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After nine seasons as coach of Indiana Tom Crean was fired last week. One season ago, the Hoosiers won an outright Big Ten title under him. But this season, finishing 18-16 and missing the NCAA Tournament, was seen largely as a disappointment. Indiana athletic director Fred Glass made it clear that although Crean achieved some success during his tenure, he didn’t meet the standard Indiana basketball expects.

Said Glass: “The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep into the NCAA Tournament, and win our next national championship — and more after that.”

Crean never won that elusive national title in Bloomington. But in an interview with Sports Illustrated, his first interview after his firing, he says he still hopes the Hoosiers can get it done.

“I love Indiana,” Crean said. “I loved it here. That’s not going to change. You can’t go loving something every day for nine years and then suddenly hate it,” he said. Adding: “I hope Indiana wins that national championship. And another one. I really do.”

The expectations for Crean were clearly sky-high, and in a “what have you done for me lately?” culture of college basketball, he wasn’t able to find success in a season that was derailed by injuries. 

Crean declined to comment on his relationship with the administration at Indiana, but did note that he chose not to attend the meeting with Glass in which he was going to be informed about the school’s decision to fire him.