Tom Crean Has Reportedly Been Fired And The Mystery About Georgia Basketball Only Continues To Grow

[AJC] - After overseeing the losingest season in the history of Georgia basketball, all indications are that Crean and the Bulldogs will part ways after the season concludes, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. However, an official decision has not been made.

But it was the cascade of regular-season losses that sealed Crean’s fate. And now Georgia’s administration has moved on. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned that a search firm has been vetting potential candidates for at least two weeks. By the time the season officially is over – but not before then – Brooks should have a focused pool of three to five candidates to pursue.

Live reaction: 

Logan Riely. Getty Images.

Especially true when that report says Georgia has been using a search firm for over 2 weeks trying to find candidates to already replace you. Now, I get it. Tom Crean hasn't been successful at Georgia. He went 11-21, 16-16, 14-12, 6-25. Not exactly what you want. Obviously no NCAA Tournament appearances despite actually having some talent in the program. Anthony Edwards, Sahvir Wheeler, KD Johnson, Rayshaun Hammonds, Toumani Camara, Tye Fagan and Justin Kier. All guys that were on Georgia yet no success. That's ultimately what it came down to.

But this is a bigger thing for me. The mystery around Georgia basketball. The program as a whole sucks. They were decent in the 90s, making the Tournament in 90, 91, 96 and 97. Nothing to really write home about but 4 Tournaments is fine. They've only made 5 since 2000 and honestly the 08 one was a miracle thanks to a tornado that hit the Georgia Dome during the SEC Tournament. 

How the fuck is this program not just average? There's so much talent in the state to recruit from. You look around the SEC. Auburn turned it around. Alabama is a decent program. Arkansas has been a good program. Florida found success. Shit, even Vandy had a run of decent success. But Georgia? Georgia has always been kind of shit. That's what I mean by the mystery of Georgia. 

Also why the hire is so important. So who are they looking at? 

In the early going at least, Georgia appears to be focused on four primary targets: Xavier associate head coach Jonas Hayes, Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates, Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes and USC head coach Andy Enfield.

Welp, Forbes got a contract extension yesterday so rule that out. Enfield doesn't make sense. He can get a better job and already has a better job with some success at USC. Jonas Hayes is one of the most respected assistant coaches out there. Dennis Gates is a damn good mid-major coach. I still think Ron Hunter was the guy they needed to make amends with and figure out how to hire him. Hunter is a ridiculously good coach. Yes, this Ron Hunter. 

Chris O'Meara. Shutterstock Images.

It sounds like it's going to be Hayes. Fine. He can recruit the Georgia area and is one of Georgia's own. Mostly just avoid having coaches fight each other. 

All the losing finally reached a breaking point in the locker room on Feb. 16. Assistant coach Wade Mason allegedly punched player personnel director Brian Fish at halftime of the LSU game in Baton Rouge. The incident was reported by Fish the next morning, UGA Human Resources launched an investigation and Mason was indefinitely suspended with pay. Mason, hired by Crean from Stephen F. Austin last June, has since left the program.

Now it's time for Tom Crean, analyst.