I, for one, am glad it didn’t. We’d likely be in a situation like PU. Certainly more consistent over the last 15 years, but based on his ineptitude at the jobs he’s had our ceiling would be much lower than it is today imo. And because everyone loved him as a player, it would be nearly impossible to get rid of him so long as he’s making the tournament and a few sweet 16’s.[/QUO
I, for one, am glad it didn’t. We’d likely be in a situation like PU. Certainly more consistent over the last 15 years, but based on his ineptitude at the jobs he’s had our ceiling would be much lower than it is today imo. And because everyone loved him as a player, it would be nearly impossible to get rid of him so long as he’s making the tournament and a few sweet 16’s.
I'm not glad about any of the happenings in basketball coaching selection over the last many years until Archie Miller. And I cannot agree that a Davis, Sampson, Crean era was better than an Alford era would have been. Although I understand the pros and cons of an Alford hire.
While Knight was a HOF coach and ruled the roost here...his lack of ability or willingness to become more politically correct reflected negatively on this institution. It was past time to let him go...sad but true. The venom of those at the other Loopy site and RMK screaming disgruntled fans were disheartening. The black helicopters circled Bloomington like vultures.
The Davis appointment as interium HC was another prime example of the major stupidity of the administration. Davis was a good guy. Really was not the right pick.
I remember him sitting on a stool up on the playing floor...scowling. After the Duke game at Rupp, if my memory is correct, Davis said something like: I don't have any idea how we won.
The lack of any backbone to get into place proper search and selection process is mismanagement and unbelievable. The Sampson hire was worse...and combined the lack of oversight were like being lost in Dante's Inferno.
Dakitch did what he had to do post Sampson. But his Knight-like over control attitude never seemed to make him positioned to become HC at IU. Those days had passed.
Crean was like going to the zoo and only seeing a mouse. Those that knew of him knew he couldn't tell the difference between an X and an O. I rationalized, right or wrong, that IU needed to stabilize the merry-go-round of HC. Cut Crean loose after a while. But Yogi and Cody et al kept Crean in striped but loose-fitting pants.
The Alford hire would have been loaded with baggage. And he doesn't seem to be able to handle the off-court issues very well...but who does?
I like the Miller hire. Sitting here in Dayton...I have seen Miller take the players...make them into a team that improves as the season unfolds...and become more than just the sum of the parts. His coaching decisions seem to make sense.