8bucks

I know we beat Mizzou but I would point to them as a team to not schedule for a few years. Every game is winnable but I think the value of getting to a bowl game is more valuable to us than getting a big non conf win.

I started at IU with Mallory. First year was tough but by year three we were bowling. A few shots at winning the BT during his time. Most of the years we made it to a mid tier bowl and had some success. Willing to give a little bit of time to Wilson but this year is shaping up to be a big disappointment. Really prefer we set up the non conference games with more winnable games initially. Once he has the program established we can need that up as needed.

Anyone remember Wilson's self timeline he had. It had a catchy phrase like lose big, lose close, win close then win big. Think that was basically it and thought it was tied to four or five years.

Did the crowd feel pretty big? Looked kind of sparse on TV.

Ok. Now your talking, though we have it the other way around. I make sure to sample everything

Why do those girls not have gingerbread man cookies?

I agree. I think a below average coach could take this team to a 7th place or worse record in the BT and an NIT appearance or one that barely makes the NCAA. Very good year to see what we have as a coach.

I agree and think he has the tools to build to that. I am not expecting an elite eight this year but am expecting to be in the top 25 and playing very well at the end of the year. I expect 1 maybe two wins on the NCAA this year, keep most of the guys and then the following year be a top 10 team. With the talent on this team all we need is some experience and a big and we are back in the mix in 2015-16. The 2012 class really hurt the progression of the program. RMK had a similar class with Reid, Miller and Patterson which broke his steak of winning it all every 5-6 years. If, however, the "expert" predictions come true and we finish 8, 9, 10 or lower then it is time for a change and it will be obvious for most.

Do you understand how college athletic programs work? Donor money. Donor support. Just because you tire of the discussion does not make it untrue.

He's talking about Ryan Burton I think. A little hard to tell but it would be hard for Hartman to be in the top 5 if he has not been cleared for full participation.

SMU still working @AdamGrosbard: 4-star guard Shake Milton tells me that #SMU has flown up to Oklahoma to visit him "multiple times," the last time being last week #PonyUp Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Just about all the old guard star sports guys are gone now. Hutch left a few months back and about 3 or 4 left in the last few weeks. Doyle essentially replaces Kravitz as columnist but with all the other departures he probably has some assignments Kravitz did not. Statement hire, Doyle vs Kravitz, I will give them that. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Both those guys were 5 star McDs coming in. Crean continued to get them ready to make the leap but he has not had any success with kids ranked lower. HP was a 4* and is probably a power forward but hopefully he can break out this year. Would love to even see April develop but so far if your not a five star big then you really do not develop at IU. Certainly not all on Crean but there is some to share with him Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I think those gaps are what separate the top teams from the top 25 ish where we can get to. Cheaney, Graham and crew were more experience than our top kids but if they can compete well this year and win a game in the NCAA then the following year we might be able to make a bigger leap. I am not a rainbow guy but I think we really should be one of those teams on the cusp of breaking through this year. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

No it works. We got to the FF without a big and even survived Shaquille going like 10-10 from free throws. If the rest of our team is as good as advertised we can still be good. Not FF good but top 25 good. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Remember Matt Nover? He was 6'8" and played center for IU. He even had to guard Shaquille in the tourney (we won). Nover was not a prototypical center and was not really much better than Hanner except he could stay away from fouls. It helped that he had Henderson at PF but as a center Nover helped get us to a FF. We can be good without a stud Center if our shooters and scorers can score. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Priller can handle jump ball opportunities better too. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

You could argue they have much more control in creating a dynasty in college than in the NBA. Salary caps and the current teams ability to pay a player the most would make building a team difficult. In college, if a great recruiter, you can really stack your team. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I primarily meant the last part of the title "according to this idiot". I Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Wonder if the thread title should be changed. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

So when we clearly need a big man. When we swing and miss at several big man candidates. When we bring in 2 prior recruits that are underwhelming based on who we were targeting and then land another outside shooter instead of a big. When after a year where we finish at the bottom of the BT if we happen to question why CREAN would bring in yet another kid that does not address our need for a big - I fail to see how this is both unintelligent discussion and a slam on Nick. I think it is reasonable to question our recruiting post Blackman and yet it is still possible to support Nick and hope he tears it up this year without needing to eat the proverbial crow Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

How do you know he will get 2 more years? Not bashing at all but I was curious. I have my doubts about him as coach but I strongly believe this years team bounces back in a big way. Expecting top 5 in conference and a solid showing in NCAA. That would correspond to having more time to build on that and I would be supportive of him as coach. If, however, I am wrong and the outside experts are right, and we finish around 8 or 9th then I think he will be replaced. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

So if April and Priller do not contribute much does the other side of the fan base have to eat crow? Just about all of the criticism Z3 got was because we swung and missed on so many others and then come away with guys that were not out first, second or third choice. We picked up Z when we needed another legitimate big. We had already invested heavily in shooters for the next year and instead of getting a big we get another shooter. We chased after many big man candidates only to bring Z on late. That was the reason for most of the complaints and they were directed more to our recruiting than to him. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Yeah. Not good for Brady. Even though assistants are supposed to help on that as the man in charge you are responsible for setting up protocols or have staff follow protocols. Having a really bad season on a hit seat year does not help. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

All seniors, athlete or not, can miss a few days if it is for a college visit. Hard to get a college visit in on weekends. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners