Sampson to be fired tomorrow, sources say
We knew this one was coming — surely everyone did — but Kelvin Sampson apparently has coached his last game with the Hoosiers.
As it turns out, Indiana’s 77-68 victory over Purdue last Tuesday will be Kelvin Sampson’s last as the Hoosiers head coach.
Sampson was informed early Thursday that he will no longer be the coach at Indiana, numerous sources told FOXSports.com.
The official announcement is expected to come Friday, when the university’s self-imposed seven-day investigation period ends.
You knew this was coming; don’t act too shocked.
Regrettably, this is certainly bad for the conference in the short term. I had thought entering the season that the recent arrivals of Beilein, Sampson and Tubby into the Big Ten would infuse some life into the conference, and even make it elite in just a few years time. The Hoosiers, certainly now, are arguably the conference’s best chances in the NCAA tournament and, historically, are definitely the sacred cow of the conference’s basketball endeavors. Removing Sampson mid-season almost certainly hurts conference prestige this year as it sabotages in important ways the Hoosiers’ season, allowing pundits to take solace in saying that the Big Ten is as “down” and “weak” in basketball as they say it is in football. I still say Purdue is legit and will surely surprise come tournament time.
Oh, and that Dakich guy will probably replace Sampson. You knew that too.
There is not a lot of data out there on talented teams getting new coaches most of the way into a season . . . but um did win a national title after Frieder left. My guess is that the lack of effective players after White-Gordon-Ellis-Bassett will be a bigger problem for IU in the tournament than the lack of Sampson.