BGleas

Again, in my opinion and small sample size experience from years ago, the idea that Woodson launched a smear campaign against Dane Fife on the way out is ridiculous. Sounds like something Dakich can sensationalize to whip fans up into a fury and pull in numbers.

Exactly. Goes back to the thing about most NBA coaches not wanting assistants to speak to the media. To me, Woodson seems like someone who is going to be pretty tight on what gets out, and certainly not someone that is going to essentially launch a smear campaign.

We need to separate Rabjohn's from the university and the staff though. What Rabjohn's said is what he said, that is not what Woodson, Dolson or the University said. Just going on my experience, but I would be incredibly surprised if Woodson or Dolson had some conspiracy to leak all of this salacious stuff to a reporter. I really just don't think that happens as much as fans think. I also don't think there is anything that indicates that is Mike Woodson's style.

Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but Woodson is an NBA guy and in the NBA a lot of coaches don't allow their assistants to speak to the media. I don't know what Woodson's rules on this were in the NBA, but I can tell you Doc Rivers (at least with the Celtics) did not let his assistants speak to the media without our PR Team getting direct approval from him first. Note, this doesn't count those local TV things where the sideline reporter asks the assistant a question at halftime. With that said, sounds like Woodson had some issues with Fife being so outspoken on Twitter, potentially with the media, etc. Sounds like he was warned and didn't stop. Edit: And if a head coach thinks/knows an assistant is undermining him with the media, then that assistant doesn't have a chance. It's over.

I think fans really overestimate the idea that sports teams "leak" stories like this. I'm just one guy and it's a small sample size, but in 5 years as a PR rep with an NBA team I can't remember one instance of management asking me to "leak" stuff like that, or really leak anything. Does that mean the GM never called a reporter to drop some draft or trade smokescreens? Probably not, but I was never aware of it. But I'm sure they did that. But, during my time we had to terminate a players contract because of alcoholism, we had a player tear an ACL running from a shooting scene, we had coaches fired, etc., but I can't recall a time I was asked to leak stuff to make the organization look better or make former players or coaches bad in those instances

Yup! That is what i meant, uprooting school age kids isn't easy, regardless of the reason.

Whatever the cause, whoever is at fault, I feel bad for Dane Fife and his family. I'm sure I'm not the only one bit I've had to move my family and there are challenges with that. It must be really hard to be facing that just 1 year after uprooting them.

Not directed at anyone in this thread* I'm so sick of the phrase "not a good look"! Who cares what the "look" is, let's maybe go with what actually happened and what the next steps/results are (in this case who the replacement is and how they perform).

Say what you want about Tom Crean, but the guy handled his exit from IU with grace and continues to represent the university well.

Yeah, honestly I think he's better off working on those things in the G-League (I'm assuming he'd be a 2-way player). Not because of anything IU related or our staff, I'd say that about anybody in his position (junior with a couple specific skills they need to improve). The NBA/G-League game is just different. Players get their shots in different spots with different spacing, etc., etc. He might as well start working on that now, because any draft stock improvement would be marginal. If he comes back it's because of legacy. It's the Yogi model. Yogi could have left after his junior year and probably had the same exact NBA career. Yogi came back, at least partially for legacy. He knew he was never going to be a 1st round pick.

I'm not sure that's really the question. I don't think TJD could really change his draft stock much either way. I'd be shocked if he comes back, but if he is considering it then I think it's more about legacy then draft stock. He's most likely a 2nd round pick regardless, the question is more of whether he wants to start some type of pro career now or is his IU legacy more important especially given he can make NIL money.

Agree and add to it that Sessoms isn't really a point guard. He's more of a combo guard or short 2. He's not remotely the playmaker that XJ is. Not even close. Would be a big downgrade. Alongside XJ or off the bench, then it would be solid.

Well we know that's not happening, at least not anytime remotely soon. Even if it did, in recent years UCLA and Oregon have made the Final Four and Arizona has been to several Elite 8's. But again, I see zero benefit to IU's direct competitors making the Final Four or winning a title. I'd be perfectly fine with IU being the Kansas of the Big Ten. IU needs to take care of their own house, get back to prominence and who cares about the others! Just my opinion on the topic and I do understand where you're coming from as well.

I honestly don't really care about the other teams in the conference or when the last time the conference won a title was. I want IU to win. I want IU to reclaim its position as the premier program in the conference. I don’t see how Michigan or Purdue winning a title or going to a Final Four helps that? I'd have no problem if every other Big Ten team lost in the first round. I'm interested in IU getting our crap together, winning conference titles and going on deep March runs.

Exactly! Don't really care how good the other Big Ten teams are. Kansas had a ton of success dominating the Big 12 for 15 years or so.

Right! I always struggle with this too. I get wanting the Big Ten to look good, but I can't root for those teams. Why do I really care if the Big Ten looks good? I want IU to be good!

Archie tried to recruit this Quionnes kid. I think it came down to IU/Memphis. He's hit some tough, big shots down the stretch.

Agree. I'm watching thinking no way many Big Ten teams could keep up with this pace.

I hope so!

So fun watching Gonzaga and Memphis playing fast and playing skilled basketball. Guys making shots around the rim, pushing the ball after the opponent scores, etc. A really fun game to watch.

Those guys can't recruit off campus though. They can't go sit in a recruits home. They can't go recruit an AAU tournament. I'm not even sure they can work the phones with recruits. They can give campus tours and they can call connections and contacts. and put in favors, etc. The assistants are the ones slumming it at AAU events all Spring and summer, working the parents at tournaments and in the home, etc. We need more then two guys doing that. I think where your points here probably could have a big impact are in the portal. I'd bet Woodson and a guy like Whitman might have a lot of weight with current coaches, especially at the Power 5 level, when checking in on potential transfers. That could be a huge thing.

They he definitely should not become an assistant. College assistants need to be 100%, all-in grinders. Keep him consulting and get an assistant (assuming Ya leaves) that is a grinders.

Completely agree, just need it to keep going!

Recruiting Director can't recruit offsite though, unless they changed the rules. You need more then one assistant recruiting. These AAU tournaments are all over the country and recruiting is a national game now. This isn't Bob Knight's world anymore. I'm fine with replacing Ya, as I guess he's probably light on the actual coaching side, but I still don't like having 2 guys with little recruiting experience. Between Woodson, Fife and Hunter, and then with Matta and Armond Hill involved I'm sure we're fine from an X's and O's perspective. We need the Jimmy's and the Joe's now.

Auburn is arguably their best team.