> SOUTHERN INDIANA — STARLIGHT — Most people would think that Indiana University men’s basketball coach Tom Crean has lost a little bit of his enthusiasm in his attempt to rebuild his tradition-rich program after the Hoosiers have gone 16-46 the past two seasons.

But that enthusiasm has not waned one bit. That was evident during the IU Tailgate Tour on Wednesday evening at Huber Winery.

Crean was the last of five Hoosier head coaches to speak to a crowd of approximately 500 IU fans. The other mentors included head football coach Bill Lynch, head men’s soccer coach Todd Yeagley, head volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar and head women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack. IU athletic director Fred Glass also addressed the Hoosier faithful.

Crean told the audience that his players are continuing to show improvement, both on the court and in the classroom. He also got the IU fans fired up by clapping along with them during the playing of “Indiana, Our Indiana” prior to his speech and by raising his voice during the speech’s final moments.

“We’re growing. (The players) are literally growing,” Crean said. “I think they’re tired of the way they’ve been viewed.”

The one thing all IU fans are curious about is the prognosis of Hoosier shooting guard Maurice Creek.

Creek, IU’s leading scorer last year, suffered a broken kneecap during a home game last December against Bryant. The injury ended Creek’s freshman season.

In a press conference before his speech, Crean said that he is unsure when the sophomore-to-be will be ready to return to competition.

“I don’t know if we’re there as far as having a definitive date yet,” Crean said. “It could be in July or it may not be until August. It’s healing very well, but every once in a while we have to slow him down. Maurice is really getting stronger. He’s just in love with the game. He’s trying to watch as much film as he can. He’s doing everything he can do to keep himself focused on something that’s become very tedious for him and that’s his rehab. But he’s working extremely hard at that.”

Despite his star player still recovering from the injury, Crean told the crowd to remind University of Kentucky fans how many points Creek put up against the Wildcats in last year’s 90-73 setback at Assembly Hall.

“You can tell all your Kentucky friends that he put 31 on them,” Crean said. “We need that back.”

Crean could point toward several areas of his squad that must improve for it to have a winning record in 2010-11.

But on Wednesday, he said the Hoosiers’ defense must get better for them to be competitive. IU surrendered 71.5 points per game last season and 73 a clip during the Big Ten season.

“We’ve got to get more points off our defense,” Crean said. “We’ve got to get stronger and tougher.”

One player Crean is looking at to step up his defensive game is Verdell Jones III. The 6-foot-5 guard was IU’s second-leading scorer last season at 14.9 points per game.

“He’s got to get that respect as one of the better players in the league. For him to do that, he’s got to be a better defender,” Crean said.

Crean thinks his defense will improve with the addition of Guy-Marc Michel. The 7-1 transfer from North Idaho College and a native of Sainte-Marie, Martinique, has a wingspan of 7-8.

“When you have someone with a 7-8 wingspan, you can change your mentality defensively,” Crean said.

Another topic Crean addressed was the school’s new basketball practice facility, Cook Hall. He invited all Hoosier fans to visit the new facility when they are in Bloomington. The facility includes Legacy Court, which chronicles the history of IU basketball.

“Come and see it,” Crean said. “Our facilities on campus are amazing.”



LYNCH PLEASED WITH FIVE AREA PLAYERS

In a press conference before Wednesday’s festivities, Lynch gave high marks to the spring performances of five area players on his roster. There are four players from Jeffersonville on the team in quarterback Edward Wright-Baker, running back Trea Burgess, linebacker Brandon McGhee and defensive end Michael Carter. Wide receiver Brett Martin played at New Albany.

“I think they all did well,” Lynch said. “Trea is the leader of that group. He’s a fifth-year player and he’s played a lot of football, so we’re expecting him to play well and be an important part of the team. Ed Wright-Baker is a talented young kid who had a really good winter and spring.

“Brandon McGhee has been in the program for quite some time. He’s participated on special teams and he’ll have a role come the fall. Mike Carter is young and has to keep developing as well as Brett Martin from New Albany.”

Wright-Baker, who was redshirted last season, will be battling Columbus East product Dusty Kiel for the No. 2 quarterback spot behind starter Ben Chappell when preseason practice begins in August.

“He’s very competitive,” Lynch said about Wright-Baker. “I thought he had a really good spring and he ran the No. 2 (team) throughout the fall. As it turned out, I’m glad we were able to redshirt him so we didn’t waste his year. He’s a very good athlete. He’s got a great arm and he’ll be a big part of our football program.”



LYNCH, GLASS ADDRESS POSSIBLE BIG TEN EXPANSION

One of the hot topics this spring is the possible expansion of the Big Ten Conference. Past reports have the league possibly growing to at least 14 schools.

Glass told the media at Huber’s that there would be lots of positives for IU if the conference expands.

“The good news is we’ll only expand if it’s good for the conference,” Glass said. “If we do it, Indiana University will have the same benefits as the other teams have as far as driving more revenue. There will be some new rivalries. It will help us as a conference and as a school to get into recruiting areas where we’re not as strong in.”

Lynch says he has not thought a lot about expansion, but he believes it will become a reality in the future.

“We have no control over it,” Lynch said. “Whatever happens, it’s going to be a positive for the league because there is a lot of smart people involved in it. By the time it finally kicks in, it’s going to be two or three years down the road. We don’t have any idea what’s going to happen. But obviously, something is going to happen.

“I think it’s inevitable and I think it’s going to be a positive whatever it’s going to be.”