The State of College Basketball in Indiana

Mar 13, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers coach Tom Crean on the sidelines against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Illinois defeats Indiana 64-54. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Hoosiers (17-15, 7-11 Big Ten)

The Hoosiers were the only team to finish with an above .500 record, and a lot of it had to do with the cupcake non-conference schedule. The three tough games IU played out of conference? A loss to UConn in New York, a loss at Syracuse, and a loss to Notre Dame (with Grant) in Indianapolis. No significant wins and the talent between those three and the other 10 teams IU played was staggering.

That weak schedule didn’t prepare IU for the Big Ten. It didn’t toughen up the squad or help them play with each other at a higher level. It made this young team think it could get away with a lot of individual efforts and not play as a team.

Now were spending the off-season talking about whether or not Tom Crean has what it takes to keep coaching this team. He’s already butting heads with athletic director Fred Glass over the post season and there are reports of alumni wanting to buyout the remainder of his contract.

Consistency was the biggest problem this season. IU managed to knock off four ranked teams, only to lose to the dregs of the Big Ten (like Purdue and Penn State). They had plenty of chances to make a case for an NCAA Tournament berth, but each time lost three straight to close the door on the postseason.

The programs immediate future is going to be directly tied to Noah Vonleh’s decision on the NBA. If he chooses to go pro, Vonleh will likely be a top 15 pick. That would be three IU players taken in the lottery over the past two years, and nothing to show for it. Vonleh doesn’t have much to gain by staying as he wasn’t exactly a featured player on offense like he should have been.

IU loses Will Sheehey to graduation and he will be hard to replace. Sheehey was a sort of do-it-all player who generally left everything on the court. He was, like everyone else, a bit inconsistent but really turned it on late in the year.

If he does stay for some reason, IU will field a very good team. A lot of players appeared to come around late in the season and Indiana has the 16th ranked recruiting class for 2014. Five-star recruit James Blackmon is outstanding and possibly the best shooter out of everyone in the class.

While Crean isn’t on the hot seat yet, he will be if next season looks like this one. IU fans are not patient and expect greatness every single year. But with the incoming class, the Hoosiers should have a more competitive team come next fall.

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