Disqus - Latest Comments for Raymond219

Re: Barnstorming Tour dates announced

Raymond219 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:02:55 -0000

Why can't we get a game in northern indiana?? There are a ton of IU grads in northwest indiana and especially Chicago that would be more than willing to make an hour long trip to see the Crean & Crimson.

Re: PostmanR talks about D.J. White

Raymond219 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:55:05 -0000

DJ was the one constant for Indiana Basketball throughout my, and all the others who graduated this year, four years in Bloomington and I think because of that alone he already has a special place in history for a lot of us. We saw coaches and players come, transfer, leave early, get fired, get hired, cause disgrace and through all of it DJ was the epitome of class.

He was the heart and soul of a team throughout arguably the darkest chapter in the program's history and gave us something positive to watch and enjoy. We saw him develop in leaps and bounds every year because of his hard work. This kid wasn't one of the ultimate top recruits when he came to IU but he graduated as one of the best, and toughest, players in the country throughout all the garbage he was forced to endure.

If that isn't a true Indiana basketball story and a true Indiana Basketball player...I don't know what is.

Re: Williams sticks with Crean, signs with Indiana

Raymond219 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:48:58 -0000

I must say, i doubt that very many of us thought three weeks ago that we would be in the position we are in today. I am not saying we're going to win the big ten, or 20 games, but I don't think we thought we would be pulling in recruits and filling out our roster with solid recruits...and not just filling out our roster.

Hopefully now we can fix another hole in our program...our schedule. Does anyone else miss playing real team in the non conference season? I hope we can start playin teams like Notre Dame every year again or bring back the hoosier classic or play in the Wooden. Just a thought.

Re: Don Fischer interviews Tom Crean

Raymond219 — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:07:36 -0000

Maybe it deserves its own post, I don't know, but I thought it was important to at least comment on the poll question of whether or not we would want Dakich on the new coaching staff. I, for one, can't say enough about how much I appreciate what that man did stepping into probably the worst situation imaginable, and given that, he was servicable and handled it quite well. I would love to see DD stay with us in some capacity but, I don't want to see him on the coaching staff.
I think we need a clean break from the last two years. Thats why I draw positives from EJ's departure, and I think to have DD on the bench next year would just be one more reason for morons like Billy Packer to talk about our mess. I think the team needs a fresh start and needs to shake the ghosts of KS.

Re: Tom Crean is stuck in Bloomington forever

Raymond219 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:42:29 -0000

Thank you. I'm a senior and it is awful when you're trying to scream and raise the intensity and the majority of people sitting around the court are sitting quietly.

Re: Tom Crean is stuck in Bloomington forever

Raymond219 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:29:36 -0000

I don't believe the coach has the power to change the name of the court, haha. the entire building should be named after him. I think Crean will do a great job of healing our entire fan base. The division of the fan base and the trauma of KS can all be put behind us.
In a way, the departure of Gordon will help the healing. Not that it will help on the court, but it is one less remnant of KS. The removal of Ellis and Bassett set a tone for how this team will be handed and goes hand in hand with Crean's "no one is bigger than the program" philosophy. This will hopefully be a start to a new disciplined team and program on and off the court and a return to recruiting Indiana first. Thank God.

Re: The Morning After: Tom Crean

Raymond219 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:52:33 -0000

This is a great hire. Big Ten experience and already has been coaching and recruiting in the midwest. We need to throw every ounce of support behind this guy, whether you like the hire or not, we're going to be in a rough situation next year and we need to all move on and end the division of the last decade.

Re: Tom Crean the choice for Indiana

Raymond219 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:56:48 -0000

Agreed. I don't think its a life or death thing and I didn't mean for my post to sound so negative. My point was more about how they go to the bars and the attitude most of them exude. These kids are treated like gods during the recruiting process and are told every girl will want to S@$% them, etc, etc and then its hard to transition from that to actually disciplining them. It is more an attitude in public that seems can sometimes transition into the gym that bothers me.

Re: Tom Crean the choice for Indiana

Raymond219 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:46:45 -0000

This is the most credible rumor ever. Anyone who is a student down here knows how a MAJORITY of the players act. Last Year FRESHMAN Joey Shaw, Ratliff, FRESHMAN Bassett, etc were always at Jakes and UPSTAIRS at Sports getting wasted. Talk to the right people in the right fraternity that a certain walk-on member of the team belongs to and they'll tell you bassett, ellis, etc are always getting high with the guys and partying.

These guys really operate with no rules down here.

Re: Tom Crean the choice for Indiana

Raymond219 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:06:34 -0000

CREAN & CRIMSON CREAN & CRIMSON CREAN & CRIMSON

Re: Tom Crean the choice for Indiana

Raymond219 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:48:52 -0000

In 20/20 Hindsight Tom Crean might be a "Tony Bennett on Steriods". We all loved Bennett, myself included, because of all of his success at such a young age. At 42 Crean isn't much older and already has nine years of head coaching experience, a trip to the final four, and years as a top assistant for Jud Heathcote and Izzo at Michigan State.

He is a tough defensive minded coach who might be just the perfect guy to bring a tough defense and true big ten style of play here. Additionally, a young unproven "up and comer" might not have been able to get Ebanks and Holloway back, but Crean might have a resume good enough to get them to come here and bring a few of his recruits down to Bloomington...and ISN'T Dominic James from Richmond, IN?

Officially Starting a new phrase: The CREAN & Crimson!!!!

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Mike Montgomery

Raymond219 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:07:31 -0000

Our athletic department is inept and has been for quite some time. Last week, one of my professors who served on the athletic committee for over 20 years until the very late 90s took a whole class period to explain to us how poorly run the department is.

He also is an indianapolis attorney and has worked with "Blue Ribbon" committee head Harry Gonso and explained him as someone who "doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground". Scary, isn't it?

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Mike Montgomery

Raymond219 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:37:01 -0000

NO NO NO. Not only is Montgomery too old to be a long term solution, which we DESPERATELY need, he has not done anything to warrant this hire. He does have a final four, but how many 17 and 18 year olds can remember it?

Think Like a Recruit, Greenspan. We need to end the coaching carousel here and this hire will not do that. Get out the checkbook and go hunt down Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright. And remember too, coaches have said NO, NO, YES before. Keep the lines of communication open with Bennett's reps.

Re: Miller’s buyout could be sticking point for IU

Raymond219 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:22:14 -0000

I don't understand why Anthony Grant is on so many people's list. What has he really done to warrant consideration? Sure, he has won some games, but where is there a run in the NCAA's to really show the value of that? Hell, I would honestly value a deep NIT run but does he have either? Just because someone is young and up and coming doesn't mean they're up and coming enough for us, it needs to be showcased at a high level like Bennettt and Miller have done.

How could ANYONE be above Pitino? 1. Pitino 2. Bennett 3. Pearl 4. Miller

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Scott Skiles

Raymond219 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:34:29 -0000

Please No. Skiles very well may be a great X's and O's guy, and I'm not saying he is but MIGHT be, but we have no clue if he can recruit and that is the groundwork.

On top of that, I don't want a team of undisciplined Memphis-like thugs. Skiles, while tough with head bands with my NBA team Da Bulls, was a thug in college and I worry about what the team would be like. I'm in my fourth year in Bloomington and these player, for the most part, walk around like they think they're gods and do whatever they want. I fear the amount of arrests, attitude and lack of discipline if Scott "DUI at MSU" Skiles takes over.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Sean Miller

Raymond219 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:46:45 -0000

On top of that, Dick's last year as a coach was not exactly one to be remembered. I believe they only won around 13 games that year and I am almost positive they finished last in the Pac 10. Having his "dad's" players should make his accomplishments even more special.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Tony Bennett

Raymond219 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:43:59 -0000

I think he also convinced a McDonalds All American named...Butch to RED SHIRT and ride the bench for a year. How is that guy doing these days?

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Tony Bennett

Raymond219 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:41:46 -0000

That may have been the best description of this situation I have seen yet. I agree whole heartedly with your assessment of why we should want Bennett. I will say Barnes, while a good coach, i feel is too old for what we need here. And why aren't we looking at Jamie Dixon, he is my #2 after Bennett for guys I believe we have a real chance at getting.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Tony Bennett

Raymond219 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:31:14 -0000

What about Jamie Dixon? He isn't QUITE as young as Bennett but has been successful at Pitt. Or Jay Wright, is him being be too east coast really turning people off?

Re: The Morning After: That’s that

Raymond219 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:59:53 -0000

Fantastic post. This University now needs to prove to its fans and supporters that for once we can make an intelligent hire other than Terry Hoeppner and forget our Cameron, Dinardo, Biil Lynch Davis & Samspson decisions. (I cite football to prove how inept our athletic department is)

IU for once needs to do EVERYTHING they can to get their man and restore morale and our program. Remember, we hired Sampson after we went after other coaches and wouldn't do what it took to get them. THIS TIME WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO GET OUR MAN, OUR #1 CHOICE.

Re: Rumor alert: IU wants to talk to Bruce Pearl

Raymond219 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:23:38 -0000

I think the bottomline here is that Indiana's status as one of the premier programs in college basketball is sitting on a fine line.

The Davis years and the whole bungled Sampson era have left us hanging in a delicate balance. As far as the choice, I am not the most qualified person to make the call. However, I can say without a doubt that we need a coach who can come in and win games NOW and win CLEAN. Sampson had us back on the upswing but his phone did a lot of damage.

We are in real danger of becoming just another team if we don't start making runs in the tournament real soon.

Re: Two potential coaching targets in action today

Raymond219 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:03:56 -0000

Word from a family member of mine that is highly connected is that the committee is focusing on trying to get a coach who has deep tournament experience (a final four) and is a big name to draw some attention. Rick Pitino, anyone???

More realistically though, what about Jay Wright of Villanova or Jamie Dixon from Pitt? Both are early/mid 40's and thus relatively young and could be around for a while but, are more established than Miller and Bennett (both of whom I like). Anyone else like the Wright or Dixon option?