But he did it with underrated 2-3 star type players. Maybe this will translate when he can land the 4-5 stars and maybe not. That is, maybe he is a better coach of hard working, bring your lunch pail type players (like CMP) rather than the type of players IU has gotten the last few years. He and CMP would certainly be recruiting the same type of players.
Not sure I would completely agree with the "underrated 2-3 star players" point.
Per 24/7... Matt Howard was a 4-star player, one that Painter really wanted.
Nored, Mack, Vanzant, (Andrew) Smith were all 3-star players.
It's interesting to note, 24/7 doesn't even recognize Gordon Hayward as a recruit. He was a (Rivals) 3-star, and very much overlooked by the recruiting services (and many schools) because of his late growth in HS. (Although, Rivals indicates Purdue offered.)
There clearly is agreement: Brad Stevens is a very good coach. As has been pointed out, he made the NCAA NC game 2 years in a row.
One has to wonder, how much of it was the coaching, the team chemistry, getting the right players at the right time, and the overall atmosphere in his program. It is very, very difficult to replicate that in another environment at another time.
If IU gets him, (still VERY much in doubt, and HIGHLY unlikely, IMHO) he'll certainly be better than Clappy the Clown (Crean) and/or Arch.
Will he get them back to the NCAA FF? That's what all the IU fans are expecting. but, that's a very tall order. I tend to think it's more like they believe they're entitled, and that there's some "IU magic", and adding someone who's been there before will be the secret sauce.
It should also be noted, before going to IU Clappy also went to the Final Four with Dwayne Wade...
