BGleas

Beyond not looking into his record close enough, I also viewed Woodson as boring. While he had success, at the NBA level he never really seemed to have the personality to be the face of a franchise. But, I now think his age was actually the perfect timing for him to come to IU. In his mid-to-late 40's/50's he comes off as kind of boring, but in his 60's he comes off as the wise, semi-cool, semi-funny old guy. The sort of guy that younger players look to as a guide. I think the timing is actually perfect. I also love the staff he's built. A lot of diversity in age and relatability on the staff. Woodson: The older, wise sort of uncle/grandfather figure and NBA guy Hunter: The father figure, college guy, recruiter Ya: The big brother, AAU scene, etc Walsh: The friend/buddy, former player, etc. That's not a statement on who they are as coaches, just more thoughts on how they can relate to players. I have no idea what these guys actual personalities are, but in terms of age, experience, diversity and things that players can relate too, IU has a lot to offer right now.

Wow! Being a college coach is an absolute grind.

As a player, my response would be something like, "wait, you have a $50K NIL deal that you sourced for me and you've been sitting on it? I only get it in the event that there is a scholarship crunch and I have to give up my scholarship to get it? If the company really wants to work with me, why don't they work with me now and pay me while I'm on scholarship?"

I don’t see this happening, if at all. Money is still money and people don't like to give it up when they don't have too. Athletes are sometimes the most like that. They always want free stuff and to get theirs while they can since the window to capitalize isn't as long. I can't see a player offering to pay their own way, dipping into their own pocket, when they don't have too. Why would you give up a scholarship which would take money out of your NIL deals? I just don't see it happening, and that didn't even get into playing time when you have 14-15 scholarship-quality players.

Or the St. Peter's Peacocks, since he also likes beating Purdue.

First, so pumped about the commitment! Second, this is the type of recruiting I've been begging for! Crean could do it for a time, but never consistently and Archie could never really do it after his initial class. But the way you win in college basketball is by stacking classes with multiple players ranked between 20-75 in their classes. We now have 3 of those guys in the 2022 class and add that to Bates last year. Add 2-3 more next year and then we have 6-7 on the roster. Stacking classes like that minimizes the impact of a guy like TJD leaving early or an unexpected transfer, etc. The last 6-8 years we've been one man teams with just average players surrounding that one guy. Now, we're beginning to stack talent.

Interesting tweet from Mo Creek. He's also been tweeting the last several days about being on his way to Bloomington. Could be nothing, but thought it was interesting since it's a slow point of the offseason.

Loved that Udoka didn't call timeout when the Celtics got the stop with 10 seconds left. Great move by Udoka. Most teams would race up court and call a timeout with like 4 seconds left. But that would have allowed Brooklyn to get Kyrie out of the game for defensive purposes. Loved them just being aggressive and playing it out.

Boom!

Celtics win it at the buzzer! Man, I hate Kyrie!

Not to mention we had a ton of close losses against good teams without Galloway and/or Phinisee. Those were big losses. I get injuries are part of it, but missing both of them in February was not an insignificant thing.

Made a huge difference. Phinisee also missed some of those games too.

What is your argument though? JG has accomplished literally nothing compared to Troy Williams at this point. Williams averaged 13ppg and 7.4 rpg on 46% from 3 his sophomore year and then was 3rd Team All-Big Ten and the 2nd leading scorer on a Big Ten Title winning team his junior year.

He actually tied for the team lead in rebounding and steals too. He was a legit difference maker on that team. Edit: Just looked it up, Troy joined Bryant on the 3rd Team All-Big Ten that year too.

Good Troy was the 2nd leading scorer , tied for leading rebounder, tied for steals leader and 3rd in assists on a Big Ten Title team that beat UK en route to a Sweet Sixteen.

Was he just a role player though? He was the 2nd leading scorer on that team (not counting JBJ since he only played the early part of the season).

Ok, the main reason Warford's team won the Big Ten and went to the Sweet Sixteen was ha ing two lottery picks on the team. Much like Watford, Troy Williams was the 3rd guy on his team.

??

Agree to disagree on that. Troy Williams was basically a 3-year starter and was a double-digit scorer on a Big Ten Title winning team that beat UK in the tournament to go to the Sweet Sixteen.

Not really how it works though. Race is a 2-year starter. Unless there is some larger style change that's been discussed that would necessitate his moving to the bench, Race has earned the right to begin practice as the starter. Somebody has to take it from him and earn it. Race has already done that. I was a 4-year starter in college and I can tell I would have been massively pissed in year 2-4 if when practice first started I wasn't in the first group to start. I dont have to earn it back, someone has to take that from me in the preseason.

I enjoy talking about how Watford, Troy Williams, OG, Justin Smith and now JG are college 4's not wings 🤣🤣

I haven't looked at their cap sheet, but with LeBron and Davis, I'm assuming their still over the cap, or at least not far enough under to add anyone of significance. Also, when you're under the cap you can't use those $5-8 million dollar signing exceptions or whatever they are. Their only options are too move Westbrook for a couple warm bodies that can shoot and/or play D, or find a 3rd star willing to pull a Simmons unless they get traded to LA.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for the Pacers making a Westbrook trade. Just saying the Lakers need to get something in return for Westbrook, as he is their only remotely tradeable asset not including LeBron or Davis.

I'd be completely fine with names on the back of the jerseys.

They need something in return. Buying him out doesn't get them under the cap to where they can sign another big time free agent. Really the only bargaining chip they have is that he's an expiring contract. They need warm bodies to put around LeBron and Davis.