Column: Time to be optimistic about IU basketball

Right now, it’s all about optimism for IU basketball.

And that’s just fine.

As IU coach Tom Crean gave a public lecture (can we just call it a motivational/promotional speech? I won’t be getting hired by marketing departments anytime soon), he maintained the same optimism he’s had since arriving in Bloomington in 2008.

Sure, the team is going through its roughest stretch in program history.

Yes, this year’s version — year three of the Tom Crean era — probably won’t be “there” yet.

(“There” being defined by Crean on Thursday night: “I want to be an Indiana that is getting ready to win championships again.”)

But when the team’s record is still 0-0, there are two things IU fans should expect this season:

1. Improvement from the last two seasons. Duh.
The team returns stellar sophomore guard Maurice Creek from injury and the core group from last season returns with a summer of training. For the sophomore class, they now have a year of experience playing at the Big Ten level. A postseason tournament (NIT anyone?) could and should be in discussion this season.

2. Optimism.
Even if the team doesn’t reach any sort of national prominence for a few more years, the pieces are starting to fit together. Recruiting classes, facilities, current talent, etc.

So even if Crean’s lecture sounded the same as last year’s (full disclosure: I didn’t attend last year’s, but I’m told his topics were very similar), some of his talking points should be seen on the court this season if they were only in the works last year.

Among many things, he talked about mental preparation, limiting turnovers and being ready to compete every day. He alluded to coaching greats such as Vince Lombardi, John Wooden and Bob Knight who he hopes to emulate.

Not groundbreaking stuff, but sometimes the simple stuff and the motivational stuff is the most important. Getting fans jazzed up about these sorts of things and getting the players to buy into it shouldn’t be difficult.

And it’s what the good Big Ten programs have already bought into, Crean said.

“You can not wear down. You can not break down. That’s the willingness to compete,” Crean said. “We just have to make sure that’s our real life every day. Because I believe that’s the way it is at Purdue. That’s the way it is at Michigan State. I don’t have many doubts that’s the way it is at Ohio State.”

Of course the players are equally optimistic about the season.

“I’m very excited,” junior guard Verdell Jones III said. “This is the worst part right here because you’re just so amped up for the season to get ready to start.”

Sophomore forward Christian Watford addressed the low expectations many have for the team this season.

“Nobody expects for us to win anyways...we’re at the bottom, so why not go to the top?”

The message from Crean and from his players wasn’t groundreakingly original, to-tear-up-over inspirational or call-to-arms revolutionary.

But it was and will remain optimistic.

That’s a good thing.

-- e-mail:  nmhart@indiana.edu