HoosierTrav

Chris…. You’re not allowed to joke. Didn’t you know that?

Gotta think Nico Harrison takes a hit on the fan voting this year.

I would place him in that category, yes. Along with Drew, Few, Beard (whom I know isn’t an option)…. Guys that would excite the fanbase and have very little downside risk.

Anyone else share my feeling that this time just feels different compared to the last 4 times? The national media isn’t mocking IU or brushing the job off like usual. They’re actually fluffing it up. There’s a noticeable shift in narrative, with more buzz about how big of a deal this job really is. Dolson is running point….. I don’t know…. I just have a strong intuition that we’re going to land a big name.

It’s hoosiertrav… not hoosiertracy!!!

I get why people like Dusty May, but there’s no way I’d take him over Brad Stevens. And that’s not a knock on May. He’s a great coach, and I’d be happy to have him at IU. But this isn’t about who wantsthe job the most. We’ve seen that before with guys like Mike Woodson and Tom Crean, and passion alone doesn’t guarantee success. What IU needs is the best basketball mind available, and Stevens operates on an entirely different level. As a coach, Stevens took over a rebuilding Celtics team in 2013 and immediately overachieved, turning them into a perennial playoff team. He developed Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart into franchise pillars, helped Isaiah Thomas reach MVP-level production, and led Boston to three Eastern Conference Finals in seven years…all without a true title-ready roster. Then there’s the argument that moving to the front office was lazy. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, it was the best coaching move he ever made. Since taking over as President of Basketball Operations, he’s rebuilt the Celtics into a juggernaut. He re-acquired Al Horford, traded for Derrick White, flipped Malcolm Brogdon for Jrue Holiday, and pulled off the Porziņģis deal—all masterclass moves that have made Boston the best team in the league. Beyond roster construction, Stevens knows how to build and manage coaching talent. He hired Ime Udoka, who took the team to the Finals in year one, then had the shrewdness to fire him the moment he became a cultural risk. He immediately promoted Joe Mazzulla, another top-tier coach, keeping Boston at the top without missing a beat. Bottom line: we aren’t just talking about getting a great coach. We’d be getting an elite CEO of basketball. Brad Stevens sends legitimate shockwaves across the entirety of the sport. Not just college basketball…. But globally. If IU has the chance to land him, you take him without even a millisecond of thought.

Realistically how much work is there to be done by the GM after the season’s trade deadline?

Doug Gottlieb

Imagine being upset about Indiana trying to get better. 99% hope and optimism… then there’s your posts.

Ryan Day had fans telling him that they wished he would be like his dad and commit suicide…… DURING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON!!! I am so sick and tired of the softness/weakness in the program. and no… I don’t condone death threats. But everyone knows there’s a 0% chance that any of these threats are credible. this is just another PATHETIC attempt to assassinate the character of the fans that are against Woody. Gotta fire up the narrative. It’s our fault he can’t win. At this point I can comfortably say that I prefer Archie to Woody

I came here to post about how my passion for Indiana Basketball is dead. I don’t watch the games anymore. I have not even the slightest interest. I chose to go watch a random 5th grade basketball game today, that my children weren’t participating in, instead of watching IU vs Maryland. Each time I go through a selection Sunday, without hearing IU’s name called, it erodes chunks of my passions I had for the program. The hiring of Woodson really was the start. The Archie era really did a number on the program. For them to hire Mike Woodson??? It was such a disastrous hire on so many levels, at a time where we couldn’t afford a major lapse in judgement. I’m not sure I feel like digging them up but I vividly remember making posts about how hiring a past player was likely to end up in a disaster. Hiring family and friends rarely work out. Indiana University isn’t serious about basketball and I don’t believe they ever will be. Not until everyone involved in decision making is far removed. I know there a a few reputable folks on here who share optimistic prospects of hiring a program changing coach. I respect these guys a ton and don’t deny their connections or the fact that they are hearing these things from people close. I just cannot allow myself to believe that any real coach would want to come here and work for a group of complete imbeciles.

I hear what you’re saying, Kathy, and I truly don’t want to come off as combative either. I just think it’s important to consider the fanbase in all of this too. Fans invest so much emotionally, financially, and in terms of time, and they deserve some sense of hope and direction for the future. If Coach Woodson were to announce an early retirement, it could actually bring some relief—not just for fans, but for the players as well. It shifts the narrative away from the struggles of the season and toward rebuilding and optimism. I think it could ease the pressure on the players by creating an environment where they can play freely, knowing the expectations for the rest of the season are reset. For those considering their next steps, it’s an opportunity to focus on showcasing their abilities without the weight of the current situation hanging over them. It’s not about disrespecting Coach Woodson, nor the players but about setting a new tone that benefits everyone involved—players, fans, and the program alike.

Random thought during the game…. Would love to pair Caiden Curry opposite to Kamara.

New coach needs to establish his culture. Very difficult to do that with holdovers from previous staff. Hulls would be easy to retain imo. I like Walsh as well. He is formidable and really gets limited by the head coach. Landed McNeeley and had us in consideration with many others that we had no business being involved with, due to lack of effort from the head guy. Agree with your position on Fife. We can do better. He’s too polarizing and that seems like it can and has caused distractions.

I respect your opinion. I hope you’re right. I’m also not arguing that Dolson or Whitten aren’t capable of making a good hire. Just stating that I don’t have faith in that happening….. This isn’t the first 2nd or 3rd rodeo I’ve gotten my hopes up for. This time around, I’m too apathetic to be moved by anything other than an hire that actually moves the needle.

Fantastic!

Does he know this? Honest question.

I hope so as well. I’d be lying if I said I was optimistic.

My instincts and past experiences tell me that the basketball program is heading for a rough stretch. I have no confidence that this situation will be handled properly to facilitate a quick turnaround by the 2025-2026 season. Here’s how I see things playing out: Woodson, Buckner, and whatever supporters they have left will likely resist any changes fiercely, throwing up every possible obstacle to sabotage any moves Dotson tries to make. Based on Woodson’s past willingness to alienate fans (dismissing legitimate criticism as coming from “true fans”), I wouldn’t be surprised if he frames any decisions about his future as racially charged attacks rather than acknowledging his failure to meet not only the program’s expectations but also the lofty goals he set in his initial press conferences. Ultimately, IU will either cave to pressure of some kind or fall back on their historically questionable decision-making. They’ll either keep Woodson (unlikely) or make another baffling hire. Then we’ll be gaslit into believing that this new hire is the one to turn the ship around—despite every instinct telling us otherwise. I hope I’m wrong, but history doesn’t offer much encouragement. Kathy has said before that things operate a certain way at IU, and I fully expect the status quo to continue. Still, I’d love to be proven wrong. At least there’s Cig and the football program to look forward to. The days of relying on basketball as the university’s only beacon of hope are gone. Right now, I’m completely apathetic toward the basketball program, and I don’t see that changing unless the next coach starts proving themselves on the court instead of in preseason hype.

Stud.

Four D2 transfers he’s doing this with. FOUR!! I’m going to be sick if he isn’t given any consideration. I’ll be dead if he’s hired inside of the conference. He will be leading a P4 team next year or the year after. Book it.

This is so bad. I don’t gamble but if I did, I wouldn’t bet on Indiana Basketball making any return to it past winning ways. Sad. Glad we have football while it lasts.

Thank you! Would be something if he were to actually read it. I’ll say this: I fully trust Dolson to make the best hire for IU. I just hope he’s built up enough political capital to make the decision without others trying to force their way into the process.

Oh…. So he is obtainable…. Nice to know.