IU was 19-10, and a 5 seed in the 2002 NCAA tournament. We weren't a dominant team that year, but, as everyone remembers, we went on a run in the tourney, upsetting Duke along the way. The Blue Devils had us on the ropes, but we made a huge comeback. That game was a signature win for IU fans. For years people mentioned the Moye block, and that team has a fond place in the memories of IU fans.
It was also the reason that Mike Davis was later given a new contract.
I don't think that anyone on this forum believes that the powers to be at IU have been good stewards of the basketball program over the last 20 or so years. While Hoosier fans gnash their teeth over our current losing streak, and debate whether Coach Miller is a terrible or great coach, it sure seems to me that the seeds for this program's dysfunction were planted long ago.
Life is filled with "What ifs" and IU fans have had their share. Scott May's arm, Henderson''s Knee, Ted Valentine's ego, etc, etc. But "what if" IU loses that Duke game? Who is our coach now? Consider the chain of events:
The Davis Era:
After the extension the program continued it's downward trajectory. It was clear from day 1 that MD was in over his head. But, for a university that truly wanted to "Murray Sperber" (de-emphasize) the biggest sports program in the State, they got what they wanted. When MD was asked on espn what he wanted to change about the IU basketball program his reply was "oh, everything". And this may have been more a reflection of what the IU admin wanted to do. In any event, Davis specifically mentioned recruiting, and doing the "things that we weren't willing to do" to get the best recruits. He even talked about recruiting in a way that would make Coach Cal proud. Get the best kids, give them a chance to "showcase" their skills, roll the ball out there, shout out "Orlando" and watch the wins pile up. The Davis era scarred that IU program. It lasted too long, and it led the IU admin to try desperate measures.....
The Let's Be Oklahoma Era:
Yep, the program that always liked to be known as doing things the right way, turns to the dark side. They go out and get a coach from a dirty program, who is under a cloud of scrutiny, give him a bucketful of cash, and try to win the wrong way. Oh, and they stand up at the presser and assure IU fans that what he did at Oklahoma "could never happen at IU". Right. Except some intern stumbles upon the truth. There was a lack of institutional control, IU self reports and Hoosier fans are knocked off their high horse.
The Crean era:
Ever played fantasy football? No reason to go into depth here, but suffice it to say that Crean seemed to be caught flat footed any time someone left the team (to the NBA, to graduation, etc.). Roster construction was terrible. Players were put into a position where their weaknesses were highlighted (see Troy dribbling into traffic). We never seemed to have classes of players that developed as a group over years. Bridges were burned with HS coaches. It was like we had a coach that was just "building" a team for one year, like I would "build" a fantasy football team. Try to stockpile as much talent as possible (including a bunch of diamonds in the rough, hoping some will pop). No reason to worry about how all those pieces fit together.
NOW:
Its the same old crap. Maybe 5 years from now things will be different. MAYBE Miller isn't worried about this year, he's letting it all burn to the ground so that he can build a program from it's ashes. This team has the talent to win this year, but it seems that as a group they are lost. Either way, right now IU isn't much of a basketball program. It hasn't been for 2 decades. Sure, we have some dusty banners, and I have tons of (fading) memories, but this program is a shell of itself. We have lost our identity.
And I can't help thinking that had we lost to Duke back in 2002 things would be a lot different.
It was also the reason that Mike Davis was later given a new contract.
I don't think that anyone on this forum believes that the powers to be at IU have been good stewards of the basketball program over the last 20 or so years. While Hoosier fans gnash their teeth over our current losing streak, and debate whether Coach Miller is a terrible or great coach, it sure seems to me that the seeds for this program's dysfunction were planted long ago.
Life is filled with "What ifs" and IU fans have had their share. Scott May's arm, Henderson''s Knee, Ted Valentine's ego, etc, etc. But "what if" IU loses that Duke game? Who is our coach now? Consider the chain of events:
The Davis Era:
After the extension the program continued it's downward trajectory. It was clear from day 1 that MD was in over his head. But, for a university that truly wanted to "Murray Sperber" (de-emphasize) the biggest sports program in the State, they got what they wanted. When MD was asked on espn what he wanted to change about the IU basketball program his reply was "oh, everything". And this may have been more a reflection of what the IU admin wanted to do. In any event, Davis specifically mentioned recruiting, and doing the "things that we weren't willing to do" to get the best recruits. He even talked about recruiting in a way that would make Coach Cal proud. Get the best kids, give them a chance to "showcase" their skills, roll the ball out there, shout out "Orlando" and watch the wins pile up. The Davis era scarred that IU program. It lasted too long, and it led the IU admin to try desperate measures.....
The Let's Be Oklahoma Era:
Yep, the program that always liked to be known as doing things the right way, turns to the dark side. They go out and get a coach from a dirty program, who is under a cloud of scrutiny, give him a bucketful of cash, and try to win the wrong way. Oh, and they stand up at the presser and assure IU fans that what he did at Oklahoma "could never happen at IU". Right. Except some intern stumbles upon the truth. There was a lack of institutional control, IU self reports and Hoosier fans are knocked off their high horse.
The Crean era:
Ever played fantasy football? No reason to go into depth here, but suffice it to say that Crean seemed to be caught flat footed any time someone left the team (to the NBA, to graduation, etc.). Roster construction was terrible. Players were put into a position where their weaknesses were highlighted (see Troy dribbling into traffic). We never seemed to have classes of players that developed as a group over years. Bridges were burned with HS coaches. It was like we had a coach that was just "building" a team for one year, like I would "build" a fantasy football team. Try to stockpile as much talent as possible (including a bunch of diamonds in the rough, hoping some will pop). No reason to worry about how all those pieces fit together.
NOW:
Its the same old crap. Maybe 5 years from now things will be different. MAYBE Miller isn't worried about this year, he's letting it all burn to the ground so that he can build a program from it's ashes. This team has the talent to win this year, but it seems that as a group they are lost. Either way, right now IU isn't much of a basketball program. It hasn't been for 2 decades. Sure, we have some dusty banners, and I have tons of (fading) memories, but this program is a shell of itself. We have lost our identity.
And I can't help thinking that had we lost to Duke back in 2002 things would be a lot different.
