Ironically enough it seems that the most important quality most IU fans are looking for in a new coach is the ability to recruit. The sting of losing Oden and Conley and the impending departure of DeShaun Thomas is still alive and well in Hoosier land.
It goes to show that, in contrast to what most IU fans think, Bloomington is just not on par with the top programs in college basketball. If IU was one of these said basketball powerhouses wouldn't it hold true that anyone could recruit at IU? Wouldn't it just sell itself to would be recruits? Matta recruits the best Indiana talent out of the state to a, in their words, perennial football school. Isn't this as much a statement on the fact that they aren't what they think they are? UNC or Duke would not let the best player in North Carolina get away to Florida for example would they?
Thad is a great recruiter and coach, we all know this. Mike Davis didn't stand a chance against him and Sampson had to break the rules to compete with the likes of Bruce Weber, so what are his chances of competing with Thad head to head for a player?
If the Indiana tradition "sold" itself to recruits we wouldn't be having this conversation.