RE: Is Tom Crean on the hotseat?
Brad Stevens, IMO, is never coaching in college again. He is one of the very best NBA coaches today, and the Celtics are stacked for a very bright future with all of the Nets' first round draft picks coming up.
(Full disclosure, I really like Tom Crean because of my interactions with him and my experiences at Marquette): Yes, he has been at IU nearly a decade. It is difficult to fault him the first 2-3 years, however, since - when he arrived after Sampson (how he ever got another HC job is unbelievable) - he entered into an absolute mess (which is why I believe he originally received an 8-year deal). He had no scholarship players remaining, had several kids transfer out, kicked several kids off the team, and was able to clean up the program with guys like Oladipo, Zeller, Sheehy, Bryant, Vonleh and Ferrell to reinvigorate the fan base and get things moving in the right direction again. Now, obviously, the Hoosiers aren't winning this year - a year in which they were picked to compete for the B1G title. He has yet to have a team advance past the Sweet 16. At a place like Indiana, no matter what the situation you entered, you will always be on the hot seat if you aren't in the conversation for a deep tournament run. Calipari doing what he has done at Kentucky has only added fuel to the proverbial fire.
As a Marquette student when Crean was there (only my freshman year), I can say that Crean's speciality is energizing a fan base, developing athletic guards and recruiting very well. Where Crean struggles as a coach is his in game adjustments, rarely deviates from game plan - even if it isn't working, his inability to develop and utilize bigs, and have consistent success in March. Had Crean not gone on a Final Four run with Marquette, he likely would not have received consideration for the IU job in 2008, or been reached out to about the Kansas job in 2003 (after his Final Four run).
Personally, Crean belongs in a midwestern/northeastern big city with a strong basketball program (not elite) and one does not have the high demand of a place like Indiana. If a place like DePaul, St. Johns, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh were open, he would do very well in places like those. Maybe a place like Missouri would suit him well, but I know he loves the midwest and playing in the SEC goes against that. If Archie Miller left Dayton this offseason for a better job, Dayton would be a great place for him as well.
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