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Indiana basketball should hire Porter Moser as their next coach

By Brad Berreman

Loyola (Il) Ramblers head coach Porter Moser walks alongside an official during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports
Loyola (Il) Ramblers head coach Porter Moser walks alongside an official during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /
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The choice to replace Archie Miller as the new Indiana basketball coach is an easy one. Just hire Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser. It’s a slam dunk.

The next Indiana basketball coach should be Loyola Chicago’s, Porter Moser.

After four uninspiring seasons, Archie Miller was fired as Indiana men’s basketball coach last Monday. Meanwhile, Loyola and head coach Porter Moser were preparing for their second NCAA Tournament bid in the last three tournaments.

Loyola made an improbable run to the Final Four in 2018, followed by 20 wins the next season and 21 wins in 2019-20. Heading into this year’s tournament, the Ramblers were 24-4 with MVC regular season and tournament titles. As the 8-seed in the Midwest Region, it was worth wondering if they were under-seeded.

After beating Georgia Tech 71-60  in the Round of 64, Loyola easily handled 1-seed Illinois 71-58 on Sunday. They’re headed to the Sweet 16, where they’ll face the winner of Oregon State-Oklahoma State.

Porter Moser could be the man to lead Indiana back to glory

Indiana was last in the NCAA Tournament in 2016, in Tom Crean’s second-to-last season as coach with their only Big Ten title (regular season) since 1993.  They reached the Sweet 16 that year. Their last Final Four was in 2002, with those three Sweet 16 trips since representing their deepest tournament runs.

In parallel with Miller’s 67-58 mark during his tenure, Moser is 99-35 (and counting) at Loyola over the last four seasons. The level of competition could be cited there, but Moser’s team has beaten plenty of major school teams in the NCAA Tournament.

Moser is an easily-rumored candidate for the openings at Minnesota and Marquette. Those connected to Indiana (fans, boosters, etc.) may have visions of a bigger name to replace Miller, but Brad Stevens doesn’t seem compelled to leave the Celtics. And Steve Alford professed his commitment to Nevada before anyone thought about asking if he’d leave to coach his alma mater.

Indiana has to find the right guy more than a glitzy name, and the resources afforded the basketball program make it an appealing job. Moser would surely have a hard time turning down an offer.

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