1. During yesterday's game we played zone for about 10 minutes straight in the second half and that's when MSU pulled away. Were the players not noticing that? Was crean not noticing that? We're his assistants not noticing that? Because everyone else in the arena, including the announcers, and everyone watching on tv could see it. Dan Dakich (who I can't stand even said after the game that IU didn't start fighting till they went to man). This brings me to my next question.
2. Are crean's assistants "yes men?" I've only just started my career but the one thing my boss loves is for me to disagree with a course of action and then we hash it out together. Sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right, but in the end we at least see things from different view points. Back to IU- I can't imagine that McClain, Buckley and Martin haven't realized that we suck at zone d. Either they aren't saying anything to coach or he is just ignoring them and being stubborn. I have asked this question before but I really hope it's the latter because I can't imagine 2 assistants with head coaching experience can't see what my untrained eye can see.
3. This is an even tougher question for me to ask because I'm scared of the answer - does crean not realize we suck at zone? He's been a head coach since 1999. This is his sixteenth season. There's no way he hasn't realized we suck at zone. But I have learned to never assume, because then I make an ass out of u and me. But seriously, if he does know we suck at zone why does he keep going back to it? I understand trying in the middle of the season because you want your team to improve, but not yesterday. Your team is fighting for a spot in the tournament and if you know we suck at zone d, don't use it for such long stretches. Especially when you can see that it isn't working. If your team gets beat 1 on 1, then so be it. But the players don't even know what to do when we are in zone.
4. This ended yesterday if I remember correctly but why the heck have Stan and yogi been guarding the post this Season? I understand if it happens off a switch on a well drawn play by the opposition but other than that it should never happen. Did crean think it would be a good idea to put Stan on aj hammonds? Or to let yogi switch on to Frank Kaminsky? Bo Ryan even mocked crean after that game and told the reporter he would have to ask the other coach why yogi was guarding Kaminsky. That happened...
5. We were getting killed on the boards yesterday. Why didn't Perea and Holt play together? Perea is stronger and more athletic than anyone MSU had playing yesterday but he barely played. Holt is the ultimate hustler but he barely played. And what happened? We got out rebounded. My untrained eye knows that a defensive possession doesn't end until you secure a rebound. Why don't you have 2 of your best rebounders in the game when the other team has more offensive rebounds than you have defensive rebounds (that stat was true at one point in the second half)?
6. Can people lay off yogi? Yes, in the moment I also yelled at him for missing but it happens. He plays hard no matter what and you gotta love him.
7. Can we all agree that rob johnson and James Blackmon have hit the freshman wall really hard? I can't remember the last time rob hit a shot at a crucial moment in the game. They are both forcing too much. Honestly, I have no problem with either because they are freshman and I think they'll be great players here, but my problem is with the coach. You see them making mistakes and forcing it, so why not bring in the veterans? Zeisloft has just been on fire and Stan can at least play a little defense. Either way, when freshman start forcing it you need to pull them cause it's a coachable moment. And if you see them forcing it and want to keep them in the game, why not run a few plays for them to get an open look?
8. I don't think 9-9 is ok. Regardless of the preseason projections. I looked at this roster and our schedule and thought we could be an 11-7 team in the conference this year. I don't think Fred glass thinks 9-9 is ok either.
9. Why didn't April play earlier in the year? I understand there was a "work ethic" issue but you have to at least see what he can do on the court. We needed his body in some games but he got 0 playing time. I couldn't understand it. If he's not good enough, then why did you offer him a scholarship? Same goes for Priller. Our program is not in the condition it was in when crean first got here. We don't need warm bodies so don't offer scholarships to kids who you won't even give 2 minutes of playing time to in games against grand valley state.
10. I don't think lack of size is an excuse for this year's team. We have enough size but crean didn't play his big men. There were too many 4 guard lineups with Troy or Colin. You're doing your players a disservice by not playing either hanner or Holt at all times. And yes, April when Hanner was injured.
11. If you're going to use the size excuse, then iit's crean's fault. He should be able to recruit better at indiana.
12. I have gotten to the point where I can't stand coach anymore. This happened before yesterday. I can't stand his excuses, his coaching style, his attitude on the court, his post game, anything. I'm done. I mentioned it earlier, I think he is just stubborn.
Sorry for all spelling and grammatical mistakes, I'm on the ipad. If you want to bash go ahead. All I know is I love IU and no matter how badly I want crean gone, I was still screaming, jumping and cheering for the team yesterday and will do the same in the big ten tournament. Go IU.
2. Are crean's assistants "yes men?" I've only just started my career but the one thing my boss loves is for me to disagree with a course of action and then we hash it out together. Sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right, but in the end we at least see things from different view points. Back to IU- I can't imagine that McClain, Buckley and Martin haven't realized that we suck at zone d. Either they aren't saying anything to coach or he is just ignoring them and being stubborn. I have asked this question before but I really hope it's the latter because I can't imagine 2 assistants with head coaching experience can't see what my untrained eye can see.
3. This is an even tougher question for me to ask because I'm scared of the answer - does crean not realize we suck at zone? He's been a head coach since 1999. This is his sixteenth season. There's no way he hasn't realized we suck at zone. But I have learned to never assume, because then I make an ass out of u and me. But seriously, if he does know we suck at zone why does he keep going back to it? I understand trying in the middle of the season because you want your team to improve, but not yesterday. Your team is fighting for a spot in the tournament and if you know we suck at zone d, don't use it for such long stretches. Especially when you can see that it isn't working. If your team gets beat 1 on 1, then so be it. But the players don't even know what to do when we are in zone.
4. This ended yesterday if I remember correctly but why the heck have Stan and yogi been guarding the post this Season? I understand if it happens off a switch on a well drawn play by the opposition but other than that it should never happen. Did crean think it would be a good idea to put Stan on aj hammonds? Or to let yogi switch on to Frank Kaminsky? Bo Ryan even mocked crean after that game and told the reporter he would have to ask the other coach why yogi was guarding Kaminsky. That happened...
5. We were getting killed on the boards yesterday. Why didn't Perea and Holt play together? Perea is stronger and more athletic than anyone MSU had playing yesterday but he barely played. Holt is the ultimate hustler but he barely played. And what happened? We got out rebounded. My untrained eye knows that a defensive possession doesn't end until you secure a rebound. Why don't you have 2 of your best rebounders in the game when the other team has more offensive rebounds than you have defensive rebounds (that stat was true at one point in the second half)?
6. Can people lay off yogi? Yes, in the moment I also yelled at him for missing but it happens. He plays hard no matter what and you gotta love him.
7. Can we all agree that rob johnson and James Blackmon have hit the freshman wall really hard? I can't remember the last time rob hit a shot at a crucial moment in the game. They are both forcing too much. Honestly, I have no problem with either because they are freshman and I think they'll be great players here, but my problem is with the coach. You see them making mistakes and forcing it, so why not bring in the veterans? Zeisloft has just been on fire and Stan can at least play a little defense. Either way, when freshman start forcing it you need to pull them cause it's a coachable moment. And if you see them forcing it and want to keep them in the game, why not run a few plays for them to get an open look?
8. I don't think 9-9 is ok. Regardless of the preseason projections. I looked at this roster and our schedule and thought we could be an 11-7 team in the conference this year. I don't think Fred glass thinks 9-9 is ok either.
9. Why didn't April play earlier in the year? I understand there was a "work ethic" issue but you have to at least see what he can do on the court. We needed his body in some games but he got 0 playing time. I couldn't understand it. If he's not good enough, then why did you offer him a scholarship? Same goes for Priller. Our program is not in the condition it was in when crean first got here. We don't need warm bodies so don't offer scholarships to kids who you won't even give 2 minutes of playing time to in games against grand valley state.
10. I don't think lack of size is an excuse for this year's team. We have enough size but crean didn't play his big men. There were too many 4 guard lineups with Troy or Colin. You're doing your players a disservice by not playing either hanner or Holt at all times. And yes, April when Hanner was injured.
11. If you're going to use the size excuse, then iit's crean's fault. He should be able to recruit better at indiana.
12. I have gotten to the point where I can't stand coach anymore. This happened before yesterday. I can't stand his excuses, his coaching style, his attitude on the court, his post game, anything. I'm done. I mentioned it earlier, I think he is just stubborn.
Sorry for all spelling and grammatical mistakes, I'm on the ipad. If you want to bash go ahead. All I know is I love IU and no matter how badly I want crean gone, I was still screaming, jumping and cheering for the team yesterday and will do the same in the big ten tournament. Go IU.
