lillurk

The Clif Marshall thing has been debated ad nauseum but at this point it’s moot: the next coach will decide on a strength coach, whether Clif or Other, with more info and expertise than basically all of us.

If you synthesize a few pieces of the info you can imagine that part of the point of the two weeks is negotiating, not simply “take this time to decide.” So you tell your candidate we’ll do ANYTHING, stay in touch, but then you ALSO start doing the things he’s already mentioned: 1. In-region neutral site game vs. a good program: United Center vs. Marquette 2. Another high major home game: maybe that’s the Kansas State rumor? Haven’t seen anything about game site. 3. He says HS recruiting will be important, so you tell the regional AAU programs (and maybe HS coaches) that whoever’s next will want to rebuild the deteriorated relationships. 4. Maybe he has ideas about program admin structure, so you say we’ll hire a GM, let me go raise $ for the job. He wants some additional non-coaching staffers, yes, we have the money for that. etc.

I think @ap2345 already answered the questions about a GM but I’d add that as C’s coach, BS had input on player decisions but Danny Ainge made the call. Now BS is where the buck stops as president of basketball ops, but the Cs have a GM, and surely Mazzulla has input on player personnel too. There’s a division of labor and there always has been in college, too, albeit with different titles. My guess is that recruits with NBA aspirations like the NBA-style titles, among other things.

@IsaacTor had a more cryptic version of this early yesterday, about the time things started to simmer in the late afternoon

Many OSU football fans are UK hoops fans, maybe they’ll click on the Buckeyes if they make the weekend games of the conference tourney and in the big dance

Chris doesn’t need me to white knight for him but he didn’t reveal the Miami meetup

I assume a redshirting (?) walk-on may not even travel to every road game. Now, this one, yeah, if it’s close to home.

I’m not necessarily cooling on it, still seems like there’s some positive feelings from many informed directions

Kyle is saying he was joking, fwiw

He absolutely has contacts and knows things. He’s prone to joking around but my read here is there’s some substance. (Frankly feels like we’re careening towards some INFO tonight if nothing else)

Kyle knows

I can’t stand the wait either, and I know yesterday I said there’s not much BS (or anyone else) could do if hired now. I stand by it. That said, from the IU side, if you’ve got the right guy lined up, then of course you want something signed ASAP, and maybe it’s reported someone’s “agreed in principle to be the next coach at IU” but will stay in his current through the waiver deadline or whatever other date.

1. Appears to me that some folks might know more about a potential clandestine meeting of representatives from both parties in Miami than they’ve let on. 2. @IsaacTor has new-to-him info that has changed his tune from “tried and failed” to “whoa, there’s something there.” Sounds like some chains of information were thrown a smokescreen until today, as @ap2345 alluded to this yesterday obliquely (“I think I know what’s happened” or something like that) and today openly. 3. per @mdiu28, Trilly says BS took the call and is listening. Trilly had previously indicated that no college agents were hearing anything and so his info was pretty thin.

Given when (Rick) Bozich went to IU and the fact that he had the Woodson hire first, I would not be shocked if many of his contacts are Woody’s contemporaries. Make of that what you will.

I think it makes a lot of sense that he’d be at his son’s game. Might have to tune in. Are you suggesting they could carry reps, families, liaisons?

Any return flights from OPA to BED? X’s host the Spurs tonight.

Me too — but I’d rather have a beautiful 25 year chess match against him with Brad on our sideline.

I would guess that last year is a good indication we would not; if anything the coaching change this year seems to me even more reason to end the season.

Around here, RTZ said he’d be off the grid in Vietnam for a couple weeks and said he’s guessing Stevens…slight change from 60% Dusty/40% Brad yesterday. other than the small UConn account Chris posted, what’d I miss on Twitter today?

I don’t think IU fans are uniquely quick to give up on a guy but I would really encourage folks not to be inclined toward negativity no matter who they hire. Almost by definition IU is going to hire a guy who’s been successful at a place with much fewer resources. Look at Mark Pope, just as one example: clearly a good coach before this year but probably only gets a blue blood job because of his connection to it. Still hasn’t won a tourney game or whatever but does anyone think that will be the case long-term? Of course not. Same here: other than Stevens, I’d assume any hire is going to have a resume with a weak spot. Doesn’t mean he’s a doomed failure.

Some of you don’t watch basketball, check box scores, browse Kenpom/Torvik, etc and then want to come around talking big stuff

Sure, I think those are worthwhile questions. As for Kelsey, UL is not in a great spot financially; I’m sure they could give him a raise but IU can absolutely outspend them and provide more NIL. Golden could just want a fresh start after the accusations, could want to be at a place with more resources for bball, etc.

I would highly recommend the first 30 minutes of CurryHicksSage’s #searchSZN last night: https://twitter.com/curryhickssage/status/1889142509701365822?s=46 He talks at a high level about how all this works and then gets into his thoughts on IU. He’s plugged into Cbb coaching circles but is open that he doesn’t have any particular unique connections at IU. Two guys he mentions that we haven’t discussed much here that I think are strong: 1. Todd Golden. Cleared of the non-criminal Title IX charge at UF, team is currently top 5 on Kenpom and top 10 in both O and D. 39 years old. CHS characterizes the charges as “being horny online” so you’d think if there were, e.g. unsolicited Richard pictures he might’ve been found liable even if the sanction was something much less than losing his job. Wonder if a fresh start in a new place might appeal. 2. Pat Kelsey. I find his schtick somewhat annoying but it seems *genuine*, quick turnaround at UL, not paid lots there so would be an easy get. I love Dusty, so I don’t say this lightly, but to me these are coaches IU would do well to pursue if they can’t get the very tip top of the list

I really thought Painter was a strong candidate for UK last cycle. Seems they’ll be pleased with Pope but it made sense at UK for all the reasons Galen lays out that it would at IU, without the complications of leaving your alma mater for a rival.

Would also add that there’s not much he could do now even if he were announced tomorrow. Woody’s the coach (I know I know), transfer portal isn’t open, it would only make it awkward. Jerry’s timing from the other day makes sense; after season or BTT, before tourney if it’s the white whale.