Former Hoosiers Coach Tom Crean Talks IU’s Issues
Source: Michael Reaves / Getty
It has not exactly been smooth sailing for the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team this season.
Losers of 3 of their last 4, the Hoosiers are now facing serious questions about their ability to make the NCAA Tournament in March. Fans have been venting their frustrations online and at Assembly Hall, with head coach Mike Woodson taking the brunt of their criticism. Their March Madness hopes may not be dead yet, but they’re certainly looking worse for wear.
One man who is very familiar with the Hoosiers program is former head coach Tom Crean, now with ESPN. During the Friday edition of The Ride With JMV, Coach Crean joined John and gave his thought on the issues plaguing this iteration of the team.
“The bigger picture to me is the guards have just not been close to consistent, and that has to change, and when Indiana plays well, their guards play better…I think the bigger issue for them is the defense, and I think that was the case the other night against Northwestern. Watching that game, they were very good, solid, playing well. Northwestern hit a lull, they had a lot to do with that in the first half, Indiana was scoring. Then in the second half, the level of concentration and focus wasn’t even close to what it was in the first half. Weakside defense, late closeouts, standing straight up, things like that, and what happens is, when you’re not scoring points, you can’t be discouraged. You can be disappointed that you didn’t score, but you’ve got to come right back down and lock in defensively. The greatest problem in all of basketball, whether it’s the pros, whether it’s high school, whether it’s college, doesn’t matter if it’s Indiana or whoever it is; how do you keep your concertation and focus on the defensive end, especially weakside, when the balls not going in the basket?’
Listen to JMV’s full conversation with Tom Crean and more down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!
