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Doug Gottleib says the elephant in the room...

Steve would be a home run hire!! Hate to say it but with a great coach IU would be a sleeping giant.

1. Has one of the best High School bball recruits that consistently come out of IU
2. If the new coach can keep 30% of those guys it's a win win
3. Tradition and fan base
4. Play in a great conference
5. Go back to IU old school days of players and style of play

I hope you guy's land a great coach. I'm surprised most of you have lasted this long with Crean. You have to be beyond fed up!!
 
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....at Indiana is Steve Alford. Pleaseeeeeee let this have legs.

I've long been hot and cold on the prospect of Alford at IU. Every so often, I look at his teams and I think "That team looks pretty well-coached....maybe we should want Steve coaching here."

Then I'll see another Alford coached team and think "Whew, dodged a bullet there."

The reason so many people have been hot or cold with him is that, well, his teams have been hot or cold. And, until this year anyway, the "hot" was never really all that hot. He did well enough at SW Missouri to get promoted to the B10. His results in the B10 were mediocre (and, in some ways, disastrous...given his awful handling of the Pierre Pierce situation). He once again did well enough at UNM to get a bite from UCLA.....where he's never really been received well by boosters, fans, and the Bill Waltons of the world.

And, now, here we are again. His team this year is really good -- but how much of that is his coaching and how much is the fact that he landed some primo recruits in Ball and Leaf? And, moreover, how much of his being able to land recruits like those two (and Looney, etal) is him...and how much is UCLA?

I'll say this much: I wouldn't completely discount the prospect of him coming to IU. He's been (moderately, anyway) successful at UCLA and, despite this, a lot of people in Westwood would like to see him gone.
 
What? No! PLEASE no! I'd honestly prefer to have Dane Fife over Alford. Heck, I'd have even considered Barney Fife (RIP) over Alford.
Bleh. I'd take Alford over Fife any day. But I also think there are about 5 better candidates than Alford.
 
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Bleh. I'd take Alford over Fife any day. But I also think there are about 5 better candidates than Alford.

That wasn't meant to be a ringing endorsement for Fife. I don't want Barney! Or Dane. I just know I would have both ahead of Alford. Not top 5. No. Way.
 
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Brad Stevens
Billy Donovan
Sean Miller
Chris Holtmann
Marshall
Bennett
Alford
Archie Miller
Few
Wittman
 
I would be fine with Alford. He is starting g to recruit at an elite level...5 5 stars in the last two classes
 
Steve would be a home run hire!! Hate to say it but with a great coach IU would be a sleeping giant.

1. Has one of the best High School bball recruits that consistently come out of IU
2. If the new coach can keep 30% of those guys it's a win win
3. Tradition and fan base
4. Play in a great conference
5. Go back to IU old school days of players and style of play

I hope you guy's land a great coach. I'm surprised most of you have lasted this long with Crean. You have to be beyond fed up!!

Yes, we are ready for a change. As long as that change isn't Steve Alford. He's Crean 2.0. He's had plenty of time to play himself into position for the IU gig. And he hasn't done it.

I'd be massively disappointed if he ended up being our coach.

He's no Pat Riley ;)
 
Alford is meant to be. Gotleib is probably just rattling the cage, sounds to good be to good to be true.
 
Alford has a ton of talent right now. If he gets his team to the Fijnal 4 then maybe we consider it, but until then he hasn't done anything.
 
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You Smalls's are Killin me!!

Crean is to Alford as...

Quarry is to Ali
Sam's Cola is to Coca Cola
Bo Schembechler is to Bo Derek
Dilfer is to Montana
Ernie is to Anthony
Eddie is to Larry
Hail Ceasar is to O'Brother
The Bee Gee's is to The Beatles
Melissa is to Jenny
Sharknado is to Jaws
Zippy Chippy is to Zenyatta
Dorf is to Nicklaus
Piccolo is to Sayers
Joe B. is to Knight
Qadry is to Raghib
Bunker is to Griffin

etc...etc
:)
 
You Smalls's are Killin me!!

Crean is to Alford as...

Quarry is to Ali
Sam's Cola is to Coca Cola
Bo Schembechler is to Bo Derek
Dilfer is to Montana
Ernie is to Anthony
Eddie is to Larry
Hail Ceasar is to O'Brother
The Bee Gee's is to The Beatles
Melissa is to Jenny
Sharknado is to Jaws
Zippy Chippy is to Zenyatta
Dorf is to Nicklaus
Piccolo is to Sayers
Joe B. is to Knight
Qadry is to Raghib
Bunker is to Griffin

etc...etc
:)

Pater, can you give some of Alford's defensive efficiency #'s over the years? I'm curious to see if Alford has issues in those categories or if the comparison falls flat. I can't seem to find a compiled list for individual coaches.

https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/defensive-efficiency

It seems like this current season he has his team sitting around 100 in this category. It may have been yourself that posted the correlation between this stat and past championship teams. Something along the lines of 1 or 2 teams have been worse than 20th since 2000 to win the title. I notice Marshall is once again at the top of the list, something I think coaches and fans in the state could respect.
 
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Pater, can you give some of Alford's defensive efficiency #'s over the years? I'm curious to see if Alford has issues in those categories or if the comparison falls flat. I can't seem to find a compiled list for individual coaches.

https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/defensive-efficiency

It seems like this current season he has his team sitting around 100 in this category. It may have been yourself that posted the correlation between this stat and past championship teams. Something along the lines of 1 or 2 teams have been worse than 20th since 2000 to win the title. I notice Marshall is once again at the top of the list, something I think coaches and fans in the state could respect.

Yep, It was I who stood up for defense back during the "Offense actually wins titles" debate. I still believe in defense... I do. However, there is a noticeable shift towards offense the past 2-3 seasons and we will need to see how much of an impact, if any, it has on tournament play. One thing is for sure, NCAA basketball is much different now than it was in say 2012. The 2012 MSU team finished #16 in offensive efficiency at 112.1. That same 112.1 would have them tied with Ohio State for 50th this year.

As for Alford, I somewhat agree that his defensive numbers are shaky (I'll list them below). That said, since I've followed him pretty closely ever since the 05-06 Iowa team, I get what goes on when Alford comes to a program. He doesn't try to force fit every team into a particular style. His teams will play the way that he believes best fits the personnel.

Toward the end of the Iowa run, Alford had the #1 defensive team in america. The last 2 years a UNM his teams were #15 and #16 defensively. I think UCLA will see it's defense improve dramatically in the next year or two as Alford continues to bring in his players.

It takes time to see what a coach is going to be. At the end of the UNM run, I think we were starting to see what UNM was going to be. Alford was still just a beginner when the Pierce scandal happened which put him on rocky ground at best through the rest of his Iowa years, and still he led Iowa to only their 3rd Top 3 seeding while operating somewhat as a lame duck coach.

We are ending year 4 at UCLA and he has them about where I expected. He's starting to click recruiting and soon the 2017 team will be one of his second rate teams. One problem I have with Alford at UCLA is that the fans there demand a show as much as a win. I think Alford is forced to play the 1-and-done game to stay employed for one, but also he respects their culture. UCLA wants to win a certain way, just like IU wants to win a certain way. Alford is trying to give them what they want and it'll probably lead to his ultimate demise.

He's looking great right now, but your days are always numbered at UCLA and the ice that Alford skates at UCLA will always be perilously thin... more so than any of those that have preceded him. As a UCLA outsider, it's just too fun to watch play out for him to leave now.

Alford's defensive Kenpom #'s
  • yr3 Iowa #49
  • yr4 Iowa #89
  • yr5 Iowa #60
  • yr6 Iowa #35
  • yr7 Iowa #1
  • yr8 Iowa #84

  • yr1 UNM #30 (The yr before Alford UNM was 246th)
  • yr2 UNM #56
  • yr3 UNM #82
  • yr4 UNM #59
  • yr5 UNM #15
  • yr6 UNM #16

  • yr1 UCLA #37 (The yr before Alford UCLA was 68th, and 42nd Offensively)
  • yr2 UCLA #65
  • yr3 UCLA #119
  • yr4 UCLA #89 (so far)
 
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Alford has a ton of talent right now. If he gets his team to the Fijnal 4 then maybe we consider it, but until then he hasn't done anything.

Which brings up the other question: Assuming that we don't have a new hire locked down, which seems like a fair assumption, is it better for us in getting our guy if he does well in the NCAAS or Tanks? As an example if Alford is our likely option what happens if he does go to the final Four? Wouldn't that make it tougher to get Him?
 
You Smalls's are Killin me!!

Crean is to Alford as...

Quarry is to Ali
Sam's Cola is to Coca Cola
Bo Schembechler is to Bo Derek
Dilfer is to Montana
Ernie is to Anthony
Eddie is to Larry
Hail Ceasar is to O'Brother
The Bee Gee's is to The Beatles
Melissa is to Jenny
Sharknado is to Jaws
Zippy Chippy is to Zenyatta
Dorf is to Nicklaus
Piccolo is to Sayers
Joe B. is to Knight
Qadry is to Raghib
Bunker is to Griffin

etc...etc
:)
His resume is pretty mediocre. His playing days are irrelevant if he can't do anything as a coach in the tournament. You're just on a nostalgia trip.
 
His resume is pretty mediocre. His playing days are irrelevant if he can't do anything as a coach in the tournament. You're just on a nostalgia trip.

His resume is mediocre, but he's also started over quite a bit. The S16 at SMS wasn't mediocre. His UNM years were about as good as it gets in ABQ. Iowa sucked and was poisoned by the Pierce fiasco, yet they still won 2 BTT's and had the one Top 3 seeding.

I'm not that big on nostalgia. If I thought Alford was the same as Crean, I would join in the hissing and mocking. I just think that I'm right and you are wrong. If I end up being proven wrong in the end, it will be my ego that got in the way not nostalgia. There is plenty of historic precedence for believing that my ego is leading me down the wrong path, but as for the moment Alford's team is the 6-1 favorite to win it all at the William Hill sportsbook... Crean's team is not.
 
Alford has a ton of talent right now. If he gets his team to the Fijnal 4 then maybe we consider it, but until then he hasn't done anything.
If Alford gets to the Final Four, what makes you think Alford will consider us when we finally get around to considering him? UCLA won't let him go so easily.
 
Brad Stevens
Billy Donovan
Sean Miller
Chris Holtmann
Marshall
Bennett
Alford
Archie Miller
Few
Wittman

Holtmann? Why are people so high on someone with such a small resume? He has yet to even win one conference title anywhere he has been or make it out of the first weekend of the tournament. To that, he has lost at least 11 games every year prior to this year. We don't have to gamble on coaches, save that for the Purdues of the world.
 
Alford
--------
21 Seasons
Conference Titles: 4 (Mountain West Conference)
Conference Tourney Titles: 5 (2 Big Ten, 2 Mountain West Conference, 1 PAC)
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final 4: 0

Crean
--------
18 Seasons
Conference Titles: 3 (1 Conference USA, 2 Big 10)
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 1

And that includes the "3 year rebuild" at IU.

How is Alford a upgrade again? Ah, that's right. Magic pixies are going to fly out the basketball goals in Indiana and grant Alford coaching powers once his blessed toe touches the ground.

Let's not even include the PP thing, just that alone should eliminate Alford.
 
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Alford
--------
21 Seasons
Conference Titles: 4 (Mountain West Conference)
Conference Tourney Titles: 4 (2 Big Ten, 2 Mountain West Conference)
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final 4: 0

Crean
--------
18 Seasons
Conference Titles: 3 (1 Conference USA, 2 Big 10)
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final Four:0

And that includes the "3 year rebuild" at IU.

How is Alford a upgrade again? Ah, that's right. Magic pixies are going to fly out the the basketball goals in Indiana and bless Alford once his blessed toe touches the ground.

Let's not even include the PP thing, just that alone should eliminate Alford.

Agreed. Alford is an Indiana guy who has experience. Beyond that, he has nothing that shouts "great coach". I would almost prefer Cuonzo Martin ahead of Alford. I'd rather take neither.
 
Yep, It was I who stood up for defense back during the "Offense actually wins titles" debate. I still believe in defense... I do. However, there is a noticeable shift towards offense the past 2-3 seasons and we will need to see how much of an impact, if any, it has on tournament play. One thing is for sure, NCAA basketball is much different now than it was in say 2012. The 2012 MSU team finished #16 in offensive efficiency at 112.1. That same 112.1 would have them tied with Ohio State for 50th this year.

As for Alford, I somewhat agree that his defensive numbers are shaky (I'll list them below). That said, since I've followed him pretty closely ever since the 05-06 Iowa team, I get what goes on when Alford comes to a program. He doesn't try to force fit every team into a particular style. His teams will play the way that he believes best fits the personnel.

Toward the end of the Iowa run, Alford had the #1 defensive team in america. The last 2 years a UNM his teams were #15 and #16 defensively. I think UCLA will see it's defense improve dramatically in the next year or two as Alford continues to bring in his players.

It takes time to see what a coach is going to be. At the end of the UNM run, I think we were starting to see what UNM was going to be. Alford was still just a beginner when the Pierce scandal happened which put him on rocky ground at best through the rest of his Iowa years, and still he led Iowa to only their 3rd Top 3 seeding while operating somewhat as a lame duck coach.

We are ending year 4 at UCLA and he has them about where I expected. He's starting to click recruiting and soon the 2017 team will be one of his second rate teams. One problem I have with Alford at UCLA is that the fans there demand a show as much as a win. I think Alford is forced to play the 1-and-done game to stay employed for one, but also he respects their culture. UCLA wants to win a certain way, just like IU wants to win a certain way. Alford is trying to give them what they want and it'll probably lead to his ultimate demise.

He's looking great right now, but your days are always numbered at UCLA and the ice that Alford skates at UCLA will always be perilously thin... more so than any of those that have preceded him. As a UCLA outsider, it's just too fun to watch play out for him to leave now.

Alford's defensive Kenpom #'s
  • yr3 Iowa #49
  • yr4 Iowa #89
  • yr5 Iowa #60
  • yr6 Iowa #35
  • yr7 Iowa #1
  • yr8 Iowa #84

  • yr1 UNM #30 (The yr before Alford UNM was 246th)
  • yr2 UNM #56
  • yr3 UNM #82
  • yr4 UNM #59
  • yr5 UNM #15
  • yr6 UNM #16

  • yr1 UCLA #37 (The yr before Alford UCLA was 68th, and 42nd Offensively)
  • yr2 UCLA #65
  • yr3 UCLA #119
  • yr4 UCLA #89 (so far)

And aren't those numbers VERY similar to Crean's?
 
Alford
--------
21 Seasons
Conference Titles: 4 (Mountain West Conference)
Conference Tourney Titles: 4 (2 Big Ten, 2 Mountain West Conference)
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final 4: 0

Crean
--------
18 Seasons
Conference Titles: 3 (1 Conference USA, 2 Big 10)
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 9
Sweet 16: 3
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 1

And that includes the "3 year rebuild" at IU.

How is Alford a upgrade again? Ah, that's right. Magic pixies are going to fly out the basketball goals in Indiana and bless Alford once his blessed toe touches the ground.

Let's not even include the PP thing, just that alone should eliminate Alford.

First of all, you gypped him out of a Conference Tourney Title at UCLA. Secondly, he spent 10 of those seasons at a Mid-Major and a High Mid-Major. The expectations and possibilities are different at SMS and UNM than they are at 2 schools who have 6 prior NCAA Championships under their belt.
 
His resume is mediocre, but he's also started over quite a bit. The S16 at SMS wasn't mediocre. His UNM years were about as good as it gets in ABQ. Iowa sucked and was poisoned by the Pierce fiasco, yet they still won 2 BTT's and had the one Top 3 seeding.

I'm not that big on nostalgia. If I thought Alford was the same as Crean, I would join in the hissing and mocking. I just think that I'm right and you are wrong. If I end up being proven wrong in the end, it will be my ego that got in the way not nostalgia. There is plenty of historic precedence for believing that my ego is leading me down the wrong path, but as for the moment Alford's team is the 6-1 favorite to win it all at the William Hill sportsbook... Crean's team is not.
By the #'s you posted why do you think his defense has been so bad at UCLA? It seems with having more talent his teams should play better D
 
First of all, you gypped him out of a Conference Tourney Title at UCLA. Secondly, he spent 10 of those seasons at a Mid-Major and a High Mid-Major. The expectations and possibilities are different at SMS and UNM than they are at 2 schools who have 6 prior NCAA Championships under their belt.
Has Alford been involved in a total gutter up rebuild? Yet he still has nothing on TC. If i am FG i keep TC and extend him before we even considering SA. It is a side step at best with a feel good story. Nothing that leads anyone to believe it is a home run hire.
 
First of all, you gypped him out of a Conference Tourney Title at UCLA. Secondly, he spent 10 of those seasons at a Mid-Major and a High Mid-Major. The expectations and possibilities are different at SMS and UNM than they are at 2 schools who have 6 prior NCAA Championships under their belt.

Ok, let's compare A Miller at Dayton to Alford at SMS and UNM.

* Dayton made the NCAA 4 times in the previous 17 years before Miller arrived

A Miller (Dayton)
---------------------
6 Seasons
Conference Titles: 2 (2 Atlantic 10)
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 4 (in a row)
Sweet 16: 0
Elite 8: 1
Final Four: 0

Alford (SMS)
---------------------
4 Seasons
Conference Titles: 0
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 1
Sweet 16: 1
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 0

Alford (UNM)
---------------------
6 Seasons
Conference Titles: 4
Conference Tourney Titles: 2
NCAA Appearances: 3
Sweet 16: 0
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 0

How is Miller not much better than Alford?

Throw Mack up there.....hell throw Holtmann up there.

And again.....this doesn't include the PP thing. That alone, Alford should NOT be considered.
 
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Ok, let's compare A Miller at Dayton to Alford at SMS and UNM.

* Dayton made the NCAA 4 times in the previous 17 years before Miller arrived

A Miller (Dayton)
---------------------
6 Seasons
Conference Titles: 2 (2 Atlantic 10)
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 4
Sweet 16: 0
Elite 8: 1
Final Four: 0

Alford (SMS)
---------------------
4 Seasons
Conference Titles: 0
Conference Tourney Titles: 0
NCAA Appearances: 1
Sweet 16: 1
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 0

Alford (UNM)
---------------------
6 Seasons
Conference Titles: 4
Conference Tourney Titles: 2
NCAA Appearances: 3
Sweet 16: 0
Elite 8: 0
Final Four: 0

How is Miller not much better than Alford?

Throw Mack up there.....hell throw Holtmann up there.

And again.....this doesn't include the PP thing. That alone, Alford should NOT be considered.
You need to add 1 S16 to Archie. If he made it to the elite 8 he had to have gone to the sweet 16
 
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