13th&Jackson

This is really interesting. He came to IU because of his history with Archie. Likewise, Archie has described Thad Matta as a dear friend. The whole dynamic is interesting.

Uwe Blab's cousin

So did you tell them to keep the cart behind the stakes?

"All of us learn to write in the second grade. Most of us go on to greater things." Bob Knight

Thought AD may have reunited with Crean at GA. They have three guards/wings who entered the portal https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/fagan-starks-give-georgia-three-basketball-players-in-transfer-portal/F6NXTR4LYZB3RH4V2BHXV4H3VE/

Too bad we don't have their roster...

One of my mentors always said, when you are called to a meeting, grab someone younger to take with you, because whoever leaves a meeting with the lowest title will do all the work

If I’m starting a new job at 63, I’m hiring an 80 year old too so everyone calls me “the kid”

My reading of Dolson’s comments is that Matta is there to assist Dolson as much as Woodson

I think so many are just jaded due to the results since the mid-90s, some self-inflicted and some bad luck. How many times can you ask people to touch the hot stove before they are hesitant to buy into what's being sold? This isn't unique to the IU fan base, it's true for the fans of all sports franchises that underachieve and have experienced coaching turnover. The honeymoon period gets shorter each time and fans won't get emotionally invested until they start to see results. I like Mike Woodson. I hope he rebuilds the program and has it in great shape when he's ready to hand it over to a successor. But it's a huge leap of faith for the University and it's fan base. I would feel better if I'd had more confidence in Dolson. I believe that either Kraft or Reynolds would have been the better hire, based on their greater experience. I honestly believe either could have been hired and Dolson would have probably stayed in his prior role, if that's what they wanted. Dolson is a new, inexperienced AD, who was making his first coaching search/hire. I'm convinced he was played by Stevens' camp and was left without a solid Plan B. He may have salvaged the situation (UCLA got lucky with Cronin and Wisky got lucky with Bo Ryan), but no one can reasonably look at this as offering long-term stability to a program that badly needs it.

We have plenty of shooters. We need makers

Agree on Geronimo, as well

If I'm Franklin, Stewart and Hunter, I leaned forward in my chair. They have the size (quickness for Hunter is a question) to play switching defense and the shooting ability from 3.

Of course, but that’s not likely to happen in year one. An apathetic fan base needed a boost until then and it didn’t happen. When you hire a 63 year old coach, it’s like a lame duck politician. Fans are already thinking about the next hire/succession plan. I love Woody. I was at IU at the end of his college career. But this is a caretaker hire. It advertises to the basketball world that IU isn’t a desirable job. Which I don’t believe if we had competent leadership. I really hate feeling this way.

Will this hire result in more ticket sales or attendance at AH than the 2019-20 season (pre-Covid)? If no, and I suspect the answer is no, then Dolson failed. No buzz at all from this hire.

That isn’t even in my list of concerns Couldn’t care less

And they were loaded with returning talent.

Totally agree. Could have saved the donor $7M to end up in the same place except Woodson would be 64

True but, and I cringe saying this, but IU was a competitive 12-15. If most of the guys leave, we’re a Nebraska dumpster fire.

Yes, but that’s also known as Nebraska. I’m sure Teddy Allen is available

There's also the counter-factual that we'll never know. How many players would have entered the transfer portal if Archie had been retained. I'm certain Durham would have and it sounds as though Race may have as well (interpreting RP's comments). No idea about the others. These guys can't help but see J Smith's experience. I'm sure some have remained in contact with him.

Maybe he’ll follow Little Ricky to New Mexico. Speaking of which, I want whatever their AD is having... WTH? “Richard Pitino is a proven winner with a track record of success on the court, including deep tournament runs and wins over nationally ranked programs, as well as proven success off the court by creating a tremendous student-athlete experience and supporting them as they earn their degrees," New Mexico athletics director Eddie Nuñez said in a statement announcing the move.

Maybe UL will lower Mack’s buyout

No, the ponds in our community are all catch and release. Put them back, let them grow bigger and try to catch them again.

Didn't weigh them, but they were both 17-18 inches, so I'd guess 3 pounds each.