Do you guys think he will be successful at UGA? Do you think he can turn the program around? Just curious about the boards opinion on this.
Tom Crean and UGA
- Thread starter Willie Anderson
- Start date
Actually I think he will do pretty good at UGA. I mean he did win 2 BIg 10 titles at Indiana. Went to three SW16's. He does that UGA, and he'll be a lifer.
There's a lot of talent in Georgia. He'll get his share. Plus surriunding states like Texas, Florida, etc, etc..His offense can be entertaining. And lethal. But his defense? Meh, close your eyes there brother. I think he'll have you guys competing in the Top 4-5 in the SEC. Pushing the enevelpoe here and there for a title(SEC). Probably get a few SW16 runs as well. But TBH, I wouldn't expect more than that. He's to inconsistent in his recruiting; all over the board with it. He chases the "diamond in the rough" type of player waaaay to often. But I think overall, he'll keep UGA competitive.
Thanks. Just hoping he will get us in the tourney some. I appreciate your thoughts and information.
He will be successful for Georgia standards. Georgia would have a meltdown with that level of competitiveness in football but will be satisfied in basketball.
Georgia is certainly a rich recruiting area. The only downside, is you're right in the heart of ACC/SEC Country. I think Auburn has landed just as many top 100 kids from the state as Georgia has.
You're constantly competing against the likes of Auburn, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee... not to mention the national brands which will always be there for top 50 guys. Duke got Wendell Carter, Kentucky got EJ Montgomery and Ashton Hagans, Kansas got Brannen Greene, Arizona got Kobi Simmons, UNC got Brandon Robinson, Ohio State got Shannon Scott, etc. If Crean can win a fair amount of recruiting battles in-state, his teams should be relatively successful.
You're constantly competing against the likes of Auburn, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee... not to mention the national brands which will always be there for top 50 guys. Duke got Wendell Carter, Kentucky got EJ Montgomery and Ashton Hagans, Kansas got Brannen Greene, Arizona got Kobi Simmons, UNC got Brandon Robinson, Ohio State got Shannon Scott, etc. If Crean can win a fair amount of recruiting battles in-state, his teams should be relatively successful.
Crean has to recruit well in Georgia. There is lots of top in-state talent that often leaves the state of Georgia. Crean may be the best coached hired by Georgia since Jim Harrick who had previously won the only NCAA title at UCLA not won by John Wooden. Georgia has the potential for big things in basketball.
However, there are also a lot of very good coaches hired recently by many of these SEC football schools (i.e, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, etc.). So, there is much more competition in the league, too.
This. He's joining the SEC at the wrong time. Some pretty good coaches in that league now.
Just getting to the NCAA Tournament is often the major goal of SEC schools (not including Kentucky).
Georgia had a few NCAA appearances in the 2000s (most recently in 2015) but had not reached the SW16 or beyond since the 80s/90s.
Georgia tried hiring a young up and comer or a top assistant coach but stalled. Now, they are going to the veteran coach method who has done it before route. It remains to be seen.
If Crean can land some key recruits and slowly build up his teams then he might have a chance to stay at Georgia for awhile. NCAA Tourney success will also help.
The SEC also has Frank Martin at South Carolina who had recently gone to the Final Four;
Ben Howland at Mississippi State is recruiting well at Starkville;
Rick Barnes at Tennessee, Bruce Pearl at Auburn;
Avery Johnson at Alabama (recently had a lottery pick PG go to the NBA);
Mike White at Florida recently went to an Elite8;
and of course, Calipari, at Kentucky annually builds great teams in Lexington.
Mark Fox was/is a good coach. Refused to play "the game" and didnt have any recruiting ties in the South.
And Drew at Vanderbilt. I do think Crean will be fine at UGA. He's quirky but can get some underrated kids. He'll waste some scholarships on kids that don't pan out but he can get by with that at UGA.
Fox was about to land a monster class. I applaud Georgia AD for having the balls to go a different direction. Crean will be fine.
Will Wade is recruiting really well @LSU (#2 SEC ranking this year), and should have a strong team.
Then of course, Billy Kennedy, Mike Anderson, Cuonzo Martin, and Kermit Davis.
When the SEC decided to make basketball more of focus, they went out and hired all these coaches, which in turn lead to the tremendous uptick in recruiting. IIRC SEC had more 5* and top 100 recruits last season, and according to 24/7 has more 5*(9) than any other conference this upcoming season.
The SEC improved dramatically last season and IMO will do so again this season.
And don't forget the recruiting machine at LSU now with Wade there. The Ags and Mizzou recruit good as well.
The SEC really made an effort to change basketball the last few years and it's finally showing.
I'd be surprised if they were ahead of the ACC. Duke, UNC, and possibly VA may have more than the entire SEC excluding Kentucky. LOL
While I'm not convinced he'll have Georgia competing for SEC regular season titles, I wouldn't doubt he could snag a (couple?) SEC tourney titles. He'll make a few dances where anything is possible.. but consistency seems to be an issue. So, hard telling.
Best of Luck
I do think he's a decent coach, maybe just too much pressure at Indiana.
Best of Luck
I do think he's a decent coach, maybe just too much pressure at Indiana.
This. By UGA basketball standards he's the best they could've hoped for, which isn't saying much.
That's just because Bruce Pearl is hosting the BBQs in war eagle country these days.
Speaking of Nevada, there is no way Musselman is coaching there in 2019-20. After this season he's going to land somewhere big and do some damage. My guess would be UCLA if they have the cojones to can Alford. That or he'll get another HC gig in the NBA, IMO.
He stayed because of the roster he knew he would come back to. I literally just had lunch next to the guy today and he does love this town. If he has the success we all expect them to have this year the money will be too much.
Yep, that's what I mean. The squad he'll have this season will have just as good a shot at a Final Four as anyone. You live in Reno? I'm in Vegas.
If that’s his definition of surrounding states then I guess Texas is a surrounding state of nearly every place in the lower 48.Texas surrounds Georgia like China surrounds Puerto Rico.
Meh. Who are you to tell me what MY surrounding, means?Texas surrounds Georgia like China surrounds Puerto Rico.
I used TX due to the talent they produce. Hence why I didn't use Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc. It's why I used Florida/Texas. Didn't think it would be that hard to understand. It's not as if TX is 7 states over.
You should have said Indiana. They’re closer to Georgia than Texas is.
Nope, only 4 states over.
In your defense, it does border a state that borders a state that borders a state that borders Georgia.Haven’t looked at who UGA has returning but if he has any talent at all, I expect they will be good quick. Fox had them playing really good defense and they were very tough - 2 attributes that Crean doesn’t instill. However, those traits tend to hang around a few years and he’ll definitely get them scoring.
So in theory he should get the O going quickly and the D won’t be total dog $hit for a few years.
After that - it’s all up to how much of that state talent he can keep around.
So in theory he should get the O going quickly and the D won’t be total dog $hit for a few years.
After that - it’s all up to how much of that state talent he can keep around.
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