https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2018/10/09/ranking-the-10-best-coaching-hires-heading-into-this-season/

5. TOM CREAN, Georgia

This wasn't exactly an exciting hire for the Bulldogs after Crean's tenure in Indiana sort of petered out, but that's probably not giving Crean enough credit for all he accomplished in and the players he brought to Bloomington. No, he's not the exciting up-and-comer who brought Dwyane Wade to Marquette anymore, but Crean still won a ton of games with the Hoosiers. He's also widely regarded in the industry as a serious grinder who didn't just cash TV checks in his time off the bench, but rather continued to learn and study. Maybe he won't have runaway success in Athens, but I think something like what Rick Barnes has done at Tennessee is very much a possibility.

Crean was a great hire for UGA. But his long term evaluation will come down to recruiting. Fox was a great bench/game plan coach, but for whatever reason, he didn't get the talent to come to Athens. Early returns look promising for Crean, so if he can get the talent, he'll be successful. There's so much talent in the state, the opportunity is there. I'm not saying we're going to turn into Duke or North Carolina or anyone all a sudden, but Crean is casting a wide net for high rated guys, so if enough of those guys come aboard, he'll win.

I gotta say that's a very weak and lazy evaluation by the writer. Crean was absolutely an exciting hire for UGA. He has changed the whole face of UGA hoops with his energy, desire to motivate the fans, bringing in a huge influx of new staff and creating a whole new vibe around the program - and we haven't even played a game yet. Crean had a #1 ranked team at IU and has been to the NCAA often. Comparing Crean with what Barnes has done at Tennessee, as if that is some kind of ceiling, is, in my mind, incorrect. Barnes is older and arguably didn't have the same pedigree or track record of winning that Crean has coming to UGA. Barnes was just OK at Clemson and usually overrated at Texas. I think Crean will exceed this comparison in Athens. I know the players love the guy and love his system. That should tell us a lot.

RedDawg said:

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Crean was a great hire for UGA. But his long term evaluation will come down to recruiting. Fox was a great bench/game plan coach, but for whatever reason, he didn't get the talent to come to Athens.

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Sorry, but I just can't use 'great' in talking about any of Fox's tenure in Athens.