigan State, and spending time with your family, but my life doesn’t operate like that, so here we are on a Saturday at 5:45 in the afternoon Five years ago, I screwed up. I had become so […]
Colts owner Jim Irsay occasionally concerns fans and media with his odd and rambling media appearances. That was not the case tonight as he took only 20 minutes to explain his decision to fire general manager Ryan Grigson, retain Chuck Pagano, and state emphatically that Peyton Manning is not a candidate for the job. Irsay […]
The beautiful dream that Jon Gruden might swap his ESPN headphone with one worn by the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts died today. Gruden knows he is a better broadcaster than a coach, and so he’s decided to stay in the booth rather than continue to engage in negotiations that likely would have yielded a […]
Indiana was not good tonight in their 75-68 loss to Wisconsin at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The defense was lacking, and so Wisconsin made a bunch of shots, including 10 of 20 three-point attempts. Offensive execution was lacking, so the Hoosiers turned the ball over 13 times while Wisconsin gave the ball to the Hoosiers […]
That damnable moment comes for almost everyone. A meeting is called, a door is closed, and the news is imparted short and sweet, “Today is your last day.” It’s a very public event when an NFL head coach is told his services are no longer required, and it can also be quite lucrative. The cash doesn’t help cushion […]