And then there were 3...

There are now just three players left from the Sampson era. Eli Holman evidently flipped out, threw a plant (maybe Knight gave him some pointers on appropriate office behavior during his recent Indiana visit) and is leaving. DeAndre Thomas, Jamarcus Ellis, and Armon Bassett are now dismissed. Only Jordan Crawford, Brandon "breakaway dunk blocked by the rim" McGee, and former walk-on Kyle Taber return. Technically, Taber walked on during the Mike Davis era, so there's only two players left that Sampson brought in. There'll be two more next year as Tom Pritchard & Matt Roth were originally Sampson commitments, along with guards Nick Williams, Devan Dumes, and walk-on Daniel Moore, and whoever else Crean can grab in the next few months.

I think Crean will succeed at IU, but it sure won't be next year. I don't fault him for starting off like this, but Hoosier fans should get used to this phrase: "Starting Center Tom Pritchard."

Once Kosta Koufos signs with an agent, and once Ekpe Udoh makes up his mind about staying or leaving Michigan, most of my "five questions" for the Big Ten offseason should be answered. I'll have power poll projections for next year's Big Ten before too long, but getting those answers would make it easier.