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I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't think that this roster is *that* talented. And I don't think the talent that has been assembled is particularly well-tailored to play with one another. Undoubtedly the roster has more dynamic guards than last year, but Rice and Carlyle largely feature overlapping skillsets, so they aren't really complementary pieces in my mind. And then it appears that Mgbako is going to be penciled in at the 3, even though it seems clear he's better at the 4, in order to once again allow Reneau to play out of position at the 4. Sure, Rice and Carlyle will be able to take more guys off the dribble than the backcourt last year. But whenever Reneau and Ballo are on the court together, the guards are going to run into a lot of congestion once they get to the paint. Aside from Goode, we haven't while added any lockdown shooters for the new guards to dish to when they do break the defense down. I know people are hopeful Rice and Carlyle's 3 pt. shooting % will improve significantly from last year, that is hardly a guarantee. And we haven't even gotten to Woodson's shortcomings coaching on the defensive end. So while I'd be happy to be wrong, I just don't see the high ceiling many of you do for this roster, especially with this coaching staff. I think that a top 30-40 finish and a 12-8 B1G record are much more likely than a B1G Championship or Final Four run. And while that would certainly be an improvement over last year, I don't think that would be anyone's idea of a successful season. Again, hope I'm wrong, though!

Imagine how much different the vibes would be if IU had signed Dusty May and Curt Cignetti in the same offseason. Would definitely have made me feel better about the direction of IUBB past this season. Don’t think our fans could be more pumped coming off this football season.

Too funny not to post.

Live every day. Appreciate every day. Treat people with grace. Even when you disagree with them. Life is short.

I know you are not a paid burner, but you truly deserve to get a paycheck for putting in all this work. Michael Woodson thanks you for your free labor. +500 true fan points for you, good sir.

Blank check and a white piece of paper asking what upgrades the stadium, facilities, FB program needs to retain him. I'm for the Bob Knight treatment of Coach Cigs

This is how I see things. Makes the most sense. Puts the program in good graces with prospective coaches (although I think Dolson has an idea who it will be)…. Sends a beloved former player the chance to ride off into the sunset and avoids an ugly divorce. No matter how you try to rationalize it….. firing Woodson would have AWFUL optics. And that matters. Woodson’s ego remains intact due to the fact that the program is in a much better place now than when he took the job. *any reasonable fan has to admit this. Feels like we have a legitimate opportunity to enter into a golden age of IU athletics. Hope we take advantage of that opportunity.

From the 247 site neither Gallo nor Newton are expected to play. However, sounds like Newton will play in the Marian game.

You cut that portion of the post out when you responded to it. And your numbers are wrong. Mgbako shot 36-104 from 3 in January-March, which is 34.6%. That’s nothing to write home about. He shot 14-49 from 3 in November-December, which is 28.6% so, a 6% increase, far from an increase of “tenfold in a matter of months,” and the increased percentage still wasn’t good.

IU was 271st in 3 pt %, below 200 2 of the last three seasons. But yeah that one guy, if you ignore the first half of the season...narratives indeed.

IU has gone 14th, 14th, and 13th in the conference in 3 point makes during Woodson’s tenure. It’s really not the hill to die on when defending him.

I think your opinion of the pieces would be higher if you had more respect for the head guy's ability to use them properly. This is a good roster.

CCC and Fisch... http://hoosierhuddle.com/hoosier-blog/coaches-show-recap-its-a-big-game-cause-its-the-next-game/2024/10/24

Obligatory Mullins Thought-- I in no way was surprised by a kid committing to the coach of the back-to-back national champions over MW, Indiana kid or no, nothing remotely shocking about that. Him committing to IU over UCONN would have been far more shocking IMO. Throw your tinfoil hat on here: I almost am buying that some of the NIL transfer support for this season was deliberate to create a "golden parachute" coaching situation for Woody to exit gracefully. The longer this has gone on, I tend to agree with @Stuhoo the optics (as much as I would have preferred to rip the band aid and hire Dusty) would simply be awful forcing Woody out. I am hoping everyone involved just wanted to avoid that, send him off with a marginally successful season (early tourney exit, decent B1G showing), and prevent the negative press by pumping absurd money into the transfer portal. Maybe I have smoked enough Coach Cigs this football season and it has replaced the basketball angst. Could also be the indica.

Friday-Soccer Saturday, Football-the biggest game for IUFB during my fandom. Sunday-Hoosier Hoopers get to ball out. Heckuva sports weekend.

Ditto this message. As a 44yo this hits home. I don’t know the cause of death, but this is just complete sadness. May he RIP.

Schwarber is the guest picker.

So, reading even pro MW folks, it seems the overwhelming majority see this as likely a decent to good season, allowing MW to bow out gracefully as a program rebuilder. Glad that we sacrificed 5 Star recruits that wanted to play at IU, a sh!t load of NIL that any coach could have used successfully, and a year of everyone's lives, so Woodrow could have good feels. Let's hope his players can find their own threes and he decides to not quit on his players again this season. If not, he may need a few more years to feel good enough about himself to "retire."

......here's a new one! Hear me out. I will begin with, this though would have been insane and absolutely unheard of for ANY year prior to THIS year. If this train continues to roll and Coach Cignetti & Co. do make IU their long term/final home, we are going to need more seats to accommodate the droves of new fans wanting to be a part of this. I could never imagine Memorial Stadium with new upper deck seating or expanding up/out with the seating rows. Again, I'm definitely not trying to put the cart before the horse here, but it definitely has to be on Dolson's mind in the near future. I know, I know, win games first, lock down Cignetti and Co. long term, then.......? Go IU!

Chris Reynolds/Jamal Meeks combo The two headed pg's who orchestrated all the talent around them. Neither could shoot worth a lick, but steady and played hellacious D

I drove to, of all places, Lubbock, Texas to watch the first round NIT game between IU and Texas Tech in 1979. We won, and went on to win that tournament on a last second shot by Butch Carter over hated rival Purdue. We stormed Showalter Fountain as if we had just won a natty. Butch was revered on campus for the rest of his time at IU because of that one shot

Damn, I thought he was on the verge of being a HC in a Power conference within the next couple of years. How freaking tragic.

"Hey Tom, or Tim, well anyway Todd, Mike Woodson figured he should get here before his salary gets diverted to the new football coach Chris or Chad or whatever"

If Woody’s going to retire then they should announce it now so that I can enjoy this season without the looming threat of future Woody seasons clouding the year. It’s not like it’ll have a negative impact on high school recruiting given his recent results.