13th&Jackson

Like it or not, the players wanted NIL and the transfer portal. Welcome to the world of every person working in a non-union position who can be replaced at any time.

What would TJD’s last two seasons have been with the addition of two shooters? I felt that not adding one or two shooters from the portal last year was the biggest mistake CMW has made. Instead, we carried a couple front court players who gave us little and left after this year.

Unfortunately, waiting for a staff to have their players in place isn’t really a thing anymore. New coaches are coming in and turning over their entire rosters. Unseemly? Maybe, but it’s how it works now.

Speaking of Kansas: “Because Self wanted to be on the phone. He felt the need “to be living in the portal,” the transfer portal. There, he has the potential to find multiple guys to add to Kansas’ roster ahead of next season who can help the Jayhawks compete for more championships.” “We’ve got work to do before we’re a top 10 team,” Self said, “but I’m really hopeful within weeks everybody would say, ‘They should be ranked higher than a top 10 team.’” “i feel like, that right now, moving forward, when you say, ‘What do we need to be successful?’ We’ve got it,” Self said. “In the past, when you’d ask me, ‘What do we need to be successful?’ Well, we need to get this, this, this done. So, I feel as good about it as I ever had. We’ve been good for a long time, but I can’t imagine us taking a step backwards — maybe sideways, but definitely not backwards.” https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/hawk-zone/2023/04/05/ku-basketball-coach-bill-self-feels-the-need-to-live-in-the-portal/70081132007/

Right but TN doesn’t have an opening for Knecht, that wasn’t a problem

If conversations like that are happening, they are probably talking with ten other teams as well

I have to believe CMW’s surgery recovery is impacting availability for campus visits. DeLoach already canceled a visit and went to Penn St instead. He said at the time he wanted to get to Bloomington later this month, but it’s now 4/21 with no visit announced

The French Army has nothing on us

Outlook for quality of discussion on this Board

This is hilarious coming from a Rupp Rafters poster: Yesterday at 12:01 PM "Ledlum is in for a culture shock next season. He will go from the ivy covered walls on campus at Harvard to orange clad Clem with his pet pig beside him in the stands. Oops, sorry but that's his sister or his wife. Or both." Reminds me of the definition of Hillbillies: Answer: People who live in the next county

i would think it would depend on when the scholly officially ends. Otherwise could be a liability issue. I'm sure the former school wouldn't want to be on the hook for treating an injury.

IDK. He's a career 53% shooter, 36% from 3 and 80% on FTs. Also averaged nearly 7 rpg at WSU

Agree. So much is player evaluation and fit. How do you land a Funk (17ppg at Bucknell) or Boum (20ppg at UTEP) and avoid a Holden (20 ppg at Wright St)?

There are currently 13 uncommitted SF, SG & CGs in the top 100 of the portal. 6 aren't 100% projected somewhere. The highest ranked is Cleveland at 21. I'm not aware if IU has been mentioned as reaching out to any of the others. In addition to landing a couple of top 100 wings, it would be great if we could steal a Funk or Boum caliber player (who weren't ranked in the top 100) with the 3rd scholly. Just never know, though. Tanner Holden seemed like a can't miss for OSU and he was a non-factor.

His brother Nic recently joined WI-GB as an assistant. Speculation Noah may go there. Noah missed the last part of the season after 2 concussions. I could see the family liking the idea of his brother being there to watch him.

My wife would have said she did that years ago

I think you’re underplaying it. Woodson had an in-home with Timberlake and IU was considered the front runner for Love. https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/29/indiana-has-already-reached-out-to-caleb-love/

Don't disagree, but it isn't just one, is it? It's just that some thought we were a lock and got whipsawed at the end. We've been in on several others who went elsewhere: Timberlake and Love, for example. So, here's where we are: 1) Payton Sparks - Solid player for frontcourt depth. Great to have him. Probably no real competition for him, not that other teams wouldn't want him. If he was offered a spot at IU, he was coming. 2) Kel'el Ware - Huge wildcard. Considered one of the top players in portal, but that was based on his rankings out of high school, not his production at Oregon. Reputation for a low motor that led to his minutes being reduced significantly this past season. In his last game against WI in the NIT, he had 2 points on 1-6 shooting (0-3 from three), but had 6 boards, in 15 minutes. After January 1, he had two games that he scored 10 points, all the rest were single digits. Had three games in Feb, where he played 4, 2 and 4 minutes and didn't score. If the IU coaching staff can light a fire and resurrect his career, that will be critical. If not, he'll be one of the most frustrating players to play at IU. IU's recruiters got off to a strong start landing XJ and JHS, who then helped land Malik. We thought they had a coup with Bates, but that didn't work out. They missed on a lot of players in the 2023 class. Was projected to be a four player class, but ended up with two (ranked #90, and #111). Currently no players committed for 2024, but still in on some big names. Need to cash in on Montverde pipeline here. Still time to add some potential portal players, but desperately need wing scorers, which there seems to be a problem landing. Despite some of the hype, I'd give the overall recruiting a C grade.

We don’t know if he was the #1 target, but it has been publicly reported that the IU staff was on him before he entered the portal, due to Ivy League rules. Plus, he would have only used a scholly for one year

Had 17 and 9 against Kansas

Seems we’ve lost momentum

“Tennessee's entire staff visited Ledlum on Wednesday. Tennessee assistant coach Rod Clark visited Ledlum the day following UT's Sweet 16 loss to Florida Atlantic instead of returning to Knoxville with the Vols.”

69, 37, 46, 45, 446. Am I missing any?