Looking at potential early leaders

Experience: 19 seasons (354-229) at Marquette and Indiana

Salary: $3.16 million

Buyout: $500,000 has been reported, but sources have told us If he leaves by choice, there is no financial restitution due. If he is fired prior to July 1, Indiana owes him $4 million dollar, but that number is reduced dollar-for-dollar by any salary Crean would make at a subsequent job.

The Case for Crean: He’s won. A lot. He made a Final Four at Marquette. He’s won three conference titles, including two in the rugged Big Ten in the last four years. Even this year, when the Hoosiers are struggling and hurt by injuries, Crean has beaten probable No. 1 seeds North Carolina and Kansas. Crean has the most experience and also is the most logical of the three to be looking for a fresh start somewhere else.

The highs for him at both of his previous starts are higher than anything Missouri has experienced in a quarter of a century. At Indiana, they have not been high enough to offset the lows in the minds of fans and boosters. At Missouri, they would be. The coach that breaks Missouri’s now 23-year conference championship drought will earn himself a whole bunch of equity.

The Case Against Crean: You’re buying low. You’re hiring a coach who his current school would like for you to take off its hands. Is that a problem? The other issue with Crean is that the valleys do exist. He has won, but he has been inconsistent. You have to be okay with some off years if you hire Crean.

The Verdict: Crean would be a good hire. Of the logical realistic choices, Crean makes the most sense. He is the easiest lift and place of the three. Missouri fans want him and Indiana fans want Missouri to get him.

While what Crean has done at Indiana may not be enough to satisfy a fanbase that got used to winning the Big Ten and playing for national championships. it would satisfy Missouri fans if he could replicate it. Hoosier fans will point to Crean’s lackluster in-state recruiting efforts (he has missed on a lot of in-state four-and five-star prospects), if he is recruiting at Missouri, perhaps his method works better. Crean has shown a knack for taking some under-appreciated prospects and turning them into good players. Look no further for proof than O.G. Anunoby, who Missouri didn’t offer out of Jefferson City and who is about to be an NBA first round draft pick after two years in Bloomington. Dwyane Wade wasn’t exactly a guy with Division One coaches beating down his door either.