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Georgia Basketball: Failed Execution in Fourth Year for Tom Crean

By Tyler Badger

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Tom Crean of the Georgia Bulldogs signals to his players during a first round Maui Invitation game against the Dayton Flyers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Tom Crean of the Georgia Bulldogs signals to his players during a first round Maui Invitation game against the Dayton Flyers at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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When head coach Tom Crean arrived in Athens in March of 2018, the hope for an era of championship-level Georgia basketball began. However, four years into the Crean era hasn’t been what Dawg nation expected.

Crean’s history suggested that greatness would follow, but that hasn’t been the case.

The Dawgs hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2015, hadn’t advanced past the first round since 1996 as the 2002 appearance was vacated by the NCAA, and was desperate for consistent success.

On the other hand, Crean arrived with a pedigree that included nine NCAA Tournament appearances, three conference championships, and three trips to the Sweet Sixteen. Six of those tournament appearances occurred during his time at Indiana from 2008-2017, including four in his last six years as head coach.

Georgia basketball expected a solid year four out of Tom Crean but didn’t quite get that.

Crean struggled in his first three years at Indiana, compiling a record of 28-66, a .298 winning percentage, before an incredible turnaround in year four as the Hoosiers went 27-9 and a Sweet Sixteen appearance.

Comparatively, his first three years at Georgia led to a significantly better record at 41-49, a.456 winning percentage, increasing the number of SEC wins each season from two in 2018-19, five in 2019-20, to seven in 2020-21.

So Georgia basketball fans had reasonable expectations for continued improvement in year four.

Given his history and a top-20 recruiting class, Tom Crean and the Dawgs seemed destined for a desperately-needed NCAA Tournament Berth in 2021-22, and then, the unthinkable happened.

Nine players from Georgia’s 2020-21 roster transferred out of the program, including four prominent starters who are now excelling in their respective roles at Power 5 programs.

Georgia Basketball got left with the 60th-ranked recruiting class, with three incoming freshmen and seven transfers.

Let’s not discount the current young men on the floor; they play with incredible heart each game. But any transition takes time, and time is not something that’s in Tom Crean’s favor.

Coming into the week of Tuesday’s game vs. Alabama, Georgia is 5-14, ranked last in all major defensive categories, including steals, blocks, and rebounds per game in the SEC. They also found themselves in the bottom half of most offensive categories outside of free throw percentage, where they ranked No.2.

Next. Georgia football: 3 proven players who outplayed their recruiting ranking. dark

Georgia fans can brace for another coaching change at the end of the season, barring a miracle. The pressure will be on Athletics Director Josh Brooks to get this one right and re-energize the Georgia men’s basketball program.

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