Tom Crean was blunt. Would you expect anything less from a guy back once again in the unwanted glare of dealing with misbehaving players?
Indiana’s basketball coach accepted responsibility for his players’ actions, in this case last weekend’s citations for underage possession of alcohol by sophomore Emmett Holt and freshman Thomas Bryant, but not for their decisions.
Crean embraced the strong words of IU’s president that this must stop. He said discipline has already begun, but wasn’t ready to reveal it. He demanded that players hold each other accountable, that they understand the concept of what being a good teammate really means and the responsibilities that come with playing for the Hoosiers.
He also criticized a two-year pattern of poor player leadership and vowed to do everything in his power to change it. A potential special season — and so much more — depends on it
And so in a Lucas Oil Stadium hallway Thursday evening, just before participating in an annual summer alumni gathering, Crean addressed the Hoosiers’ seemingly never-ending poor decision making.
“I’d love to sugarcoat it, but I can’t,” he said. “Ultimately, I’m responsible, but our internal team leadership has been less than poor for the last two years.
“Our upperclass leadership is not good. I include the sophomores in that group. If you’re going to have a big on-the-court role at Indiana, you’re going to have a big role when it comes to leadership. It’s not about I didn’t make the mistake. That doesn’t fly. You have to protect your teammates.
“Regardless of what’s fair, Emmett should have never had my freshman in that situation. It’s important to understand that you have to be a great teammate and do more than just take care of yourself.”
Holt and Bryant were in a parked car with three other people in front of a Bloomington convenience store early Saturday morning. Excise police caught them with two unopened bottles of vodka, a problem given they are underage. Holt is 19. Bryant is 18.
At the time, Crean said he was with his family “3,000 miles away” and counting on his players to act responsibly. Once again, it was too much to ask.
“It’s important that players are looking out for one another,” Crean said. “That’s how you build a winning program. They have to understand that it’s a 24/7 deal. There’s nothing else like it at the university.
“There are very few programs in the country that have the 24/7 identification that Indiana does. We’re struggling to understand that.”
This was the second alcohol-related incident for Holt, and the sixth highly publicized time in the last 18 months IU players have failed to meet program standards. It happened despite continued efforts by Crean and his staff to stop it, including suspensions, dismissals and various other punishments.
Indiana President Michael McRobbie’s message this week to the basketball program, and to the entire athletic department, was that these incidents must stop.
“I know where the responsibility sits with me and the coaching staff,” Crean said. “I know that (Athletic Director Fred Glass) feels responsibility. I was listening loud and clear when the president spoke. I get that.”
IU isn’t the only athletic program dealing with player issues.
There are the well-documented troubles involving Florida State football players.
Illinois basketball coach John Groce kicked forward Darius Paul off the team after the junior was arrested on charges of vandalism, public intoxication and resisting arrest during the Illini’s recent trip to Europe.
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Michigan State Tom Izzo recently suspended players Eron Harris and Alvin Ellis.
But that doesn’t make Crean’s task any easier.
“I’m responsible for this program. I’m responsible for the players’ behavior. Me being hurt (about it) is not going to get it done,” he said.
Crean mentioned former Hoosier forward Hanner Mosquerea-Perea, who was kicked off the team last spring following a pair of issues — his February of 2014 arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (he was suspended for that, among other punishments) and his role in the marijuana-related incident that led to his and forward Devin Davis’ dismissal.
“I wish when Hanner when got in trouble (for the OW), and I love Hanner Perea, I wish I’d have removed him from the team then. Sometimes you want things to go the right way and get attached and then realize it’s not working,” Crean said.
As far as who might fulfill the necessary leadership role, Crean couldn’t say. That’s telling given the Hoosiers return All-Big Ten guard Yogi Ferrell, a pair of other all-conference players in Troy Williams and James Blackmon, and enough overall talent to project them as a Top 15 team.
“I won’t define anybody in terms of leadership — if I had a great leader I would have named him,” Crean said. “We might be expecting too much leadership out of some guys. Last year we got better after we had our issues, but it wasn’t in the form of having great leadership. That’s obvious.
“There are high expectations for the players and this team, and high expectations to be at Indiana. We have poor leadership. We have some guys who have been here who have to pick it up in a hurry.”
Crean started work at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, with his staff joining him 45 minutes later. There were workouts to plan, preparations to make and, yes, discipline to deliver, and he wasn’t about to waste any time getting started.
The stakes are too high.
“This isn’t fun for anybody,” Crean said.