Yes, I agree about the intensity. Sometimes people might need a more forgiving environment to mature. Thinking back to some of the early Crean classes, I think many wilted after being thrust into starting roles too early.
He was Big Ten freshman of the year, 3rd team all Big Ten, led the conference in rebounding, 3rd in conference in FG%, and was 8th in blocked shots.
Pretty unbelievable you still believe this. He was one of the best players in IU history.
You said he “never even got close to hitting his stride, even in college”.
I have always thought that if IU had good shooters that year Vonleh would have done even better. He was getting double and triple teamed halfway through the season
What evidence do you have that he was a cancer? Other than the fact that the team didn’t live up to your expectations? Anything?
I don't think the Pacers would need him. I was never overly impressed with him. He could rebound and had some nice moves around the basket. He was a good freshman, but so was Tom Pritchard.
Most overrated player in an IU uniform, bar none.
C’mon, comparing Pritchard to Vonleh? While Pritchard turned heads in the non conference, He seriously faded in his first year to be overshadowed by VJIII.
Crean recruited a number of numb-nuts who lacked maturity or common sense. As an underclassman Yogi was in a lousy position to try to be a leader in this circus. He was basically set up to fail regarding all of the off the court issues. And of course he shot himself in foot with the fake ID.
Interesting logic. There sure we're a lot of transfers in the 70s and 80s, too. Should we hold that against Buckner, Woodson, Alford, and Cheaney for not being strong enough leaders to prevent mass exodus? Shoot, Benson all but packed Larry Bird's bags for him with how he treated the freshman when he was on campus. Bennie was considered a great player and leader, too.
What am I making up? Transfers, and a lot of them in a single given year, happened all throughout the past few decades. We were all told earlier in the thread that it's a sign of a lack of leadership among the players. Is it only a player like Yogi's problem when it's Crean as the coach? Does it really matter if two scholarship players and two walkons in one year transferred under "Yogi's watch", instead of three scholarship players in another year from the past? Are you trying to split hairs that much? Heck, from 77-78 in a two-year period, IU had Bird, Bender, Valavicius, Haymore, and Holcomb leave, all starting-caliber players either right away or eventually at their next stops. The late 80s/early 90s, after the last title, saw Tony Freeman, David Minor, Ricky Calloway, Lawrence Funderburke, and Chris Lawson all leave. 93-97 saw Malcolm Sims, Rob Foster, Steve Hart, Michael Hermon, Lou Moore, Sherron Wilkerson, and Neil Reed transfer. To be followed quickly the next two years by Luke Recker and Jason Collier. Now , again, how am I making this up?
Only thing Yogi did wrong was try to get into a Bloomington bar with a fake ID. That was just plain dumb. He is Yogi Ferrell. Everybody knows him.
And, as to the leadership question, he all but put the team on his frigging back and led them to a Big 10 title as a senior.
