Tom Crean's offseason the best in the country?
Heading into the 2014-15 season, expectations for the IU men's basketball team were tempered with off-the-court incidents and on-court deficiencies.
That won't be the case next season. Expectations among the IU fan base are sky high after Yogi Ferrell revealed he's returning for his senior year, coupled with the addition of McDonald's All American big man Thomas Bryant.
In the IndyStar Sports Day Podcast earlier this week, IU Insider Zach Osterman said he believes the Hoosiers will find themselves in the 10-15 range when it comes to early season prognostications. And in fact, he was spot on, at least in the really, really early polls.
In ESPN.com's revised Way-Too-Early Top 25, Eammon Brennan, an IU alumnus, has the Hoosiers at No. 14.
"In March, Indiana fans were so openly displeased with coach Tom Crean that his athletic director, Fred Glass, was forced to give him an open vote of confidence. In April, the fans might well share Glass's view. Everything has gone right for the Hoosiers lately, from the signing of top center prospect Thomas Bryant -- a desperately needed infusion of size -- to the returns of James Blackmon, Robert Johnson, Troy Williams, and Yogi Ferrell. The latter was by far the most important, and also the most hotly debated; Ferrell, despite a second-round-or-Europe draft projection, was apparently very much on the fence before deciding to return to school last week. Ferrell now has a real chance to leave IU as one of its most productive players in history. His team -- if it can defend even semi-competently -- has a real chance to push Maryland for both the conference's actual title and the most stunning perceptual repair effort crown, which is a thing we just made up."
Purdue and Butler are among those listed in "Also receiving consideration."
• ProBasketballTalk.com has IU at 15th:
"Why they're here: The four things that Tom Crean needed to have happen did: He landed a commitment from Bryant, a shot-blocking and rebounding presence around the rim, while getting Ferrell, Blackmon and Williams back for another year."
Again, Butler and Purdue among "also considered."
• As far as where the Hoosiers stand in the Big Ten, BTN.com provided their early preseason power rankings, and IU comes in third, behind Maryland and Michigan State.
"Loaded with talented scorers, the Hoosiers will be scary-good if Troy Williams finds a jump shot."
As for the Boilermakers, they slip to a surprising 7th, despite the return of A.J. Hammons.
"With Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons down low, the Boilermakers are a point guard away from something special."
• Elsewhere on ESPN.com, hoops writer Jeff Goodman lists Hoosiers coach Tom Crean among the offseason's biggest winners with Ferrell's return and Bryant's signing.
"No one had a better offseason than Indiana's coach. The Hoosiers were worried about losing any and all of the trio of Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr. and Troy Williams. Crean is getting all three back, and Indiana added Thomas Bryant (No. 22 on ESPN 100), one of the most talented big men in the country. The Hoosiers go into the 2015-16 season with high expectations and should compete for one of the top spots in the Big Ten."
• On an unrelated topic, Business Insider came out with its list of the "50 colleges where students are both smart and athletic."
IU just cracked the list at No. 49.
"Athletics are huge at IU and are a big part of the experience at Indiana University."
"Everyone here is really good looking, but pretty smart too."
Purdue landed at No. 35.
"Many students participate in a club or intramural sport simply because anyone can create a team (intramural) and they're really fun!"
"In general, both guys and girls at my campus are well put-together, intelligent, interested, and focused."
Notre Dame came in a lofty No. 3.
"Intramurals and dorm sports are super fun and many people get involved."
"ND is a very sporty place and makes it easy to watch and play several different types of sports."
Stanford claimed the top spot.