IUProfessor

I think tickets are still available through IU...maybe the schools are still holding all lower level tickets, hence the lack of secondary market availability?

This year, even more than most, strikes me as a season where there's probably no clear cut single favorite to win the league. Rather, there is probably a group of three or four teams that are most likely to be in the mix for a championship. I certainly think that IU deserves to be in that top tier category. But I also understand why some might be skeptical that a group whose strength is predominantly returning talent, but yet has never finished above .500 in the league with this core, should be anointed the preseason favorite. That having been said, I do think that reliance on season-long metrics is a little unfair and unwise when evaluating this Hoosiers squad. Any team playing the first year of a new system would be expected to face some growing pains early on, which we certainly did. But if you look at the last month or two of the season, we were playing much better than the overall metrics suggest. I think it's fair to assume that that stretch-run performance is a more accurate reflection of the 2022-23 team's talent level. If JHS and Bates can combine to play a couple standard deviations above where Parker and Bates were last season, and Kopp can be a bit more reliable, this club certainly has championship potential. But I understand the reluctance to put them #1 overall in the B1G.

UNC game announced as a 9:15 tipoff on ESPN.

Full schedule with tip times for all but UNC and Kansas: https://www.insidethehall.com/2022-2023-indiana-basketball-schedule/ Saturday night at 8 p.m. vs. Ohio State on Fox is going to be bumpin.

Not really. Romeo certainly helped, but that class was pretty deep. It was one 5*, three 4*s, and a 3*. This class is rated a hair higher due to the two 5*s. Regardless, my point is just that many new coaches get off to a hot start recruiting while enthusiasm is high (Crean's first full class at UGA was top 10, for instance). The question is whether the staff can maintain that momentum both on the recruiting trail and on the court. I'm hopeful this staff will, but it's still too early to draw definitive conclusions.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but Archie's first full class was ranked top 10 nationally, and we all know how that turned out...

The Athletic has a good ranking of best available HS seniors and transfer portal options up, for anyone who subscribes. Looks to be constantly updated: https://theathletic.com/3211734/2022/03/30/ranking-the-best-available-mens-college-basketball-transfers-and-high-school-recruits-for-2022-23/ A few notes that stood out to me. Reneau is currently #2 overall behind Yohan Traore. Julian Phillips is #3, with Brandon Murray #4, Curbelo #7, Brazile #8, Williams (Murray State big) #10, Terrance Shannon #11, Sparks #25, and McNeil #26. For McNeil, they suggest he's a major defensive liability, one who West Virginia regularly had to game plan around to cover his deficiencies at that end. Some other names that stood out, who I don't think have been brought up yet: Will Richard (Belmont - #9 overall) - NBA athleticism and length, could be elite scorer with a tweak to his mechanics. Jalen Bridges (WVU - #13 overall) - 6'7" wing who shot 40% from 3 in good minutes as a freshman, but took a step backwards as a sophomore despite increased minutes. Could be a good bounce back candidate who would thrive in "a well-spaced high-ball-screen scheme on offense and a switching defensive scheme." Antonio Reeves (Illinois State - #19 overall) - 6'5" wing, high volume scorer with near elite shot creation skills, but struggles at facilitating others and on the defensive end.

That's fair. I just mean that Geronimo's only advantage at present over TJD or Race is three more years of eligibility vs. one. But unless his outside shooting takes a massive leap forward, then he either won't be starting or else we're a bottom half B1G team two to three years out. This roster needs a much more reliable shooter (ideally in the form of a taller player) than Geronimo if the offense is going to function as intended.

Not a popular opinion, I know, but I think Geronimo is the most overrated player on the roster. I agree that he has potential, but he's still really raw for a soon-to-be upperclassman. I'd take 1 more year of Race or TJD in a heartbeat over JG, and it's not close. I just don't see JG as the ideal 4 for Woody's system long-term, and he isn't a better player than Race or TJD in the short-term.

https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1508552658705076241?ref_src=twsrc^tfw This kid is a winner through and through. Lit up UK in Rupp this year.

The problem in these situations is always that the insiders here are connected to the program, not to the player. So their inside info is only as good as who they are getting it from. If people inside the program feel good about a recruit, it doesn't actually mean that the recruit is coming, just that the staff feels good about it. The real info of value comes from the player's camp. We rarely have that here. Edit: I don't mean that as a knock on any of the insiders, just that I always take what I hear here lightly for that reason.

Brian Snow on Duncomb here: https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/LongFormArticle/Big-Ten-basketball-recruiting-Michigan-State-Tom-Izzo-Maryland-Ohio-State-Indiana-Michigan-150200334/

That is one benefit of Archie's decision to not use the full allotment of scholarships...we can always have one available should a Top 10 prospect want to sign, while using the rest to build a stable roster of 3-4 year players.

If we were to land Kaufman and Mohammed, along with Duncomb, it is hard to overstate how strong a class that would be. And if Archie could get all three of them locked up by early May...wow!

Called it!

Not an original thought here by any means, but if Lander does not reclassify, then this roster is desperately in need of a grad transfer back-up PG. Someone who would be content with contributing off the bench at a potential top 10-20 B1G team in 2020-21, ideally with a 3-and-D type skill set.

Just noticed the 1979-80 team reunion is scheduled for the Purdue game...wonder if Knight makes his return to Assembly Hall then.

And Terrence Clarke at #2.

Given the recent spate of bad recruiting news, locking down the state in 2021 is looking like it may be even more critical for CAM's long-term prospects than originally thought...