WayneFleekHoosier

I’ve got a few others too. We talked last portal season at length and shared dismay of the roster build as it unfolded. Concerns creeping in again over certain positions. We will see. It’s early and Hope Springs Eternal. Or at least until the best portal targets are off the board.

And that’s the frustrating thing. Financially we are close. But in every other facet we are far.

Yes, saw that. My peeps say it won’t be Indiana. Maybe the staff will shock the world. Price is gonna be too steep.

I’ve got some DMs with a few that have connections. I and they don’t know everything. But they know more than most. Including my guy Lettice.

This is reasonable. SA kid. Burton seems like a high odds addition. After that. Let’s see who wants to spend. Teams are gonna miss target A then pivot. That could cost us guys we think we feel good about.

Burton, South Alabama guy. Feel really good about Estella. Not Fru. A scattershot approach on guards. Tons of offers. Not a directed approach. Not the big big names. Not Sherrill, Harris, Blackwell.

Ok then. I do. And I’m stating it for fact. We are gonna get some good players. 12-14 million has to spend somewhere. But not Harris or Blackwell.

Love ya Stu, but this was the mantra last year too. Didn’t work out well. We better get some size, talent, and skill on the roster to manifest wins.

Don’t project what I’ll do. Louisville is telling the world we are big fish spending. I don’t actually think they get either. But I’ll be curious what other targets this attracts for them. IU isn’t big fish spending and that is fine. Or it might be fine. We will see.

It’s ok. I view myself as a realist. I’ve talked to people I trust. We aren’t getting Juke Harris or Blackwell. We did get the South Alabama kid though if that makes ya feel better.

People don’t like the reality of Indiana basketball around here. It’s easy to set the narrative. It’s not hard to make it clear what your intentions are. For example. Louisville will host Bidunga and Shelstad. That makes a statement regardless of if they get those guys or not. Indiana is doing the opposite of this. It’ not hard to figure out. Plus I’ve got a few X people talk to giving me scoop.

I’ve talked to people. Harris isn’t a thing. Blackwell isn’t a thing. And Vaaks isn’t a thing. People can be mad at me as the bearer of bad news but that’s why my slant is less optimistic than you all.

No. Just the feel that we are backing out of top dollar portal entires. That we have 12-14 million total for the team. And the portal is more expensive than ever based on everyone’s reporting. That plus needing 4-5 starters doesn’t math well. It’s an overall feel from all these aspects.

Haralson is interesting to me. He’s probably to expensive. He offers some things we won’t get in other recruits. The lack of shooting will change how we play. I wonder if his cost and this factor pushes him down the list. I feel like there are 20 Euro bigs that we could get on the cheap if we are going after Fru that provides JAG qualities as a big man. Spend that extra money for Vaaks or Harris or some 3 level scoring type guy. I’m not as high on Fru as others but maybe I’m missing the boat on him.

I don’t want this to be about me. 14 million needed for 5 spots is the quote. We have 12-14 million max for the whole team. Portal is too expensive for us to do ultimate damage, imo. 1. Top 25? We all know that’s unlikely. That’s more upsetting to me than others. acknowledged. 2. Outsmart the scouts? That’s our best option and maybe only option. If you don’t get pick of the litter, youve got to see something others don’t. We failed miserably at this last season. There is hope Carr/others can help with that his year. This is where hope lies if we aren’t outbidding on competition for the most coveted.

Fair. But also likely realistic again. It’s always my pipe dream in the off season to build a top 25 roster. I’ve stated many times I think it’s important on a bunch of levels. I knew it was highly unrealistic but until stuff starts leaking you never know the budget you are working with. Was hopeful we’d see a “take no prisoners” approach in the portal to put us back on the map. Defintely involved with some good players. If we land the right ones we could be ok.

It’s good to do these mental exercises. Brumbaugh seems like a real possibility. Feel like we are fighting in that middle ground. Hoping for a surprising splash or 2. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the recruting room and see what kind of reactions our staff is getting.

Truer words have never been spoken. I’m not sure it’s the DeVries way to win those types of recruitments. I’d imagine they know they need to build like this to show we are serious about making a competive team. Burton seems like their stab at that.

Yep, just summarizing where we stand. Seems Realistic as of now. Not looking like a home run compared to college basketball but an improvement from last year

Which is precisely why we won’t build a top 25 roster yet again. Maybe we can outsmart the room of college basketball scouts this time around???

So, in summary, we won’t spend big on the biggest fish. Our 3 top (highest) paid realistic targets are Burton, Fru, Estrella. Bidunga dreams are over. Vaaks, Juke, Haralson as the long shot targets that aren’t likely but hope isn’t totally dashed. And we’ve landed a South Alabama 4 that doesn’t rebound or defend but can shoot it. Tune in tomorrow for the next Episode of As the Portal Turns.

Delusional. Why not chase the college bag a few more years?

Seems like a fit. I didn’t love love the McColllum option mostly because I feel like he has a ceiling, but he’s also has a proven system and knows what he wants and it works. Could easily become what Purdue has become over the past 10 years. Whereas Michigan, Illinois has a higher ceiling type recruit. I prefer that option, but mainly I want to win again. My level of confidence in DeVries isn’t great. I’m hoping it is viewed better in the open market than in my head.

We are back in a similar position. 4, maybe 5 return. I’m not convinced on Dorn yet. Lots of important spots to fill in the portal. Prices are higher than last year. We are gonna hear plenty of No’s. What’s it cost to resalvage our name and reputation? A better first year sure would have broadened our options.

Hard to hate the most likeable tamperer in college basketball. Now he’s on cruise control. Will be able to hand select his roster for the foreseeable future. Michigan will control the B1G until Dusty moves on. Guards I’m jealous we don’t have. 1. McKinney (Michigan). 2. Trent Perry (UCLA).