Mike Davis, you've had an interesting few years at Indiana. A pit-stop in the Final Four and temper-tantrums around the Big Ten are what I will remember most, but I saw this whole resignation thing coming.
But I don't blame you. You said it best when you proclaimed Indiana fans wanted 'one of their own,' during your coaching tenure, and being thrown into the fire after the departure of legendary head coach Bob Knight was not an easy act to follow.
So, after seemingly rushing Davis out the door, where does Indiana turn when looking for a replacement. Here are a few possibilities.
Steve Alford: The golden boy, the fan favorite and absolutely the wrong man for the job. Hoosier fans would embrace this move more than any other, but a quick memo to Alford? Things (including your job-security) are pretty good in Iowa right now.
Don't look to take on the storybook challenge of bringing your alma mater back to national prominence. Your time in Indiana was special; take solace in the fact you have nothing more to prove there.
Isaiah Thomas: The way this season is unraveling in the Big Apple, Thomas should be available in a few months.
One of the better players that Indiana has ever produced, Thomas rivals Alford for the sentimental/crowd favorite pick. But let's take a look back at this man's resum?? off the court. He's been a Canadian assassin, successfully running the CBA and the Toronto Raptors into the ground. Currently, he is looking for the trifecta in the form of the Knicks, who through bad trades and front office moves, are in position to become the NBA's new version of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Bobby Knight: Not a chance. Just ask Dana Jacobson who had the pleasure of interviewing Knight while he was starring in his own reality show.
Finally, Thad Matta: The current coach at Ohio State has brought the Buckeye program (which he inherited with multiple NCAA violations) back to respectability. Not only is Ohio State currently sitting atop the Big Ten this season, things can only get better in Columbus when the top high school player in the land, 7-footer Greg Oden arrives on campus.
Matta would be crazy to leave a team that could be a legitimate NCAA title contender next year. And if you thought KFC All-American Brian Butch looked overmatched against Ohio State big-man Terrence Dials this year, wait until Oden gets a piece of him in the post next year. Fans won't see much of the Butch-face (ex. I just got an offensive rebound by tipping it to myself) in the next two years, but rather the, yeah,-Bo-is-going-to-take-me-out-immediately-after-I-just-did-that,
-but-I'll-just-pretend-I'm-mad-at-myself-so-it-looks-like-it-dosen't-happen-very-often face.
Thad, you have a good thing going, even if your program will always play second fiddle to the football team.
The fact is, none of these guys has any business bolting to Bloomington, Ind. So what is the next step for the Hoosier higher brass? Get someone with no ties to Indiana University or the entire state in general. The Hoosier tradition in the state is second to none, but it's time to start fresh, regardless of what the fans and alumni want.
Because what other option do they have, start going to football games? Yeah.
