The soap opera in Bloomington, Ind. gets better every day. In the latest episode the interim coach, who isn't even the coach anymore, kicked two starters off the team just hours before Indiana hired the real head coach, Tom Crean.
Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis missed an appointment and then skipped a running session the next day that was supposed to be punishment, according to the Associated Press.
Dakich gave them the boot then officially lost his job when Crean took the job. I'm thinking there is a pretty good chance Bassett and Ellis will get a second chance now, assuming Bassett does not transfer.
Quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of writing about the incompetence of the Indiana basketball program, and I am bewildered as to how Rick Greenspan is still the Athletic Director. The hiring of Crean helps his case, but we knew IU would get a decent coach eventually.
As we move on to next season there are two things I can guarantee: The Big Ten will be much improved, and Indiana will finish towards the bottom of the conference.
If Bassett and Ellis are really gone, then it's likely that the Hoosiers will return a grand total of zero starters. The good news is that Dakich is officially out as head coach, which is good because I could have led that talented team to a better record in the post-Kelvin Sampson days (Dakich was 3-4). Head coach"" is used to describe the coach who is in charge and in control. Obviously the guy had no control over this team, yet as of Tuesday morning he was still making big decisions like kicking the two best returning players off the team. Amazing.
The good news is that as bad as Indiana will be next season, the rest of the conference will be much improved. Almost every single team in the Big Ten had at least one contributing freshman this past season and all of those youngsters are going to be better next season.
Purdue has to be the preseason favorite. The Boilermakers return every player but Tarrance Crump, and nearly every top contributor will either be a sophomore or junior. Robbie Hummel is already a first-team All Big Ten selection and he might not even be the best player on his team. With Matt Painter's coaching abilities, the Boilermakers should be a Top 10 preseason team and could make a run at the Final Four.
The Badgers will be back in the mix too. Losing Michael Flowers, Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma means a downgrade in size and defense, but Bo Ryan has the right guys waiting in the wings to fill in. Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon will make up a veteran backcourt and Marcus Landry will at least be considered for Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.
Beyond those two, up to eight other teams could vie for an NCAA Tournament berth depending on how the current, talented freshman class grows into consistent sophomores.
Michigan State got huge contributions from Kalin Lucas and Chris Allen late in the season. Ohio State's Evan Turner and Kosta Koufos will be joined by two McDonald's All-Americans, including 7'1"" center B.J. Mullens. Talk about a huge frontcourt.
Minnesota should be better with Al Nolen growing up and Blake Hoffarber being more consistent. Illinois'showed glimpses of a brighter future by making a run in the Big Ten Tournament, and Demetri McCamey is going to be one of the tougher guards to stop next season.
Then there are teams like Michigan, Iowa and Penn State, which all had talented young players and could take a jump forward next season. Michigan's Manny Harris was one of the better players in the conference this season, and as that group grows in John Belein's system, the team will get better. The same goes for the Hawkeyes, who should be better once Todd Lickliter gets his own players in there.
Northwestern could be a sleeper team next year and I'm being serious. Kevin Coble could be a star on any team in the conference, but no one respects him because he's a Wildcat. Along with Michael Thompson and Craig Moore, NU won't have trouble scoring next season.
Unfortunately, height is still a major weakness and will most likely hold the Wildcats back.
And what about Penn State? The Nittany Lions showed a ton of heart this season playing without their best player, senior forward Geary Claxton, for most of the conference season. They upset Indiana in the regular season finale without Jamelle Cornley as well. Cornley is back and Talor Battle, one of the most underrated freshmen in the conference, could lead the team in scoring.
So there it is. Ten teams that could make a run at the NCAA Tournament. The ""Little Ten"" will hardly be little next season, but that leaves poor Indiana behind. Hoosier fans might be optimistic, but there is no reason to be. Jordan Crawford might transfer and the incoming recruits are likely to bolt.
Maybe I'll head to Bloomington for graduate school and walk-on to the team. Then again, before IU hired Crean I thought I was in the running for the head coaching job.
If you think Tom Crean's arrival changes the balance of power in the Big Ten, e-mail Adam at Hoge@wisc.edu
2008-'09 Big Ten
1. Purdue
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan State
4. Ohio State
5. Minnesota
6. Illinois
7. Penn State
8. Michigan
9. Iowa
10. Northwestern
11. Indiana
