Re: who would they play against in practice to develop? Hartman?
Who does Kaminski practice against? Development, at the college level, is as much mental and physical as it is on-the-floor abilities. The latter can best be attained through the development of the physical and mental parts of the game.
One thing most people forget, or don't want to remember, is how was any of Wisconsin's starters as freshmen. Do you remember any of them having to be key in Wisconsin's fortunes? Kaminski didn't see the floor much even as a sophomore. Yet, there are fans here who question why we have bigs sitting on the IU bench, when they know Kaminski did for almost two years.Their kids are more physical and better prepared mentally because of experience and age. It's a little like being new to a job you're not fully prepared for. As a leader of people, in any sport or business calling for continued success, would you rather have an experienced staff as your most valuable players or one of mostly new hires?
Crean's best has been mostly new hires who have gone on to better jobs rather than mature with the one at IU. Their maturation is now happening at the NBA level. With those at UW, the maturation process has/is four years or more, while at IU, it's been less with the better players.
Some will point to all the kids who left IU early, those who didn't go to the NBA. Give us names of those who you think would have started for this team this year. Which of them are starting at a school rated higher than IU currently is?
The depths to which IU basketball sank was beyond a fan's wildest imagination. In fact, it became a new, fledgling business. All of our players were new to the business, the first of which were not top-rated candidates to begin with, and as the recruiting became better, the best soon went after much more attractive jobs than those at IU.
As good a coach as he is, Bop Ryan stepped into a veteran situation, one that had been to a Final Four a year or so earlier. He's kept it that way playing mostly junior and seniors, a few who have been red-shirted, while allowing the freshmen and sophs to develop in their own time.
Crean, to date, hasn't had that luxury.
