Two sources that I talked to Monday said the top-six targets were Texas Tech coach Chris Beard; Scott Drew of Baylor; former Michigan coach John Beilein; former Ohio State coach Thad Matta; Eric Musselman of Arkansas and Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens.
“The word is they’re going to move quickly,” one source said.
“They must have a guy who is their home run hire to do what they did today,” another college basketball source said.
I asked the two sources to outline what they perceived to be the strengths as well as the challenges of the IU job.
Strengths: tradition and engaged fan base; game-day atmosphere; solid recruiting base and the willingness to spend on the basketball program.
Challenges: Unrealistic expectations to repeat the on-court success of Knight, who won three national titles and at least a share of eight Big Ten championships during his first 16 seasons.
“They have to let that go,” the source said. “It’s a different landscape out there.”
The sources said that Indiana’s facilities — Assembly Hall for games; Cook Hall for practice — were certainly good enough to win but not the best in college basketball.
“Players today aren’t as wowed by Assembly Hall as Indiana fans believe that they are,” the source said.
“The word is they’re going to move quickly,” one source said.
“They must have a guy who is their home run hire to do what they did today,” another college basketball source said.
I asked the two sources to outline what they perceived to be the strengths as well as the challenges of the IU job.
Strengths: tradition and engaged fan base; game-day atmosphere; solid recruiting base and the willingness to spend on the basketball program.
Challenges: Unrealistic expectations to repeat the on-court success of Knight, who won three national titles and at least a share of eight Big Ten championships during his first 16 seasons.
“They have to let that go,” the source said. “It’s a different landscape out there.”
The sources said that Indiana’s facilities — Assembly Hall for games; Cook Hall for practice — were certainly good enough to win but not the best in college basketball.
“Players today aren’t as wowed by Assembly Hall as Indiana fans believe that they are,” the source said.
BOZICH | After firing Miller, are Indiana's basketball expectations unrealistic? No
They say Indiana needs to stop pointing toward the five fading NCAA men’s basketball championship banners on the wall at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
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