- CBSSports.com

On the same day I was disgusted into writing about LSU football coach Les Miles, who finally saw fit to expel his best player, I'm moved to write in support of Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean ... who booted off his only players.

Crean inherited an awful situation at Indiana, one infected by the kinds of players Kelvin Sampson not only had recruited -- but then had allowed to run amok. Interim coach Dan Dakich was the first person to bring discipline to the program by kicking Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis off the team shortly after the season ended.

Crean came in, and immediately it sounded as if he was going to succumb to the same sort of crap that Les Miles succumbed to all those times he put up with Ryan Perrilloux: But my team needs these guys ...

But after sitting on it and thinking on it and presumably meeting with the carcinogenic players himself, Crean decided Friday not to let them back onto the team. Even better, he also kicked off DeAndre Thomas, whose rotten attitude could be smelled from a mile away.

Crean has no players left. No good ones, anyway. He's going to get his butt kicked for a year or two at Indiana because of it, but I'm more proud of the man than I've ever been.

And I'm more disappointed in Miles than ever.

I agree with you totally Doyle, thanks for putting this up. I am a student at IU and a season ticket holder for the past couple seasons, not to mention a very die-hard IU basketball fan, and I feel that the moves made by the basketball administration were the correct ones. Crean was a great hire and is now proving to me that he will run a clean team that will have players who only deserve to wear the cream and crimson. Getting rid of Basset and Ellis will help the team unity in the future and will allow the team to become more of a family rather than a bunch of individuals who are doing what they please without any form of discipline. I too am very proud of Crean and for once in a long time I am very proud to be a Hoosier. I know that it may take a while for our team to become an elite team that competes for the big ten title each year, but if getting rid of the cancer on your team means a few bad seasons I am glad that Crean preformed the operation. I am sorry for my grammar but I am writing quickly so that I can make it to my last final on time, thanks goodness it's almost summer!

Belcher1035 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 1, 2006	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:00 pm Score: 90 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? That wasn't DeAndre's rotten attitude you smelled, it was the ham & swiss sandwich he had stuffed in his pocket. Heyooh! Seriously, though. I too am proud that Crean has a pair. He's doing what's right for the program. I'm also guessing that grades played a big part in yesterday's/today's events. [ Reply to Comment ]
IGetNoRespect Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 12, 2007	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:05 pm Score: 93 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? The Crean & Crimson era has begun, and it sounds as if Tom Crean is truly going to have to start from scratch at Indiana University. Gregg, I think you're right. It's going to take a couple of years and some major growing pains, but, in the end, it will all be worth it because, by then, IU will be doing things the right way. Finally. [ Reply to Comment ]
IUandbrowns Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 18, 2007	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:05 pm Score: 89 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? I agree with you totally Doyle, thanks for putting this up. I am a student at IU and a season ticket holder for the past couple seasons, not to mention a very die-hard IU basketball fan, and I feel that the moves made by the basketball administration were the correct ones. Crean was a great hire and is now proving to me that he will run a clean team that will have players who only deserve to wear the cream and crimson. Getting rid of Basset and Ellis will help the team unity in the future and will allow the team to become more of a family rather than a bunch of individuals who are doing what they please without any form of discipline. I too am very proud of Crean and for once in a long time I am very proud to be a Hoosier. I know that it may take a while for our team to become an elite team that competes for the big ten title each year, but if getting rid of the cancer on your team means a few bad seasons I am glad that Crean preformed the operation. I am sorry for my grammar but I am writing quickly so that I can make it to my last final on time, thanks goodness it's almost summer! [ Reply to Comment ]
ThaChosenOne Reputation: 24 Level: Amateur Since: May 2, 2008	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:06 pm Score: 26 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? Yes. Thank goodness we have some coaches who can man up and take responsibility around here. Hes looking out for the program and looking out for the other athletes as well. If he puts a group of misfits in with his players that can excel, it can only hurt them. Way to go Indiana. You hired the right man! i am impressed. [ Reply to Comment ]
MennoDaddy Reputation: 78 Level: Pro Since: Jan 4, 2007	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:28 pm Score: 64 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Well, let's be fair here. Crean does have ONE good player: Jordan Crawford, who averaged 9.7 ppg last year and showed flashes of offensive brilliance (as well as flashes of Larry Richardson-esque scariness). But yeah. Indiana is officially in the basketball wilderness. I guess we'll start seeing just how good a recruiter Tom Crean really is. [ Reply to Comment ]
Naptown, Inc. Reputation: 75 Level: Pro Since: Dec 2, 2007	Posted on: May 2, 2008 4:48 pm Score: 56 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? I'm a long time IU fan, I live in the great state of Indiana, and this is what had to happen. Yeah, it may take awhile but I'm willing to wait. Ask any Kentucky basketball fan about the horrible mess Rick Pitino inherited. There was so much negativity and bad attitudes that Crean didn't have a choice. We haven't won anything important in so long it's not going to make a difference going through a 2 or 3 year rebuilding period. This state, and this area for that matter, has the talent to win. What Butler has done in the past few years and what Purdue is doing proves that you can win with in-state talent. These kids only have to do a few things: Buy into the system that you are being taught, go to class, don't go to night clubs, and make your family proud of your work ethic. Everything else will fall into place. [ Reply to Comment ]
doze4 Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 17, 2006	Posted on: May 2, 2008 5:23 pm Score: 87 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? Doyel,please take notice Tennessee punter has five DUI's AND IS STILL ON THE TEAM!! YES I SAID 5. Miles made a promise on a mothers couch to take care and guide her son for the next 4-5yrs ,to be a second father figure ,and Ryan made a promise to a coach on a couch to be a responsible student athlete and HE DIDNT HONOR HIS END OF THE BARGAIN.congrats Coach Miles on doing everything you could to steer a young man in the right direction time after time after time.sometimes you do all you can do then you have to let go. [ Reply to Comment ]
skreffty Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 20, 2007	Posted on: May 2, 2008 5:34 pm Score: 89 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? How can you respect Crean's decision and then moan about Miles? They made the same decision. I couldn't understand this attempt at logic until I saw that Doyel is from Ohio. He must still be bitter about the Sugar Bowl. So much for objective journalists. [ Reply to Comment ]
IrishEyes Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 18, 2006	Posted on: May 2, 2008 5:40 pm Score: 87 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? You're missing the point. Les Miles gave Ryan Perriloux so many chances to "redeem himself", you'd think the kid was a cat with nine lives. No way in hell that happens if it was some backup who wasn't going to have any impact on the team. To an extent, the same tag can be applied to Rick Pitino at Louisville, for his "handling" of team cancer Derrick Caracter. [ Reply to Comment ]
hoosiersrule Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 28, 2006	Posted on: May 2, 2008 5:48 pm Score: 91 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: You paying attention, Les Miles? The question is, if Perilloux wasn't going to be his starting qb would he have still given him this many chances?If Perilloux was just some bench player would he have gotten the benefit of the doubt?The answer is no.Miles wasn't giving him a bunch of chances because of a conversation with his mama on the couch,he was giving him chances because Miles knows he won't compete for another national title this year without him. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gregg Doyel

Doyel's Dribbles

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

Well, let's be fair here.

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?

You paying attention, Les Miles?