Crean overcomes criticism to lead Hoosiers back to Sweet 16

[...] a late-season slump and another tourney exit in the 2013 regional semis prompted fans to start asking whether Crean's hard practices wore down his team and ruined the Hoosiers' shot at a sixth national title.

[...] when the Hoosiers failed to make the postseason in 2014 and started the 2014-15 season with three players suspended and another in the hospital with a serious head injury, the boo-birds returned.

After announcing the suspensions in November 2014, Crean spent 45 minutes on a usually friendly radio call-in show being peppered by fans about what was wrong inside the program.

More questions came after Crean booted three players off the team last offseason for additional transgressions, which prompted Indiana University President Michael McRobbie to tell coaches and athletic department officials the student misbehavior was "embarrassing" and had "to stop."

Another regional semifinal loss Friday could generate a new round of debate about Crean's ability to win "big games," the same tag once applied to Hall of Fame NFL coach Tony Dungy and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning.