WayneFleekHoosier

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).

1. Markus Burton PG 2. Sananda Fru C 3. Some dude 6’8 dude from South Alabama that likes to shoot 3s. 4. Low odds for Jalen Haralson 5. Even Lower odds for Cory Bizinga 6. JP Estrella from Tennesee 7. Some say Aiden Sherrill ( no chance) 8. Brumbaugh 9. long long shots for Stephan Vaaks and Juke Harris. We will need 6. Maybe 7

I guess.

I selfishly want one of them to be Bidunga because he’s so fun to watch. And impact is huge but I’m guessing he isn’t very likely.

I think we are willing to spend fairly big on 3 guys. Then sprinkle the rest of the roster. If Haralson is a no, the top 3 money goes someplace. I would say Burton is big money. That leaves 2 spots in my mind. Picking/getting the right guys for the bigger money spots will probably semi make/break the year.

Kinda saved a PR disaster with this hire but it definitely wasn’t what their intentions began with. It’s a TBD but can easily see a path to be excited about it.

Following that math, we retain 4 plus freshman. Thats 1 or 2 more than I would have expected. Very curious to see who those pieces end up being.

Sadler was always the engine on this team. Karvala played his role. Not his best game today. He’s an interesting prospect. I could see him being really good at some point, but at a school trying to compete at the level of Indiana, it might take a while. His teammmates overlook him a lot of times. His stats are sometimes underwhelming but I think that’s because Sadler does so much. My guess is he would follow the traditional route of it being a slower 2-3 year phase into action. Strength and bulk being a factor in that as well.

Get on a committee Stu. I like this.

Impressive. This is the way to flip around the Caffey bad vibes. She’s a player! Congrats.