New Mexico Head Mens' Basketball coach Steve Alford has guided the Lobos to their greatest season in school history. They are currently ranked #10 in the country and have just clinched the Mountain West Conference Regular Season Title. They currently are 28-3 overall and14-2 in conference play.
As for Alford's alma matre, Indiana University, the season could not be more opposite. The Hoosiers are 9-20 overall and 3-14 in the Big 10. Tom Crean has had two years to get the program back on track to the excellence it enjoyed under Bob Knight and, to a certain extent, under current UAB coach Mike Davis. I know that Indiana lost their best player to injury. However, this is the second year in a row that Indiana has had a losing season. For those who didn't care for Mike Davis, he did not do this bad. Crean will get another year, but if next year is just like this year, Crean may be out. If Steve Alford has another fantastic year with the Lobos next year while Crean and Indiana are struggling again, look for Steve Alford to "finally come home." No disrespect to UNM, but Indiana is a better job than New Mexico. Basketball is King in the State of Indiana, as is Indiana University. Alford will get the best players in the state. He turned around a mediocre New Mexico program and now they are in the top 10.
I don't think anyone expected Alford to get New Mexico where it now is. He is a fine coach and a great recruiter. As a fan of the "Mid Majors" (if you consider the MWC a Mid Major conference), I don't want Alford to leave UNM. But let's face it. IU would be willing to throw big time money at Alford to lure him back to Bloomington. If things continue as they are at both Badminton and Albuquerque a year from now, there's a great chance that Steve Alford will come home to Bloomington to be Indiana's next head coach during the 2011-12 season.
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