IU get two 2013 recruits, High-rated Sophmores

[amckillip]

http://www.insidethehall.com/2010/11/21/devin-davis-jr-and-collin-hartman-commit-to-iu/

What's the likelihood they make it IU? I hope they get 'Gordoned.'

[tornado]

Crean has had more success than anyone in tying up these early recruits....wonder what he's offering???
It's is risky to tie up your scholarships on kids that young -- not even starting their sophomore high school season yet...but it seems to have become the trend for many coaches...

Crean now has 3 commits who haven't even played their junior year in high school,
two more who haven't yet played their sophomore season, and even two more
who have just entered high school and haven't even played a high school game yet.

These new guys are both SG/SF wing players and if there's anything IU will still have a bunch of in 2013 it's wing players---

-in 2007-2008 Indiana had 2 NBA draft picks and several 4-Star players, and won 25 games, yet they crashed and burned as all those top ranked Kelvin Sampson players were doing drugs..

-in 2008-2009 -- IU landed several 3-Star kids and had a TOP 40 recruiting Class

-in 2009-2010 -- IU landed FIVE 4-Star kids (Watford, Hulls, Creek, Elston, Muniru) PLUS a 3-star and had a Top 10 Recruiting Class

-in 2010 again -- a decent recruiting class that ranked them in the Top 40

-next fall another top 100 and 5-Star Cody Zeller who they think will lead them to the Final Four...

So -- IU now has currently on their roster -- more highly ranked recruits than most Big Ten teams...so I can't accept this lame excuse that they are still rebuilding and need more time -- where are the results??
Sadly, by the time matt Roth graduates from IU...he'll be part of the worst stretch of IU teams in 100 years.. 5-33 in Big Ten games so far in his time there..

[TylerDurden]

Every player from 07-08 was gone the next year.

Crean started with nothing - zero players.

His teams have progressed to the point where they should be competitive in a Big Ten that's going to be as tough as I can remember.

Most teams that pull in highly rated recruits have upperclassmen on the roster, who help teach and develop those players. IU did not have that luxury.

You need at least one four-year cycle to establish that sort of environment. IU will be there next year.

I'm not sure why you're obsessed with what Indiana does. Crean has had three years to make a mark in a very tough league and has shown progress, to be sure.

Sampson was a mess and got busted for it. His problem was that he was the first person to be sanctioned for a violation and then do the same thing again. His phone calls were illegal, yes...but he isn't Calipari, who has had not one, but two Final Fours vacated for much more egregious violations.

The program - which is one of the best in NCAA history - has suffered more than most programs who are hit with penalties.

[tornado]

Every player from 07-08 was gone the next year.

Crean started with nothing - zero players. ...

While I agree the roster was depleted, he didn't have a completely empty cupboard...

...he had Matt Roth (3-Star) and Tom Pritchard (4-Star) coming in - recruited by his predecessor, and he still had 5th year senior Kyle Taber and sophomore Brett Finkelmeier...plus he had several 3-Star kids who wanted to come right away including one he lured over from Marquette that had already committed to play for Crean.

I will tell you why I like to discuss IU and any college basketball topic...it's to set the record straight each time some silly spin says it was the NCAA that hammered Indiana...it's because they benefitted greatly by CHEATING and never really got a lick of punishment from NCAA...They self imposed one scholarship loss and a year of post-season ban during a year they weren't going anywhere anyway...

[tornado]

BTW -- this is optimism...
the Indiana recruits are already talking "winning a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP".

http://jodydemling.courier-journal.com/2010/11/it-was-right-time-for-davis.html

[Chico]

BTW -- this is optimism...
the Indiana recruits are already talking "winning a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP".
http://jodydemling.courier-journal.c...for-davis.html

Sounds like this board and many others. Full of optimism.

[SFP]

I'm not sure why you're obsessed with what Indiana does. Crean has had three years to make a mark in a very tough league and has shown progress, to be sure.

The program - which is one of the best in NCAA history - has suffered more than most programs who are hit with penalties.

The fans are some of the most arrogant fans in any sport so just like Yankee fans you love to bash them. When you say one of the best in history, I agree, but it is history and in reality they have not been doing so well in recent times. So the beloved program may just be an average program from here on out.

[TylerDurden]

The fans are some of the most arrogant fans in any sport so just like Yankee fans you love to bash them. When you say one of the best in history, I agree, but it is history and in reality they have not been doing so well in recent times. So the beloved program may just be an average program from here on out.

Maybe.

But wouldn't you agree that the Sampson penalties and player departures are a huge reason for that?

IMO, it was disingenuous to pick out some recruiting classes -- which were added to nothing (sorry, a walk-on (Finkelmeier) and a guy who didn't play until they had no players (Taber) don't count as talent in the cupboard -- and ask where the results are.

That was a bit gratuitous.

Indiana's problem was Sampson and his previously earned penalties. He just happens to be the only guy to violate the same rule in the same way.

The self-imposed IU penalties, especially the post-season ban, were not light penalties for that violation and are still resonating. In fact, when the NCAA originally ruled on the case at Oklahoma, they lessened the charge to "failure to monitor" from the more severe "lack of institutional control."

IU, in turn, received a significant penalty after the Sampson violations were uncovered - which the NCAA had to accept. They don't always accept a self-imposed penalty.

I'd call for some pause when anyone starts talking about violations at any institution, since it's likely that we don't know all the details.

No two cases are the same.

[SFP]

In reality IU's problems started way before Sampson. Yes they made the Finals in 2002 but even with Knight they were middle of the pack. Different times, different outlook of what IU is to recruits of today.

[TylerDurden]

In reality IU's problems started way before Sampson. Yes they made the Finals in 2002 but even with Knight they were middle of the pack. Different times, different outlook of what IU is to recruits of today.

That's a good point about Knight, SFP. I know a lot of Indiana fans who thought he was a bit past his time during his last few years at IU.

Knight's last Final Four was 1992, if I remember correctly. They got there in 02 with Davis.

It's a bit like Notre Dame football in that they haven't been seen competing for the top prize for most of the highly rated recruits' lifetime.

I think we all know that kids these days don't have the longest attention spans.

All that said, I think Indiana can get back to a pretty high level. There's too much talent in that state, and the surrounding states to stay dormant for long.

[SFP]

I agree with the talent level in-state but IU will need to work at it just like everyone else and cannot depend on its brand. Also there are other more glamorous programs that are attracting today's recruits. IU will have to do something a bit different to keep the best and recruit the best from out of state. You cannot win it all or keep yourself in the top 10 consistently without recruiting nationally. Michigan State is a rare program now days.

[tornado]

Like Illinois - Indiana is one of those states with so much talent that IU cannot possibly get all of the top guys...there's still plenty of top players in Indiana from Classes of 2011 & 2012 that are uncommitted

[SFP]

Like Illinois - Indiana is one of those states with so much talent that IU cannot possibly get all of the top guys...there's still plenty of top players in Indiana from Classes of 2011 & 2012 that are uncommitted

Are you comparing Indiana to Illinois? Perhaps Indiana's top 10 players can compare to Illinois but the depth of talent in Illinois is so much better. Indiana needs to extend its basketball brand outside of Indiana while Illinois can afford to stay within Illinois and contend.