HoosierDom

Can't believe they called that on Ware after all of the contact and reaching they let MD get away with.

23 minutes ago, Feathery said:

Texas tech has only made one final four. They did have a lot of transfers but I dont remember the amount. They also fell off the next year and won 18 games. Then 18 the following year as well. That was also pre-NIL. This season there was a stat that was posted on social media that every team that took more than 4 were not projected to make the tournament. 
 

Now with NIL the top teams can offer money and a chance to win by supplementing. So IU in order to have a chance to land the pieces to be a contender next season will need to raise a boatload of cash and overspend. Forget the $6 mil they spent for this year, going to have to be substantially more imo. 

They had two deep tourney runs.

That 4 transfer stat seems pretty misleading. I wonder how many teams qualify? I would assume not many. To me, look at teams that have a couple of starters (that's what we need - it's really not hard to see us being hugely successful next year with just one transfer starting. I don't care too much how we fill out the back of the roster), just with 5 minutes of research, I found Houston, and Tennessee have two transfers starting. Kansas has one plus a top 7 rotation player. UConn is loaded with transfers in their 2nd year at the program (I would assume that means last year, which worked out quite well for them, they had a lot of transfers starting/rotation players.) 

42 minutes ago, Feathery said:

The Crean comp is good. And I’m not a May guy either. If Pearl, Oats, etc say no, the. Yes try May. Ironically I feel like the NIL/Portal era would fit Crean roster turnover style. He was good at shorter recruitments and always had 2-3 transfers. IU NIL game is strong and could have supported it without the drop off we saw from year to year towards the end. 
 

If Dolson hires May he has to require a defensive assistant. Michigan did this with Beilein midway through his tenure. And it worked well for them. 
 

At the end of the day I have no clue what is going to happen. I just know there needs to be structural and cultural changes to the program on how it goes about its business and it’s playing philosophy. If Woodson can do that fantastic let’s go. If he can’t, then go get a guy who can do it. But even Pearl will take 2-3 years to turn it around to be a contender. The roster will be short of talent and you can’t build a contender through massive portal hauls. 

Didn't Texas Tech have back-to-back deep tourney runs with basically an entire starting 5 of transfers? I haven't taken the time to check my memory there, but I think it was something like that. That was back when there weren't nearly as many players transferring each year. 

With the right coach (maybe even with the wrong coach), next year's roster could have Galloway, Reneau, MM, Cupps and Liam. Add Sparks and Leal for depth and veteran presence, and that's not a bad start. There are holes, but in this age, we should be able to fill those holes.

We had several box outs down the stretch. It was a sight to see.

The play where Malik boxed his guy for an offensive rebound, sure looked like the guy he boxed out had him in a hook and hold. One of the few that you see where it actually should be a foul as the guy prevented Malik from jumping for the board and the shot 

57 minutes ago, 13th&Jackson said:

With the reworked contract, he gets 100% of his remaining salary if fired before 4/1/26 (was 4/1/25), then 50% if fired in the last year. He isn't walking away from $12.6M. It would have to be a firing, with full buyout, disguised as a retirement.

That's the closest thing we have to leverage. If he wants to "retire" it will cost him some of that buyout, if he wants all the money the contract promises him, he's getting fired.

20 minutes ago, tdhoosier said:

Before we say stars don't mean anything.....

-Ware is individually playing like a 5 star
-Malik is individually playing like a 5 star (although he may have been a 4 star out of high school)
-Mgbako is working his way up to individually playing like a 5 star (highest freshman ppg), but let's say he's playing like a 4 star for the sake of argument. 
-I'd say Cupps is playing like a 3 star. 
-I'd say Gallo is playing like a 4 star. 

That's our starting line up. I don't necessarily think there's a disconnect in the rankings as much as there's a disconnect in the system. 

Your bottom two are not very accurate. How many starting guards in the BIG do they outperform? For Cupps, the answer is probably zero.

23 minutes ago, BGleas said:

Agree or disagree, the argument can be made that there wasn't a top-flight transfer guard that was going to come because we had XJ and Galloway returning. Those guys, if healthy, were always going to play a lot of minutes. 

If I remember correctly, I think i was even saying that last offseason. 

But for a team that is so bad at shooting, you're telling me there wasn't a Nick Zeisloft type that we could have added? 

A guy that was a straight shooter and maybe not super high on the transfer rankings lists? Remember, Zeisloft averaged like 6ppg at Ill St., and Crean took a ton of heat for that recruitment, but surrounded by talent, Ziesloft was a very key piece on a Big Ten title/Sweet Sixteen team. 

We couldn't have added one guy like that?

I have a really hard time believing that any top kid was scared to come in and compete with Galloway. At the very least, there was plenty of room for a guard to come in and get back-up minutes at both the 1 and the 2 - likely even the 3, depending on the kid.

14 hours ago, Seeking6 said:

For the he must go now crowd. Look at who we've been on for a couple years in recruiting. For the main 4-5 guys in 25 if I said we would land 4 of them because of the kids/families belief in Woodson, appeal of IU, NIL... would that make you give pause to the he must leave now?

Or do you think a new coach could come in and pick things right up and recruit Haralson, Sisley, Mullins, Brown,etc....

Disappointing year but it is a factor. So is hiring and firing every single 4 year cycle. These are factors that have to be considered. I mean the only reason a guy like May would come here is because of his history....and the same for Pearl but otherwise this job (because of the hiring and firing) has lost it's appeal. For 20 years it's been a Coaching cemetery. That cycle has to stop. 

Do we have committed recruits that I haven't heard about? I see no reason to think Woodson will have success with 2025 recruits. Even with his job seemingly secure, he basically whiffed on 2024. I'm sure the negative recruiting will go through the roof if Woodson is given the chance to continue going after these 2025 kids. If we had a big-time class already committed, I could at least see the argument, but we don't, and Woodson won't be able to get one.

10 hours ago, NotIThatLives said:

Yet.  

Romeo was a difference case.  Clearly injured enough to need surgery, that doesn't count.  I don't follow every team that goes nit, cbi or any other trash end of season tourney.  It's bound to happen eventually.  If it hasn't already and it was so low key, non ncaa tourney guy, it didn't even catch wind on the radar, like 2nd rounder or not even drafted guy.  

It's my opinion.  It's your opinion.  It's actually a guess.  

The level of injury risk is far different. As is the percentage of guys that will go pro after a year. So, I don't think it will ever be a huge thing like in bowl games. I would guess you're right and it will happen a bit, but I don't think it will just become a normal part of the late/post season.

24 minutes ago, OGIUAndy said:

I actually do because I think he knows he screwed up this season trusting what was already on the roster. 

He did a pretty good job getting talent in the portal - it just didn't gel. If he gets Ware but in a point guard, Walker but in a SG and maybe another Walker in the exact same position, we will have a good team. I don't have much faith Woody will coach them up, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

1 hour ago, IowaHoosierFan said:

don't disagree.  I am not putting my chickens in the McNeely basket just yet.  Freshman, even highly touted ones struggle at times to adjust to the speed and skill of the college game.  MM has some of the tools and can shoot well from three when wide open, but he struggles to create his own 3pt shots.  He is decent at going to the rim with his size, but even then, can struggle. I am hoping for a big jump from MM which would be huge for IU next year.  Malik has to grow as a player in Vision and Decision making.  If those2 can make the Jump, we could be a decent team.  Still need a PG/SG with starting caliber skills.

Montverde players, more than most, seem to come in well coached and ready to play. I'd bet McNeely plays at a high level from day one.

Just now, Kdug said:

Bigs have developed, but guard development has been bad imo. Gunn and Banks have shown little improvement. XJ has got worse each year, though injuries probably played a part there. Bates improved a little his sophomore year, but he really blew up after leaving IU. Galloway and Kopp are really the only two guards or wings who I’d say meaningfully improved the last 3 years.

Banks definitely has not, I agree. I don't see how you can say the same about Gunn. He's still not a power 5 player, but he looks like a guy who will get there. Even by your accounting, though, that strikes me as pretty average improvement. Especially considering JHS improved a lot - and I would say Galloway improved even more.

21 minutes ago, NCHoosier32 said:

i would hope all payers improve at least a little every year under any coach.  

I was responding to a comment that said our guys didn't. 

Player development under Woody has been at least solid. Probably good.

10 minutes ago, mrflynn03 said:

I've never donated to the school I went to, I did that when I paid tuition.  

My question is, why do people donate to universities?  IU has a multi billion dollar endowment and charges a tuition most hoosiers I know can't afford. 

I get people who do it because they want tickets. I sort of get people who want to sit in the locker room with coach and smoke cigars (though, I don't really get why that's so appealing - I understand that some would). I don't get people who are so connected to a school that they want to give money other than those personal befits. I like IU, but if I give them money, they will spend it to climb in the rankings (academic or athletic, it's all the same). Quite frankly, I don't care about that. If IU rises, someone else falls and the world is no better. It makes no sense.

5 minutes ago, Threedom said:

The whole discussion about the fan base being the problem for IU just drives me crazy.  It hasnt  missed a shot or made a turnover ever.  I think the fan base is the one thing that has been good the last 20 years.  Without it, we are DePaul right now. 

"You tell me, how many long jumpers did HoosierDom take? How many times did he stand there and watch the other team miss with no thought at all about boxing out? How many times did he take his best player out with 2 fouls and refuse to bring him back in, no matter how bad things got?"

19 minutes ago, Coach Robby said:

I view this board multiple times per day. Post every so often a pun or recruiting update. Lucky enough to have ticket connections. Been a fan for most of my life.

i said it the first time I went to a game this year (Army). No one talks on defense, and that hasn’t changed into February. That’s a problem…

I’m optimistic bc I’m tired of being pissy and grumbling about stuff I don’t control.  I’m having a very difficult time picturing our roster being better next year…what quality guard would want to come here? Besides JHS, most other guards have gotten worse or stayed the same. I think if we see a Knecht type player in the portal, maybe we’ll do everything in our power to get them to visit. 
 

Players 9-12 are unplayable. Walker and Banks do the same. So that addition was weird. Sparks wants to be here…great! Doesn’t fit though…
 

not that it matters, but I’ve always been a give a guy 4 years. Said it with Archie, give em a chance to have a full cycle of recruits, etc.  woody gets next year, but if the roster isn’t better, back to square 1.

if that’s the case…go get Beard. He wins. Worried about his past? He paid his dues. This fan base craves WINNING. Nothing else. IMO Dusty May has 0 relevance to IU unless you’re over the age of 35. Todays players? Don’t care. The “try an IU guy” is unfolding right before us. And it’s been good, 2 tournaments, draft picks, etc.  but it’ll be time to pony up more $$$ to get a 15-20 year guy.
 

rant over. Still thankful for the site, and our team. 

Galloway is playing far better than in past years. Kopp improved, at least on defense quite a lot. I would say MM, though still not living up to his ranking is playing a lot better than at the start of the year. Even Gunn is much better. The only guy I see that hasn't improved under Woody is X. 

Why did it take us so long to make it hard for Edey to get the ball?

He had Cupps for the easy pass. Why not throw it?

Seems like you have to guard Edey with the idea that you are going to get elbowed in the face and like it.

5 minutes ago, IUFLA said:

So I thought maybe a good look back at the last 5 coaches that won the NCAA Tournament might provide a little context...All citations are from their tenure at their present school...

 

I don't know enough about any of those teams to know what they looked like and what kinds of information they provided about the coach in question. But, I would wager they didn't have an NBA bound 7-footer, above average size at positions 2-5, and really 1-5 when X is healthy, and still be near the bottom of their conference in rebounding. That's where Woody really lost me. We were on low range of mediocre rebounding the ball last year and we're bad this year. Our personnel has been flawed in many ways, but it should excel at rebounding and it hasn't. I'm in the camp that would definitely get a new coach if we can have a top guy lined up and I'm okay either way if we don't. But, I really value rebounding and I don't understand why they guys we have had these last three years haven't been good at it.

I think you also have to consider that in the days gone by, it's a long process to upgrade a roster. Now, it's much much faster.

I don't know the letter of the law, but refs have to take into account that a guy just got fouled. Sure, if you elbow someone in the face as you drive, I'm fine with that as an F1 - you shouldn't do that normally, but when you just got hit, your arms go up to balance/protect yourself, you're going to be in an unnatural position as you react unsure if the whistle will blow. There should be a lot of leeway to not be in a natural basketball position after getting fouled.

37 minutes ago, BGleas said:

Yup, and some of what IU has been missing. We need some guys in the rotation that get what Indiana is supposed to be about. 

I think his rebounding has been a big impact too. The defense looks better when you're not giving up 2nd chance opportunities. 

I'll admit I was wrong on Leal. I had said in the offseason that I couldn't see him ever really being in the rotation. 

He wasn't even getting garbage minutes last year. I don't know if he was hurt, or he's improved or he was misjudged. But, looking at his 2.2 minutes per game in his 11 appearances from last year, thinking he wouldn't play was the easy prediction.

1 minute ago, rogue3542 said:

It should be: final two minutes - reviewable with no call on the floor

It's a live ball if you don't call it, though.

How is this taking so long?

Let's get a shot that's better than a mid-range jumper from Ware.