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Imagine going through Senior Night twice and still trying to get a waiver to keep playing. Won't be a popular opinion, but I hope it gets denied. Not interested in players who blame fans and can't handle criticism.

I have no animosity towards Leal. I just look at 2 scenarios and favor one of them. Scenario 1 is Leal taking roster spot for 1 year max while not likely playing at all. Scenario 2 is a developmental HS recruit that has flown under the radar and could possibly develop. In Scenario 2 you could have a player that develops over the course of 4 years max or if he doesn't you cut bait after 1 year (same amount of time Leal takes up a roster spot). Just doesn't make sense to bring Leal back for minimal to non-existent role when you could use that resource to try and find a diamond in the rough. Just my 2 cents.

I simply want a team of guys I like and enjoy watching. Leal and Goode do not fall into those categories. Goode was only here for a hot minute and bought hook line and sinker into the Woodson persecution complex. My feelings about Leal are clear. A breakup between the Woodson era and the new era is needed. If Leal wants a third senior year of college, hopefully it happens elsewhere.

100%. And he’d find some minutes, but, honest to God, I’d take even if he barely plays. Whatever one thinks of this roster, and I’m pretty intrigued, the one thing it absolutely lacks is anyone at all whose experienced anything close to an IUBB-type environment and the accompanying expectations. Every one of these kids is moving up in weight class. The scrutiny. The fishbowl. The road atmospheres.The whole deal. Having a voice in the locker room who gets it and can convey it would have great, great value.

Agreed. Leal has been here for half a decade already... even dating all the way back to Archie. It’s time to give someone else a run. He’s had his run at IU, been treated very well — including making at this point hundreds of thousands if not millions from NIL…with frankly little return imo…there are numerous and significant better options to have than Leal - of which his guard position is already more than accounted for on this team with more talented players in the fold than before.

Hard pass on Leal. He's the type of player who I should root for, but yet I still can't stand him. We all know why so I won't bother rehashing Senior Night 2024. And I am sure he is a great kid. Loves IU as much as everyone else on this board. I wish him nothing but success in life, glad he was able to get life changing money as an undergrad. But he has officially maxed out what he can offer IU basketball.

Cal WR Jonathan Brady transferring to IU. Caught 74 for 1010 yds and 7 td’s from Mendoza over the past 2 seasons. Based on size(5’10” and 180) and yards per catch I assume he’s a slot guy. 1 year left.

I detect more than a hint of bitterness in the ten posts by six different people I quoted above yours. ;) It’s all good—different opinions; but some animosity towards Leal that extends beyond his bball skills? Yes.

Hmm… a bit surprising. This would be great. If I remember correctly, per his contact compensation he gets from the Kings would offset his buyout, though the exact details of his separation agreement I do not know (who knows what got negotiated in those tense days this year).

I'll be the first to admit this is an unlikely scenario, but getting a waiver - if one is approved - doesn't automatically mean he plays another season at IU.

There has been a narrative for quite some time that this fanbase wants guys who want to be a Hoosier v guys who want to be paid. If there Leal story is true, he fits the definition of a Hoosier. The disrespect aimed towards him by some here, that if he really wanted to be a basketball player he would have moved down a level instead of “staying for the bag” is ludicrous. Wonder how many who believe this nonsense also espouse the concept of “hometown discount “? Playing in front of your family and friends means a lot to some people. Playing for the school in your backyard and who dreamt of playing for your entire life, means something. Hate away at Anthony Leal if you must. I would take him on this team and have no second thoughts

All this pro-Leal propaganda makes me think I was wrong to delete my cranky post. The wisest posters here said to trust DeVries even when the portal got off to a slow start (according to Dolson’s own expectations). So I’m going to trust DeVries about the Leal situation, too, which may not even be a situation. But I will say again that a part of fan psychology I just don’t understand is endless anger at ex-coaches and endless sympathy for ex-players. If you dislike Woody, and I very much do, I don’t understand bending over backward to defend Leal. They were both part of several bad and weak teams! Leal was an adult who had a role in this mess. Now he’s an invaluable leader and glue guy? As @Home Jersey notes, defensive metrics are not always useful—even more true in sample sizes as small as Leal’s. I always thought he would make some good team defense plays (but often undermine them by then making a silly play with the ball). But he did not look like a great defender to me. And mostly because he can’t keep players in front of him, which is a bigger problem without a rim protector. It is absolutely wild to me that anyone would want Leal over literally any big, even one who won’t play this year but might play in two years. We all watched the same games, right?

Sure—valid concern. But not only am I not concerned, I think he’s a very smart, hardworking guy who was fully supporting his then coach, completely ‘gets’ that there was disfunction (hell, he experienced it first hand) and would be a great culture piece at the end of the bench for the new guys. That is my opinion.

I would’ve lost a lot of money on a “Will Mike Woodson ever work again” bet. I guess he feels well rested after his part-time job the past four years.

Holy cow... all because of SR speech lol These posts are crazy

High level shooter? Imagine us bringing in someone with leal stats in the transfer portal. Let alone running plays for him lol. This place would loose it. Leal looked scared to death to shoot the ball half the time. Don’t even get me started with how he looked handling the ball against pressure basically backing ppl down from 80 ft. I love that Woodson played him last year but it had a lot more to do with being sick of watching the others on the team play. Hell I’d would have rather watch Dallas James lay then half the guys last year. I really hope we start to get more talented players than leal and those guys because practice/team hype emergency bench guys. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I suppose he can tell everyone what Woody’s program did so this team knows what not to do. :-)

I’m not sure honestly. He has grown tremendously in the last year from an athletic, quickness, and physical standpoint. He has a very nice skill set for a stretch 4 type of guy, especially one that will not be the vocal point of a scouting report. He will do a lot of the little things and does move without the ball well making reads, back cuts, and what not. I have my worries defensively and I didn’t get to watch many games at Montverde so that’s more from my perspective at heritage hills. Wasn’t that he was a bad defender but he didn’t “HAVE” to play it at heritage hills because he was just better than everyone else. So I figured he would grow a lot in that area once he got to college. So he can certainly grown into,or maybe already has, a plus defender. I’m also not trying to be a homer because it’s hard to stay biased about a kid I’ve taught, coached, and have known personally for awhile now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right. And half (or more) the pitch of Leal’s value is about what he brings off the court as a sixth year CBB player. People feel differently about that… and his fit on the roster in basketball terms… so the less than enthusiastic reception to the idea is unsurprising to me, especially after the past four years.

From someone who coached him, Montverde was the best thing that happened to him. So much more explosive and quick than he use to be. Kid was always a gym rat and his dad/coaches at heritage hills did a nice job coaching and training him. But nothing like he got at Montverde. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://x.com/jeffrabjohns/status/1918817099293540502?s=61 as a Leal fan, this just f’in rocks! Any haters well you know what to do to urselfs! Lol

IMO the last point is the only one that actually matters. If DDV hasn’t added an entire roster of mature young men … and with all these seniors, including his son, doesn’t feel there’s leadership already… then that’s a problem. I don’t think that’s actually the case. Leal is a positive defender and doesn’t need the ball to be effective. That’s nice, but any playing time he gets would be at the expense of guys who have more eligibility or were presumably brought in to play over him. No problem with him playing instead of younger guys… except for the fact that means A) DDV missed on his scouting evals to the point Leal is playing significant / meaningful minutes B) it means no bigs if we get Goode too. Can’t afford an injury to Bailey / Harris / Alexis in that scenario. Leal is a nice kid but it’s definitely fair to question a scenario where DDV wants him at IU for a 6th year when he already has 11/13 spots filled and we have a ton of guys at Leal’s position (objectively) and probably could use one more big guy (subjective take)

Saw him twice this past season. Even talked to his coach (Jeff Teague) about him. My take away was very simple : He's raw, but this kid will play in the NBA He has a LOT of work to do, but compared to kids like Xavier Booker, as an example, this kid is a FAR better prospect. He's far tougher, far more athletic, and I would LOVE IU to land him. Guys like Rabjohns who describe kids as he did above don't give the full picture. This kid needs work and has things to develop - positioning, rebounding with something other than athletic ability, etc. But....he's going to be REALLY good eventually.

Agree. I would take one or the other

It's just not that deep.

If we grabbed the defensive equivalence of Hatton I'd be tickled to death.

Why do you feel the need to make sh up? Who exactly is “bitter” about Leal?? Haven’t seen a single “bitter” post about him. Not seeing him as a fit for this team isn’t bitterness, good grief

I watched an NBA playoff game Friday night. One team’s starting lineup went: 6’6”, 6’7”, 6’4”, 6’2”, 6’2”. And that lineup had only two shooters that were crushingly incredible outside shooters. All five were guys that had to be guarded at the three point line though.

I’d agree. It’s time. To. Move. On. He’s synonymous with a losing era that had little to no accountability or appeal. actually should say 2 eras because Leal played for Archie too. Another failed era.

Put me in the camp of no to Leal. Move on. 3 Senior nights? Gimme a break. This is an older team DeVries has coming in…I assure you we don’t need any “leadership” from Anthony Leal…of which he would provide little to none. Would be a mistake inviting him back.

I guess I watched the wrong games. I just don’t see leal as a plus defender at all. He has good principles but lacked the ability to keep people in front of him. Leadership? Maybe I guess but the senior night shenanigans scream a whole different story. I was happy for him he got to see the floor last year mainly because I was tired of watching the other people on the team but I really hope this year team is an upgrade in talent and just basketball skills and IQ in general. Again if leal hits the portal I don’t think he generates much interest from high level power conferences. Just my opinion and it’s not worth a lot lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You must be a “true” fan. :)

No one forced him to say anything about it at all during his first (of apparently 3) senior night speeches. He didn’t have to choose between dumping on the fanbase and dumping on his coach. He chose to dump on the fanbase to support his coach, which he was free to do. Same as I’m free to not like him for it and hope he’s not back next year. Mike Woodson intentionally drove a wedge between the players and the fanbase. Leal was one of the most vocal. I don’t want anyone from Woodson’s program around next year.

If he comes back, which I really hope is he doesn’t, here’s to hoping DD doesn’t allow the Mike Woodson victim mentality to spread to the rest of the team.

So one of the IU burners posted a meme a few days ago, that was a dog in front of a for sale sign in a yard. and Tyme liked and commented on it being something. Then people interpreted it to mean that Leal was going after a waiver and likely to get it. Leal does have a bit of a case, he came back and played an 11th game in the tournament so he's just over the 30 percent threshold like Goode, but there is no indication that he actually wants to do that or applied. UPDATE FROM RABBY HE HAS APPLIED, the burners knew something. https://x.com/JeffRabjohns/status/1918817099293540502

Blaming fans is a hallmark of a toxic program culture. Our program's culture has sucked for the better part of a decade and it desperately needs to change. That isn't happening with guys like Leal and Goode around.

I hope he comes back just for this post alone.

To me, the value Leal brings has much less to do with his on court skills, and much more to do with the knowledge he has. There is no one else on this roster who understands playing in the B1G. Save KJ, and it was several years ago, no one on the staff either. No one understands the style of play of each opponent, nor coaching tendencies. No one has experienced the way B1G games are reffed. Leal can bring that knowledge to the locker room and to coach’s meetings. Yes, he could also do this as a grad assistant, but adding him to the roster, assuming we can’t get someone who fills the rim protection needs, give us the flexibility to play him should the injury or foul bug hit the team. The intangibles Leal brings cannot be measured by any statistical analysis. Value comes in different ways.

It’s not bitterness but we have two spots and need a bigger body not another wing that should see no time. So give me goode who would contribute on any D1 team and a big not leal and Goode. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right there with you on this one. Interesting profession, where you can flat out suck for 4 years, underperform with an expensive, talented roster that you brought in, get fired, and then jump back immediately into the professional ranks as an assistant.

Do you not consider that a valid concern? If he really was MW's boy, is there no concern he could be a discontented voice in the locker room? If he comes back with a lesser role and lesser NIL deal does that lead to a level of resentment? I'm sure CDDV will or has vetted the situation, but Leal probably lands near the bottom of the depth chart so not sure how much he will help. The phrase, "it only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch" comes to mind. I am indifferent to Leal's return but don't think questioning it is solely sour grapes about his Senior Night speech gaffe.

Weren’t a lot of us clowning Chad Baker Mazara and all these 6th year seniors? But we’re thrilled with Anthony Leal coming back for a 6th year? Lol… If he wants to pay his way for another year of school to be a practice player then he’s a real IU guy through and through, I suppose. Seems like a good time to move on after 5 years though, even if he is sometimes pretty good at defense.

If you ask me if our players 11-13 is Goode, Leal and Sisley that makes for a deep team. I just don't understand the bitterness towards Leal and Goode in coming back to the team.

An example of the dysfunction that has been IU basketball recently ... If Leal does get a waiver for next season, he will have played for three different head coaches -- and all were full-time, "permanent" coaches. None was an interim.

I like Leal and Goode. I think both are +s to a roster but like you I want a C. Apparently staff and DeVries don’t feel that way. I disagree but I’ve had several issues with the roster.

Maybe since they understand Indiana so well they should have understood what Indiana players should not to say to Indiana fans.

Leal would be a f’in great addition to this team. Are you Debbie downers getting a grasp ? Obviously no no don’t! FFS! Leal will be the glue of all f’n glue that makes this team bind! Wake the F up boys ! Let’s go Hoosiers and let’s go Anthony Leal! ✌️

Outside of experience, he brings an elite defensive BPM in 2025 that would have ranked first in the country for the 2023-2024 season. He’s obviously limited offensively (although if he played with 4 versatile offensive players and multiple guys that can make plays that may not stand out as much) outside of keeping the ball moving. And I’m not saying he would or should get starter minutes, but he’s an ultimate team player that makes lineups better while he’s on the floor. If he somehow gets another year, they might as well keep him around.

The handwringing over Leal's comments over a year ago just further proves how insecure a sect of this fanbase really is. He wasn't lying either.