Stanley Leary / AP

If Georgia Tech is going to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, it needs freshman Derrick Favors to be more assertive on offense, writes Ken Davis.

Q: Indiana’s Tom Crean is trying to resurrect the basketball program. What are your views/opinions on his recruiting to date? Have read that some writers think he's a better cheerleader than a coach. Your opinion please!
— Tom Doney, Indianapolis

A: I’ve never known a coach with more energy than Tom Crean; maybe as much, but certainly not more. The guy wears you out just watching him pace up and down the sideline. Perhaps some writers are bothered by that and view him as a cheerleader. That’s their problem, not Crean’s.

Anyone who caught Indiana’s game against Michigan on Dec. 31 — a 71-65 Indiana victory — knows that Crean is a good bench coach. And he proved that over and over at Marquette.

Given all the obstacles Crean had to overcome when he took over at Indiana, I’d say his first class was remarkable. Just look at the contributions from Maurice Creek and Christian Watford already this season. The fractured knee suffered by Creek was very unfortunate and that made the Michigan win — without Creek — even more impressive. Crean is building a program now.

In all fairness, it will take three or four recruiting classes to get Indiana back to the top of the Big Ten.

Timeline Must-see college hoops games From the Duke-Butler rematch to the Bluegrass State Showdown, here are the games you have to watch. NBCSports.com

A: Yes, Jeff, I have seen Brandon Triche play a couple of times on TV. Now that the Big East season is starting up I hope to see him in person soon. I covered Brandon’s uncle, Howard Triche, when he played for Syracuse in the mid-80’s. I think people expected Brandon to contribute this season but certainly not to the degree (10.6 ppg, 2.9 apg) that he has. He has been terrific and if you are an Orange fan you have every reason to be excited.

I think that 11-point performance against North Carolina let everyone know that Triche is for real. I didn’t check out your stats, but I’m sure Triche’s numbers would be better if he averaged more time. That’s not what Syracuse needs right now. Triche has helped Syracuse become a better team and Johnson’s play has overshadowed everything else. Personally, I think Andy Rautins deserves more attention for his play. But, again, Syracuse is getting this done as a unit, as a team, as a group — not as individuals.

Forget about the John Wall comparisons. No one is going to match Wall’s publicity machine this season. Just be glad Triche is wearing Orange.

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Mark J. Terrill / AP

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Former Indiana coach and player Lou Watson has died at the age of 88.

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