BornHoosier

Leading a blueblood back to the Championship that they have not done so in over 35yrs, in a state that you grew up in and was even a fan at one point would be priceless vs winning a Championship in the league that nobody cares about these days?? There has to be an underlying factor that BS hates IU for him to not make at least an attempt? You can't tell me a college coach would rather lead men that could care less about him than a group of lads in his home state that would worship him from day one. Its obvious that you are correct and he would rather chase that dream which makes me lose that much more respect for him and it tells me that he is not truly BornHoosier.

This has been our biggest obstacle in recruiting the last 4 yrs and that is the recruits haven't lived up to their hype or reached their projected ceilings as planned. I remember hearing that Jerome Hunter was the best player on the court and that was with Romeo Langford whom was supposed to be the next Star. Mediocre FR season for Langford and Hunter has yet to become anything relevant. Heck how many games last season did Rob P & Jerome H combine for 5 pts or less in a dismal loss? Both expected to be major contributors. Leal, Lander and Galloway have yet to make a household name for themselves or least in the limited action of what I saw as I couldn't stomach much but the fact with TJD we didn't even make the tourney and finished close to the bottom of the BIG says they are all lightyears away from being special if they will at all? Smith shows he has the elite talent on tape and that is hitting shots on all spots on the court with little to no separation while also having a special skillset to pass the ball to open teammates for an easy assist. I never watched film on Lander but I can't imagine having the same impression as I do watching Smith's and he was projected to be a 2 yr player at best?

How did our elite athletic in state recruits for the past 4 yrs work out at the BIG level? They didn't because none of them can shoot the dang ball or have this high of basketball IQ that this kid possesses. He is a BALLER regardless of size and may struggle a bit early as a FR but after that this kid can be special so I hope we don't overlook due to size. EYE TEST is all I need.

Maybe not disrespect in most eyes but to me by turning down this job 3 different times at our all time low as a program and this coming from an INDIANA guy who was on record to say that coaching IU is a dream job? We all know he has what it takes to hang #6, 7 & possibly 8 banners but for some reason keeps turning down the job and even more frustrating we keep reaching out to him each time is so frustrating. $10 MIL per season could not convince him here and I can't get over why.

I understand the concept of the most athletic kids being good for IU but haven't we learned from this mistake the past 4-6 yrs? Athleticism has not gotten this IU team to the dance in the last 4 yrs and that is with recruiting the States best talent. Sometimes we need to not worry about size and defensive mismatches but more so on if the kid can put the dang ball through the hoop from 10-18 ft away. So tired of our so called athleticism shooting brick after brick and even getting burnt on the defensive side of the ball due to lack of WANT. When was the last time or how many times per game did our athletic wings or guards dunk on the opposition at will? Not very often at this level so you must have a jump shot to be successful. I want more high basketball IQ players at this point over athleticism as I seen enough broke shots to last me a lifetime. I'm talking about a Braden Smith type player who has the IQ I convey and can light you up off any bounce he takes or pass to an open teammate for an assist. When is the last time IU had that kind of player?

Yes, much easier to coach talent that already has the skillset than to start from ground zero at this level unless you have a Vic Dipo and the WILL to be GREAT. 35% says the skillset is there and just need to adjust to the speed of the game but 10% takes total dedication and the desire to be GREAT but even then is left to fate. Still don't understand why IU has not recruited more prolific shooters with these great %'s over athletes that can jump out of the gym and throw up bricks but hopefully CMW will change our culture.

Flip side, how is TJD going to develop an outside shot overnight? As a shooter myself, I can attest that this craft takes a lifetime to master and not something that you just work on during an offseason and expect to be good. Vic Dip went from broke to respectable in 3 yrs but it took complete dedication and hard work to accomplish. I dont know if TJD has even worked on this craft as we have yet to see it during any games to date? Being left handed makes this transition even harder as his stroke does not appear to be smooth like you would want and it makes me uneasy watching him shoot FT's. It's not fair to judge CMW on the development of TJD because of this limited ability I speak of and he may only have 1 season to work with before going pro before he is truly ready. I didn't expect a 3rd yr to be honest but unfortunately w/o an outside shot I am skeptical at the next level. Be interesting to see what CMW can do with a Big that has an outside game!!!

I'm no Coach when it comes to basketball but this kid has what this IU team has been missing for a long while and that's a pure INDIANA bred, got nothing else to do but spend lone nights shooting baskets with the moon/stars, high basketball IQ kind of talent!!! Too long now we been chasing that jump out of the gym athleticism that couldn't hit water if they fell into the Pacific and I cannot understand this philosophy. Granted I never seen Smith play live but the video shows me the stop and pop, quick shot off the bounce, get my teammates involved with assists, high level of BB IQ that this fanbase has been salivating over for a long time. I'm reaching out to you for your assessment as I value your input as a coach at this level and what am I missing here? Size? Give me heart and soul any day and I show you a winner.

Give me 35% as a high schooler, I'll give you a 43% 3pt shooter as a Div 1 college player before you leave my program! 35% is a great foundation vs 10% VIC DIPO, a broke shooter coming out. Yes, I get it VIC spent numerous days in the gym transforming himself into a super star but he was broke as a Frosh for IU. Give me 35% to work with any day vs 10%.

Funny, all of HN is waiting for this hire to blow up in our face but dont you think these guys after all the infractions get a little smarter in their tactics? Do you think they all want to go down in flames or just maybe after investigation of investigation some get it, especially the smart ones! Coach Woodson is a product of this NATION, last thing he wants to do is tarnish her legacy on his watch. I'm sure Coach Woodson had real bro conversations as to what is allowed vs what is not so lets see how this all plays out! I'm ecstatic to have a head coach with NBA ties and an assistant with strong ties that I honestly don't believe any shady business is needed as both reputations speak louder than words. Trust me, IU wont be paying any top 3 recruits to suit up for the Hoosiers any time soon nor do we want them unless its clean. I want top 50 talent that respects the program and willing to play defense. That is the recipe for # 6!

Rob P barely cracked the box score more times than not so are we really giving him a spot? Look, if Rob P makes leaps and bounds in improvement its only better for IU but my $ is on the X and Bates show!!!

Were seeing a culture change before our very own eyes Hoosier Nation as high profile guys now want to play for IU! I said it before, Coach Woodson can relate to these kids because he has one thing in common, THE NBA. Yes, his homerun assistant hires or keeps in Hunter has helped tremendously but make no mistake about it Coach Woodson's connection to the NBA makes this a homerun hire that most did not see coming but I did. These kids see our staff as a mentor and father figure and it makes perfect sense. I love the fact that these high profile recruits accept defense when talking Indiana as the culture has now changed. Mike Woodson is a knock it out of the park coaching hire not only for himself but what he has assembled as assistant coaches and directors. Lets HANG #6!

If Born Hoosier fans have any blame in this tragedy, then just maybe the institution never fully understood what this program really is and decided to hire outside connections to run this prestigious program. I can give two craps about star rankings or where they come from and all I want is a leader to slap the court, slap his chest and point to the opposing player bringing the ball up the court and say I OWN YOU and you will not score. Blame the fans for lackluster play that we Born Hoosiers grew up accustomed to is not the answer but an excuse. CMW & CDF both lived this dream and will make sure the culture here will never forget.

After 3 attempts, I thought bullheadedness and stubbornness would reside as I thought I read that IU was his dream job at some point in his life?? But after multiple yr failures in the NBA with what some would say a competent team I thought Coach Brad Stevens would consider going back to College where he actually belongs and had success. I know the IU position isn't as attractive today as yesterday but with his college resume at a little school like Butler, I hoped he would accept the challenge to lead us to the promise land?? I dont care what he says about IU being his dream job, he has turned us down 3 times in a row and we continue to reach out which I dont understand. What is his problem with IU that we dont see behind the scenes? Is he scared that he will be a fraud?? I dont get it?

How about every time we were at our all time low as a program and reached out to him to bring us back to the promise land only to be spurned???? Was this 3 times now I lost count honestly? I said to my faithful Hoosier fan that this last time around rumors seems different as his NBA dream is crashing and this may be the perfect storm but after the rumors my heart quickly got broken again and I swear to never let that happen again. Brad Stevens ship has sailed as far as a Hoosier coach and I could care less if he ever has success again. I mean we reached out at least the last 3 times only to get that he is not interested in the IU job when we needed it most. If not now, then NEVER and i hope we never offer him again out of spite. JMO as a BORN HOOSIER!

How many times does BS have to spurn our BornHoosiers program to draw the line in hate and make it personal?? He has literally laughed at this program time and time again and at our lowest moments for me to wish him the worst as a head coach. I hope he never sniffs success again at any level but that is just me.

I love the fact that CMW is not only a HOOSIER Legend but he somehow led the two most horrible NBA franchises in the last 40 yrs to the playoffs under his watch! He took over disaster teams that most would've folded but he actually made his teams improve and that speaks volumes to me that this guy can coach his way out of a wet paper bag unlike the prior regimes. He understands that winning = a great shooting offense that WE ALL HOOSIERS are known to LOVE. No longer will IU be BROKE when it comes to shooting which is a far cry from the CAM regime. Add in Fife, Matta and who ever else you want to add and I see plenty Martinis from your pic.

This fanbase, me included just wants to win again but we don't want our success to be from anything negative & that is just how Born Hoosiers are wired!!! I highly doubt a former Hoosier in CMW, would jeopardize such prestige by messing with a potential NCAA problem but I give him the benefit of the doubt with his NBA ties that he can somehow control or contain these infractions. The Larry Brown connection can only help with high profile recruits regardless if he hires him or not, recruits read and listen and these two NBA ties can only mean BIG BIG things. Do we want to WIN again? Not at the cost of cheating but no way CMW will allow that to happen so lets all just get behind this LOCOMOTIVE.

Those other teams not named IU are # 3, 4 & 6 in the Nation but after tonight 30pt losses was a complete exaggeration.

If IU doesn't get the needed production from RP & JH, this team will struggle to compete for 8th. They both are simply the one two punch that dictates the success of this IU team and so far I can't lean on any of the Frosh to pick up the loss of production. I can see 20 or 30 pt losses to Illinois, Iowa and MSU unless things change soon! Hope my pessimism is getting the best of me but just don't see it!

I agree that does suck, wish they lost by 83 instead!

Sounds like Karl knows the "Basketball IQ" that I preach!!! If I was starting a program, I wouldn't get the hi profile recruits and would define my success on the basketball instincts!!! Makes coaching so much easier when your players are smart & understand the game so your not teaching Calculus.

Everything you described dgambill, is this kid has what us Hoosiers call "basketball instincts" that is in no ranking formula today. Understanding the game on the floor is the most important trait that is lost today. I.E., a recruit ranked a 3 star but has basketball instincts is a 5 star in my mind. This is where the instincts part is not part of the formula thus resulting in 3 stars. Everyone is fascinated on athleticism and how high can they jump that they forget the most important trait.

No inside info here but alot of these kids decisions will come after the 2020 and 2021 seasons correct? If CAM has any kind of success with TJD returning, there is no question where the top 21/22 Instate Talent will go right?

I apologize, not sure where I got that thinking but apparently not here. Guess I should read before I react sigh.