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Pool III: Up-and-comers

Here’s where the country’s most promising young coaches best fit.

Given their combination of conference and NCAA tournament success, Archie Miller (Dayton) and Chris Mack (Xavier) might straddle Pools II and III along with Alford. But they are generally regarded nationally as promising and young, but they’re 38 and 47, respectively, so let’s group them with the younger group.

Having won conference tournament titles at both Iowa and UCLA, Alford might belong more in Pool II, something this year’s NCAA tournament success might flesh out.

In some ways, this group separates itself between Mack and Miller (and maybe Alford) — who have extended resumes at strong mid- or high-major jobs — and more recently established names like Chris Collins, Chris Holtmann, and Will Wade of VCU.

BEXU wrote:Usual suspects named to replace Crean. Archie Miller, Greg Marshall, Chris Mack and of course, Alford.

Indianaplis Star wrote:
Indiana Athletic Director Fred Glass' statement, all of two paragraphs, outlined specific expectations for Crean's replacement, expectations that likely could not be much higher.

"The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship — and more after that," Glass said in the release. "We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations."

The 50-year old Crean won two regular-season Big Ten championships during his time in Bloomington, qualified for four NCAA tournaments in the past six seasons and advanced to three Sweet 16s.

JohnW22 wrote:

BEXU wrote:Usual suspects named to replace Crean. Archie Miller, Greg Marshall, Chris Mack and of course, Alford.

That's a job that worries me in regards to Mack. I'll wait till after the tournament to stress that out.