Crean perfect fit for challenge at Indiana

Nov 7, 2008 - 9:59 PM By Kevin Pedersen PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Anyone that has watched Tom Crean knows that he is not a laid-back type of person.

The fiery coach is constantly pacing back and forth along the sidelines during each and every game, barking out instructions while refusing to sit down.

While that coaching style will probably not translate into many wins for Indiana this season, it is that kind of intensity that shows there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the once-proud school.

Following a disastrous season that featured the firing of Kelvin Sampson under recruiting violations, the Hoosiers return none of their starters, none of their top 10 scorers, and have been picked to finish last in the Big Ten Conference by most prognosticators.

"We are in a tumultuous state right now," Crean said. "The program is great. We just have to get through the state we are in right now. As a staff and for our players, we just have to take each day for what it is."

What it is right now is a mess, but Indiana appears to have the right man for the job.

Most coaches would have shied away from a school in such disarray, but Crean has embraced the challenge and is looking forward to re-establishing tradition - something he's done before.

Lured away from Marquette where the 42-year-old went 190-96 over nine seasons, Crean was given an eight-year, $18.24 million contract to clean up Sampson's mess. Crean won 20 or more games five times and reached the Final Four with the Golden Eagles in 2003 - the school's first trip to the national semifinals since 1977.

With a combination of graduated seniors, early entrants to the NBA, transfers and players dismissed for violating team rules, Indiana returns just two lettermen from last year's 25-8 club.

Senior forward Kyle Taber is the most "experienced" player on the current Hoosiers team. Taber played 11.2 minutes last season, averaging 1.3 points in 22 games.

Redshirt sophomore Brett Finklemeier, who played in a total of 11 minutes, is the only other returnee as Indiana has nine freshmen on the roster.

For a coach that always demands so much from his players, Crean has a lot of work ahead of him in 2008-09 and beyond.

"It is a great time for these guys to learn," Crean said. "We cannot take anything for granted. We had our Cream and Crimson scrimmage and right away you see all the little things we have to go over. Things that we've taken for granted with a more veteran club need to be addressed for the future.

"Right now building up that communication on the court and playing through fatigue is key, but where we end up is not the focus. It's getting better that day that is important and applying it the next day. Retention is probably the biggest thing we want to get accomplished right now."

While the coach will work tirelessly to guide Indiana to as many wins as possible, he's enough of a realist to know that his first season will be extremely difficult.

"It's just the way it worked out," Crean said. "In a situation where there was really no choice, there have been no regrets in any area. From taking the job or the decisions that were made, we just have to move forward. It's not our players', coaches', administrators' or fans' fault. It just happened, so we have to deal with it."

Dealing with it is what Hoosiers fans and alumni will have to do, while Crean lays the foundation for the future.

Even if it was in Crean's demeanor to relax, he wouldn't be able to this season.

And it's that type of determined effort which makes him exactly what Indiana needs.