IUALUM03

To me, it's not we are losing (although that sucks), it is how we are losing. We look unprepared, out of position, uncoached, without a plan. A good coach could take the composition of this team, although imperfect, and at least make it competitive. We are breaking down across the board and not just in one area, which is why his comments after games have been disappointing and create a lack of confidence the go forward will be any better come next season.

I figure this needs to have it's own thread. What does it take to be successful at IU. It is not just x's and o's. You have to be a politician. You are in a fishbowl, which is why Archie couldn't hang among other things. You have to be able to deal with the media, fans, BoT, doners, etc., so figured it makes sense to start a list. I'll begin. 1) Need to have a strong balance between a offense and defensive scheme. Can't be just one. We saw how that worked with Crean. 2) Substance. Being a cheerleader goes so far and usually wears thin when things don't go as plan. Do you take accountability? Are you able to communicate a plan? etc.? 3) Adaptable. Having a scheme is important, as is mentioned in 1, but ultimately you aren't always going to have the horses to maintain that scheme, so can you adjust year to year, game to game, or within a game to pull out the max of the talent you have and position them to win. Also, do they listen to those around you? You have assistants for a reason and hopefully they are bringing alternate views, experiences, and specialties. 4) Tireless. We need a leader who is never satisfied. They are more motivated by not failing versus winning. There is a subtle difference. They will do what is necessary on the recruiting trail and in preparation to set the program and team up for success. 5) They respect the past, but are NOT paralyzed by it. This is a big one for me. I feel too often we have people are either weighed down by the failures if the last 30 years, the chants of doing things the right way, the traditions, etc. I want someone who only cares about putting a winning product on the floor. That is not to say I don't want strong ambassadors on the team and a molder of men, but there is so much noise about jerseys, names, the ghost of Bob Knight, etc., it becomes a hinderance versus a motivator. Push the program forward, stop trying the maintain the past. 6) Arrogance. This one speaks for itself I think, but to win and deal with the things I have alluded to at IU, you need to have some arrogance about you, but not blinding arrogance. Like everything, there is a fine line. The proverbial shit will hit the fan at some point and you need someone who is competent and not let the noise fold them. Take accountability and know they will be able fix it. Would love to hear more.

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3504597/the-nba-spent-just-3-days-in-indianapolis-for-the-all-star-weekend-and-then-immediately-changed-the-host-city-requirements-for-future-events Once again, the NBA shows its bias against small markets…

Gunn

Haliburton played within the flow and passed the ball on offense. The rest just walked it up the court and shot. I am not a conspiracy guy, but it felt a bit for a while there Giannis and Lillard boxed Haliburton out on purpose and their game was to get Lillard points early on.

Ware will be a good pro. He will benefit mightily from the spacing he doesn't get in college ball. A team will be smart to make a run at him in the late teens or early 20s, if something doesn't cause his stock to rise.

I feel it is more injuries in conjunction with new faces, but yeah. They have not been able to have a consistent rotation or rhythm since Haliburton was injured, then the trades happened, then the time management, etc.

I think that was more to do with Haliburton than anything. They need to give him a bridge to settle in and Buddy was part of that. Now with some of the pieces they have put around him along with the commitment, this is less important.

I'll be there.

Hopefully this can be our down year a la UNC with a bounce back next year.

I've thought Leal deserved more play since last year, but felt he wasn't getting it due to trying to give younger players with a higher ceiling a go for the longer-term future of the program. I believed now and believe even more it was a mistake. He has decent size, maturity/leadership, solid defense, and has a stroke. Only issue has been it is difficult it get in rhythm in 2 minute spurts every ten games. Woodson values versatility, not role players/specialists and it is a mistake.

Count me as someone who just does not buy into the Doc hype. I don't get it. He has won a championship, but arguably should have one more with the Celtics. Then has completely fallen flat every other stop he has been at given the talent. You hire a coach like him to elevate the already existing talent a la a Phil Jackson, but he isn't him.

So many times, he went one on one from beyond the arc to try to get a two, when Mack was open ready for ball. Complete lack of trust in teammates and that has ramifications over the course of season.

It’s hard to maintain momentum and energy when every time you make run, the refs bail them out and kill any run we are making.

It’s so unbalanced nbc isn’t even showing our team foul count any longer.

5 team fouls in a half for a game this physical is absurd. And you can’t say we have not been taking it to the paint.

I agree. At some point you have to take a chance to not let the game get away. It won’t matter if they can play the second half if we are down 20z

Free throws are the difference. The calls are horseshit and have set the tone of the game in their favor. Such a disappointing first half from refs.

Those hooks were garbage. Edey went up and under sparks. He hooked him. He’s using that rule to his advantage on offense. Several no calls on our end that were borderline assault.

Nebraska I would argue is closer, but ND isn't far off.

I agree. Also, I love the fact that our little small town Pacers have gotten under the skin of a recent NBA champion and player that some believe to be the best in the game. It means we are being taken seriously.

All I care about is the athletic department financially plans to have money set away for the rest of the coaching staff. The more I pay attention to successful programs, the more I realize the head coach only goes so far. You need to make a financial investment in the OC, DC, and rest of staff. Pay 4 or 5 million to a HC, if justified, but also expect to need another couple of million for staff.

Good advice.

I agree here. I love Coach and grew up in the '80s where he was at the height of his craft, but the Neil Reed incident has been difficult to shake and compartmentalize. I revered him like everyone else did. Just to be clear, I am not referencing the choke, but more the aggregate effect he had on him behind the scenes. I am sure he caught hell after Coach was fired by all of the fans that didn't help as well. I don't see how anyone who is a support of RMK could watch the documentary on Neil Reed and not walk away with some sort of internal conflict. I just would have liked to think Coach could have adjusted his approach a little bit with the realization that Neil was a bit more sensitive to his 'style' of coaching, similar to Larry Bird, who had mentioned regretting now adjusting for.