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 […]
There may come a time when Frank Vogel, Mike Brey, Matt Painter, Chris Holtmann, and Tom Crean qualify to be listed among the all-time greats in a state that is well known for its love and mastery of basketball. But that day is not today. This list – like all lists – is imperfect. Qualifying […]
The Hoosiers and Boilermakers aren’t exactly the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, but it has been a great rivalry on and off for more than a century. Bob Knight throwing the chair, John Wooden playing for Piggy Lambert, the donkey on Knight’s TV show, Brad Miller and Steve Scheffler throwing forearm shivers to the throats […]
College basketball is a great game. The season is short so the results of every game are meaningful. Players aren’t as adored and entitled (in most programs) as they are in pro sports. Collaboration is rewarded. The environments at arenas and gyms are electric. What’s not to love? Well, there are plenty of changes I […]
by Kent Sterling College coaches are paid to win. That’s where their priorities begin and end. Just win, baby! Yes, coaches are also held accountable for metrics like graduation rates, NCAA compliance, and Academic Progress Rate, but the primary responsibility is to recruit, train, and motivate athletes to win. Minus winning, jobs are lost, and […]
by Kent Sterling Indiana vs. Purdue used to be something else. Streets in Indiana emptied. Kids were allowed to stay up past bedtime. Gene Keady and Bob Knight matched wits and wills. Knight brought a donkey onto the set of his TV as a replacement for the Purdue AD, and Keady profanely threatened campers who […]
by Kent Sterling When the Colts lost a game where – again – virtually everyone but safety Mike Adams failed to show up on the defensive side of the football, I decided it would be a lot more fun to write about the Indiana Hoosiers welcoming Mike Davis back to Assembly Hall than to regurgitate […]
by Kent Sterling Everyone loves lists, especially me, and to tell you the truth are often the more overrated or underrated elements on their teams. Despite not having a major league team until 1976 when the Indiana Pacers migrated from the ABA to the NBA, Indiana has had their fair share of great coaches. Click […]
by Kent Sterling Not quite sure which I enjoy writing about more – bad hires made by the arrogant or great hires made by those passionate about making a positive difference. Yesterday was a day with two of the latter as the Indianapolis Star announced that Gregg Doyel will fill the big shoes left behind […]
by Kent Sterling I love the beginning of NCAA tournaments because hope lies everywhere. Each of the 64 teams that begin play tomorrow in the real first round of the Big Dance have hope that they will emerge from the rubble with a win to gain entry into the 32-team event that starts this weekend. […]