lillurk

I see folks bemoaning the “optics” explanation. Let me simplify: IU is 14-6 (5-4). Illinois is 13-6 (5-4). We all know Illinois is better right now, better coached, and so on. But be honest with yourself that the situation currently doesn’t look the same to a national writer/outsider/casual fan. And those things matter.

So a wing shooter/small-ball 4 to me. The most recent Hoosier I’d comp to Kopp with better physical tools

“Archie didn’t work out” — you’re right, but he also never had an elite o or d at Dayton, was coasting on one tournament run, and a recognizable name. Some of us were worried before Indiana State buried us under a barrage of 3s in game 1 of his tenure!

Not going to argue about it but some of us were like foaming at the mouth to watch Nate Oats in a big job. Every time I try to make the case for certain mid-major coaches someone decides that guy doesn’t have the Special High Major Voodoo and tries to argue with me but if you know what you’re looking for you can have a degree of confidence that Oats and May and so on are special before they ever make $1M

My point is that Brad will have responsibilities thereafter — draft scouting, filling end-of-bench seats, etc. — but that’s probably the date after which I’d get serious about the possibility of coaching again if I were an NBA exec

Haven’t seen anyone mention it: NBA trade deadline is 2/6.

Others have probably made this point but UK is a good lesson that IU Could just find a good college basketball coach and be a top 10 team next year. Pope has had good teams at BYU but wasn’t without some questions.

Seven years if track record of knowing things, for starters

Yeah I really think it just depends on results and optics; if they’re 6-3 coming into a home game vs Maryland, I don’t think it changes whether he’s the coach next year, but it probably doesn’t look great to can him. Now, if you lose an ugly one at Northwestern, maybe that’s the tipping point. You’d still be 5-4 but it would maybe save an ugly scene with a program legend at home, and you could make the case the team still has something to play for but needs new leadership. My hunch is the win last night might have bought him a home game unless Tuesday is embarrassing, though.

I would guess there was a lot of groundwork laid this week to potentially pull the lever when the time is right. Line up the interim, who’s the 3rd assistant after that domino, make sure the president and other key stakeholders (BoT reps, money folks) understand. Time could’ve been right this weekend if the team no-showed again last night at OSU. There’s lots of frustration with Woody on this board and elsewhere, but it’s still a bad look for a program legend to face a hostile environment at home games. Even if he wants to keep coaching, in some way you’re protecting him a little too if he isn’t embarrassed by Dusty May, booed, chanted at. So sure, part of the plan was lining things up for when/if you pull the lever during the season. The much bigger problem is who’s the next coach, though, so don’t get too hung up when we win. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t worry that there’s really anything that can save him beyond the year. Seth Davis’s newsletter this morning said “there is a widespread assumption in the sport that this will be Woodson’s final season in Bloomington.” You don’t have to like Davis to know he’s plugged in. Also note Stevens’ non-denial last April to Davis’ suggestion that he’d be interested in returning to coach at IU: https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/brad-stevens-addresses-rumors-of-leaving-celtics-for-college-coaching-job (Two tidbits from that piece: 1. Funny that Steven’s talks about “getting over the hump” and 2. Boston got over the hump) If Stevens is option A, B, and C — and you don’t have to think he’s likely in order to think that Dolson will make him say no — then the timing isn’t very important; I doubt he’s coming back to college for a random B12 job. Heck, as USPS noted, IU looks like the only premium job coming available this cycle, so even if it’s not Stevens, timing may not be crucial.

Yeah I want my team to win. I don’t think there’s any reasonable way he’s back next year, quit worrying about that, but they’re not firing him at 5-3 in B1G. Root for your team, even if the coach isn’t going to be there in 60 days

Leal has limitations but there’s something just *chef’s kiss* perfect about CMW turning in desperation to a guy who probably deserved at least a little more run every year of his tenure

Also funny when one of the guys out is a net negative (though maybe a good long-term prospect) who’s replaced by a better player and this is still the excuse

Yeah I think you can both be right

Ok I have previously said the Clif Marshall sand pit criticisms were baseless, and he wasn’t/isn’t to blame for IU’s (seemingly very normal) injury luck. However, basically the only thing Tyme has convinced me of: Marshall’s approach is not adequately preparing IUBB for the conditioning required for hoops.