Hoosierdave

25 minutes ago, IUFLA said:

See? I don't get this line of thinking at all...

I mean, @Hoosierdave I'm not trying to tell anyone how to think, but #1 you're kicking dirt on the "corpse" before it stops breathing, and #2 I would never, under any circumstances, root for IU to tank or lose to achieve some sort of perceived advantage in what may or may not be a coaching search...

I really just don't get it...

That’s fine, never thought in my life I would be rooting against my own team either lol. As the saying goes, “drastic times call for drastic measures.”

Let’s apply the same scenario with football-do you think it would have benefited our football program in the long run for Allen to win a couple more games this season and get another year? No, him losing embarrassingly and losing the confidence from his players + fans made the decision very easy for Dolson and company to move on. The result? A coach who in the span of less than 3 months completely flipping the culture and trajectory. 

So yes, while it pains me to say that, I think ultimately us continuing to lose would result in the same scenario. I’ll gladly take the temporary pain and suffering if it results in long term happiness. 

Friendly reminder Ohio St is already talking to May and us delaying the inevitable with letting Woody go could result in Ohio St applying pressure and forcing May to go there because IU dragged their feet and kept May waiting too long. I can’t imagine what this board would be like if May went elsewhere and we swing and miss on the other targets (Pearl etc) and have to scramble to find the next coach. Fans would pack it in and say this program is officially dead. 

I would much rather have a situation where Dolson can look Buckner and friends in the face and say “we tried it your way, I gave it as much time and patience as I could, but it’s time to move forward and save this program before it’s too late.”

One thing that sucks to think about is that for us to objectively have as many coaching candidates as possible, we would basically need Ohio St and Michigan to finish strong to complicate things for them and hopefully force them to keep Howard and Diebler. Which essentially means we would have to hope IU can finish in the bottom 4, or more specifically, the bottom 2. 
 

36 minutes ago, IUProfessor said:

a rim protector 5 to pair with Reneau is a top portal priority for the current staff.

3 hours ago, Billingsley99 said:

For me its all the things that many of us say are little things and yet they continue to kill this team. I don't watch a lot of any of the games but what i do I cannot remember seeing anyone diving on the floor for a loose ball. No solid box outs, we don't even make contact on free throw box outs. If the other team shot worse Ft percentage they would kill us even more on the offensive glass. The fact they no one on this team cant shoot (and make)  is just amazing. For me this is so far worse than the CAM era, worse than the beginning of Crean Era for me this is the all time low in my Iu basketball fandom and I see not a glimmer of hope in the upcoming year. Woody is lost and his band of yes men are useless. Without whole sale changes in staff and players which we will have for sure there is zero hope that next year is any better. Terrible time to be a Hoosier fan. My kids wanted to buy me tix for my birthday for last nights game and I said no. They first time I ever have turned down IU tix. I told them to save there money becasue this team and this University at this time does not deserve their money. APATHY is in full effect . my request is for an IU womens win tonight on my birthday.

 

Sorry to hear that but very relatable. 
 

My girlfriend wanted to surprise me for my birthday by getting me tickets to the last home game. The last game I went to at AH was in 2016 (vs Maryland when we won the B10 regular season) my senior year. I’ve been dying to return (I live on the east coast). She knows how passionate of a fan I am and I’ve told her on numerous occasions how special the Hoosier hysteria is when this team is good.
 

Following the Purdue blowout at home, she felt the need to ruin the surprise because of how upset I was. Glad she ruined it because I told her I didn’t want to spend my birthday weekend having her pay for tickets, flights, hotels etc when this team stinks and Bloomington would be depressing following an inevitable loss. 
 

I think that says a lot when someone like myself who hasn’t been back to AH since 2016 didn’t jump at the opportunity when someone is covering all the expenses. 

I get the hesitation but not sure why Pearl should be disqualified because he’s older. 
 

Jim Larranaga-> Took Miami to a F4 last year and an E8 the previous. He’s 74.

Leonard Hamilton-> He’s now 75. 4 years ago had FSU top 2 in the conference and went to a S16. Year before that (Covid year) team was first in conference and had a 26-5 record. Year before that, Sweet 16. Year before that, E8. Doing all of that in his late 60’s/early 70’s. 

Brian Dutcher-> National Championship game last year. 3 straight tournament appearances. Covid year they were best team in conference.  64 years old. 

Coach K-> Retired mid 70’s.

Roy Williams-> Retired early 70’s.

Bill Self (61), Cal (65), Izzo (69), Barnes (69), Pitino (71). These guys are some of the best in the game currently. Only see their names brought up in retirement if they are having bad seasons, which are rare. 

Still not convinced? Here’s a study done arguing that the older coaches are more successful than younger coaches in the tournament. Some interesting notes from it:

“The average age of head coaches in the Sweet Sixteen since 2010 is 52.9 years old. That average increases to 54.1 years old in the Elite Eight and 55.6 years old in the Final Four. While the average age of championship game coaches stays fairly flat at 55.3, the average age of championship winners since 2010 jumps to 57.8 years old.”

https://www.medicareadvantage.com/resources/average-age-of-winning-ncaa-coaches

We also just hired a FB coach who is 62, which seems to bother no one…why? Because we want to win and feel he was the best pick to accomplish that. Apply the same standard. 

3 minutes ago, Coach Robby said:

I've always wanted Beard, but Pearl would be just fine. Recruiting wouldn't even take a hit I don't believe...

I would probably prefer Pearl because of the optics but Beard is younger so it would help with longevity/stability. 

Beard is probably the best/most realistic chance we have because of Pearl’s buyout. I don’t see any other coach risking the comfort of their current gig to come here unless we provide a massive pay increase (Drew, Muss, Few, Oats, etc.)

With Beard’s controversy, as the sayings go, “Time heals all wounds” and “winning cures all”. 

He had this to say about Bob Knight when he passed away:

"Besides my father, no one's had more impact on my life than Bob Knight””… [Pat and Bob Knight] took a chance on me as a junior college coach in 2000. They not only gave me an opportunity, but empowered me and gave me the confidence to know that I can coach and win at this level. He means the world.

His commitment to academics, is instilled in his college basketball. No one really talks about that anymore with the [NIL], the pressure for coaches and players to win, and the microscope of social media. But it's college athletics. It's still about college and getting guys degrees. Coach had basically a 100 percent or 98.9 [graduation rate], which is unparalleled over a 40-plus year career at three different institutions - Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech.

I'm so proud to be associated with Coach Knight..I hope in some way he enjoys watching our teams play here at Ole Miss. We'll honor him in every way we can."

Quotes like that give me faith he would be on his absolute best behavior and not do anything stupid to jeopardize the relationship he has with the Knight family and the program he built. Also gives me faith he would work his ass off for Knight. 
 

29 minutes ago, Hippopotamo said:

Pearl would be a dream come true right now. I don’t care how old he is. 

Agreed, as the saying goes, “beggars can’t be choosers.” If he’s the best Coach available, you take him and worry about the longevity later. 1-2 good seasons can completely change a program. 

4 minutes ago, Indykev said:

Check this one off on your bingo cards.

Some journalist needs to clap back real fast and ask him how they did just fine without X last year then…

When you hire someone that has never coached or recruited in college basketball and the wheels fall off by year 3.

I hate DD but this was hilarious 

3 minutes ago, tdhoosier said:

We are getting run off of our own court by a bubble team who has yet to win a road game. 

Let that sink in. 

In Woody’s defense, it is Wednesday, aka “hump day”. He’s been rather transparent he can’t get us over “the hump” so it shouldn’t comes as a surprise. 

2 minutes ago, IU Scott said:

I guess there goes the run

Are we surprised? Woody said himself a couple days ago this team “plays well in spurts.” 

Dolson has to fire Woody tonight if he loses in front of Chris Tucker. 
 

Sorry, those are the rules 😂

6 minutes ago, DC2345 said:

I think I’m about to take a break from IU basketball. This ball club is a mess. Also just a side note but I hate how Woodson refers to the team as a ball club. 

Just waiting for Reneau, Mac, and Liam to dip for me to be put out of my misery and stop watching until a new coach comes in. 
 

Mediocre Mike Woodson running the program into the ground. Which shouldn’t come as a shock at all when you hire someone who has literally never coached college basketball in his 60+ years on earth. 
 

Literally wtf else does Dolson have to see to make him retire?! 

3 minutes ago, Seeking6 said:

I'm now in the full on mode that these players just don't have a clue how to defend or make a 3. No Coach who has played or coached for 40+ years wouldn't be trying everything they could and it's just not resonating. 

7-8 portal players. Minimally.

I can see it now, we’ll add those 7-8 guys and they won’t mesh and our coach will say “these guys just need more time together”.
 

Then Dolson tosses him an extra million and an extension. 

Watching us try and score is like tossing a ball to someone and throwing them into a mosh pit lmao. 
 

Might as well ask the refs every game if we can start 10 points behind. It happens within 10 minutes anyway

Another game our coaching staff gets to see first hand what guards and perimeter play do in college basketball.

Maybe by year 4 they’ll get a clue! 

Dream big (but execute little) 24! 

54 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

It has been said many times, but fan support is the only thing currently elite about IU.......

It pains me to say but I’m starting to change my opinion around (originally) supporting this team until the end of the season in hopes it can show the new coach how loyal we are and the home court advantage we have. Pretty clear Woodson will be stubborn and make this as difficult of a firing/retirement as possible moving forward, so not expecting a move made in the offseason.
 

I fear the only way to force action from Dolson and friends is to speed up the timeline by selling away game tickets, leaving assembly hall empty, not attending neutral site games, and emailing Dolson requesting their NIL donations be returned.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Hang the banner 

3 hours ago, KoB2011 said:

One thing to consider, and I don't generally like making personnel decisions as a result of what others are doing, but there is a world where we are surrounded by:

Painter at PU

Billy Donovan at UL

Chris Beard at UM

Nate Oates at OSU

Brad Underwood at UI

Calipari at UK

Izzo at MSU

 

That would be a tough situation to walk into for a guy like Dusty May in March/April 2025. Again, not saying we need to be reactive to other openings and who they may hire, but I don't think it should be ignored.

As someone wisely pointed out when we hired Woody, he is our version of Juwan Howard and Thad Matta was his Martelli. Let's not follow the folly of Michigan and wait to long to act. 

Sounds like Sean Miller is a done deal to Ohio St.  

23 minutes ago, DC2345 said:

As things stand right now he'd be the 5 and the staff has discussed this possibility

Thanks, (temporary) music to my ears. One day at a time though haha! 
 

Any concern Queen not coming here means Liam is reconsidering? Or more just the hometown hero/staff relationship was the deciding factor.