Ellis, Bassett, Holman, Thomas depart from IU team; three scholarship players return

[CalebMaxson]

Crean will have to do a little bit more recruiting this offseason than he probably had planned. Thanks to the upheld dismissals of guard Armon Bassett and forward Jamarcus Ellis, and the reported impending transfers of forward Deandre Thomas and Eli Holman, Coach Tom Crean will only return three scholarship players next year.

Big men White, Holman, and Thomas all departed for different reasons from IU this year

Ellis and Bassett were mainstays on the Hoosier starting five. Ellis averaged 6.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and Bassett averaged 11.4 points per game, shooting over 45% from beyond the arc. Thomas played significant minutes off the bench, and was essential filling in for star DJ White. Holman was sidelined with a season-ending wrist injury early, but he was expected to be a contributor next year.

With the departures of these four players, only sophomores Brandon McGee and Jordan Crawford and senior Kyle Taber return next year. Indiana also has commitments to bring in five additional players next year, including JUCO transfer Devan Dumes, freshmen Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth, and Nick Williams, and walk-on Daniel Moore, for a total of only eight players so far for next season (this year IU had 14 players on the roster).

While this news certainly hurts IU's program in the immediate future, it could turn out to be a positive turn of events down the line. The departures give Crean considerably more freedom to build the team with his own hand-picked players immediately, without adjusting to players who were recruited by a coach with a much different coaching philosophy.

Even for their strengths on the court, each of these players had issues off the court, whether it was academics, work ethic in training, or run-ins with the law. Holman's academic eligibility was a major concern earlier this season, Ellis and Bassett were both suspended this season, and Thomas never got into great playing shape.

If they weren't going to buy into Crean's academics and character first approach, it is only for the better that they are out of the program. Trying to force a dysfunctional team toward success only would have been a recipe for disaster. Indiana may experience harsh growing pains over the next season or two, but we knew the whole time that it would take time for Crean to turn this program in the right direction once again.

Discuss IU's situation for next year in the forums.

Related links:
ESPN - Bassett, Ellis, Thomas, Holman all leaving Hoosier program - Men's College Basketball
Police dispatched to Assembly Hall to calm an angry Eli Holman
Scout.com: Crean Issues Statement on Holman Incident

[IU_All_Day]

Man, I was hoping they'd give Bassett another chance, but I suppose that would have looked bad if they didn't reinstate Ellis as well.

[CreanforLife]

I think this certainly helps to spur the rebuilding process. Will this also help our academic rating as well??

[IUBalla512]

I didn't foresee Thomas leaving...will they try and play at other schools or what? I can't see sitting out a year helping Bassett or Holman at all.

[EricB]

Out with the old, in with the new. This is all just part of the game when there's a huge coaching change.

[gohoosiers60]

Crean's recruits over the next few years will make MUCH better use of these scholarships, imo. Let Ellis and Bassett take their attitudes elsewhere. Holman throwing plants in the office? Ridiculous.

[iuhoosiers17]

Crean is already making the upheld suspensions a very, very wise decision. Holman and Thomas will be missing out big time.