Timing of McLeod Firing is More than a Little Odd

In case you missed, Assistant Coach Roshown McLeod missed Saturday's NW game and was fired on Sunday.

Crean is being very vague about it and McLeod has been tight-lipped but plans to issue a statement tomorrow.

The Hoosier Scoop captured Crean's comments from his radio show.  In typical Tom Crean fashion, he talked for a little while, but didn't really say much.

“I want Roshown to be successful,” Crean said. “I think what happened with us is it became abundantly clear that I needed to make a change. It became clear to our staff that we needed to make a change. The only thing that’s worse than looking at the time was being indecisive. I wasn’t going to be indecisive. That’s where it’s at. Frankly, I’d like to keep it there. I really don’t want to have to go any further than that. I want to continue to coach this basketball team this season the best way that we can, Continue to recruit the way that we are, get this program pulling in the same direction in every area in what we’re trying to accomplish, what we want from Indiana, what Indiana deserves from us, certainly with the recruiting. It’s gotta be pulling in the same direction and that’s what I want to focus on, and I’m going to do my best to leave it at that and focus on that. I’m not being evasive, but that’s where I’m leaving it…. The decision’s been made. That’s the way it is.”

Obviously, Crean is trying to downplay the timing, but I have to admit that the timing does seem very odd.  There has been speculation that Crean was not happy with McLeod's recruiting and his handling of the big men (I know, a picture of Tom Pritchard popped into my head too).  However, if McLeod's performance is the ONLY issue, then you simply wait until the season ends on Thursday or Friday.  So, I think there has to be more to it than that.

Since this blog has absolutely no journalistic integrity, let's FUEL SOME SPECULATION:

• Maybe Crean has his eye on a new assistant and wants to be sure he can act as soon as the season ends. 
• Perhaps Crean has his eye on a recruiting target or targets and has an assistant in mind that can help him land said target(s). 
• Could it be disciplinary?  McLeod was not at the game on Saturday, then fired on Sunday.  Hmmm.
• What if McLeod made too many phone calls?  Wouldn't you just shit a [insert your answer to the poll question here]!?!?!?!

Now that I've thrown that out there, let's just hope that Crean had made up his mind and figured there was no plus side to waiting even though the season is nearly over.