Glass Houses

Usually in this space, we discuss the aftermath of an IU game from the previous night.

Indiana beat a terrible Bryant University team, 90-42.

Good start, good middle, good finish against a team that would have struggled, let’s be fair, to beat Bloomington South.

But, the real story was about losing freshman hot shot (positive) Maurice Creek.

Is it bad luck?

Is it bad karma?

Is it just bad in general?

Yes.

Maybe.

Yes.

Unfortunately, those are the answers.

Is losing top scorer and freshman Maurice Creek bad luck?  Of course.  And somebody smarter than this guy can answer the question of why guys seem to get hurt when there is hardly any contact.  He didn’t land on another player’s foot.  He didn’t land awkwardly, in general.  He had no history of knee problems.  Just Anthony Gonzalez for the Colts.  He jumps, no defender in five yards, and comes down with knee damage.  Bad luck.

Is it bad karma for a program that has struggled for the last three years?  I’m not sure.  Tom Crean is doing things the right way.  He cleaned house.  He struggled in his first year.  He says the right things to the students, media and public, so why this?  I’m not sure.  Don’t forget, in all likelihood, Matt Roth is also done for the season. He was capable of knocking down an open shot or two that would make Christian Watford’s life a bit easier in the block.  Not to mention the lives of Tom Pritchard and Derek Elston.  Two injuries, one to a top 1 guy and another to the best spot up, stretch-a-zone, you-must-guard me substitute.  Is this payback for years of booing Mike Davis (not his fault he was hired for a job he had no business being INTERVIEWED for, let alone hired) and hiring serial phone abuser Kelvin Sampson?  It’s been over 10 years. You decide.

Is it bad in general for the development of this team?  Yes.  How many coaches publicly say that losing their top scorer, the guy who can get his own shot (and make a majority of them from 3 and from 2), will not be a problem?  Right.  Zero, and Tom Crean is no different. We hear about running sets, pressing, up-tempo basketball that will lure future recruits to Indiana.  We can talk about doors opening up for other guys to step up and take the load, but at the end of the day, the leading scorer and, arguably, Indiana’s best player, is done for the season, and those may be shoes too big to fill, both in theory and in talent.

We all hope Mo heals up and gets ready for next season, but to think he will be back to normal and ready to go was like all of us assuming Peyton Manning would be back and ready to go last year for the Colts.

Injuries, just like rebuilding a program, take time.

And patience.  (Never thought you would see Guns-n-Roses in here, did you?)

And this is a true test of both for Indiana fans.