lillurk

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.

Yes GP…yes. Thanks for coming around.

New sourced / connected posters are great and REALLY wonderful when something they say cascades into dependable old insiders reassuring me that Soon It Will Be Brad Time (TM but we’re workshopping)

Re: Buzz, yes, but wonder what the master plan is. End up at IU/MSU/KU/UCLA/other blue blood and only stay 5 or 6 voluntarily? Linda assume he’d stick and stay wherever he could be at a perennial contender and A&M is top 10 right now.

See in softly pro-Buzz from his tier of candidates; not my fav but I think a good choice. This really speaks well of him. My two questions, one from what’s above and one lingering: 1. Can we get the guy a real offensive star to get those O #s into the top tier? 2. Is he gonna leave a pretty good spot at TAMU?

Feels like whenever a new poster comes along with insider cred, mods figure it out pretty quick. Thinking of when Chris came around with Romeo news, for example. So uh…GP, do you have the goods? Welcome aboard, regardless.

I like Buzz, can I fly or drive in to consult on some new wardrobe stuff if he’s the guy? I will NOT be watching him wear a vest from a 3-piece suit with no jacket.

The arrest IS PROOF IU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE BASED ON NON-PUBLIC INFO YOU DUMMIES Also people in CBB just openly talked about the drinking and other concerns before the arrest. You didn’t need to pay a search firm 6 figures to know it was out there.

If Golden’s background comes back clean he’s wayyyyy up the list for me, have been a fan since the ‘22 San Francisco team

Agree, I think PU and Illinois are operating near their cruising altitudes, UM has a good young coach who has the goods, Izzo MSU is Izzo MSU, but the open job at the sleeping giant of a program has obvious appeal.

Certainly seems like some of our posters in the know are pretty confident our search will be done before it gets past 1A.

Very funny that Stevens doesn’t check a couple of the boxes from Thamel’s list: not a sitting head coach, and no P4 success, technically. Recall that Thamel was early with the Thursday report on Woodson’s future so has some credibility here. I assume even Thamel would say that obviously Stevens exceeds those given his circumstances. Still, funny that one of the guys everyone agrees would be an immediate unanimous A+ doesn’t meet some of the checkboxes. I don’t think it’s a smokescreen; anyone else on the list probably does meet those aside from like Few (not P4) or Wright (off the board I’d assume, but not sitting coach).

I don’t disagree at all but Goodman is top of the list for coach shills — whether he’s helping a friend get a buck in exchange for access or actually reporting is basically impossible to differentiate here or anywhere else. (Lots of the Archie hype was from guys like Goodman.)

Yep, especially as perhaps THE premier job opening (seems like Davis will get one more year at UNC). Dusty will either get a nice raise or the IU job based on his careful answer. Beard can dance for the job if he wants, it’s not going to him. But I bet within a week there’s some new contract or extension discussions reported for a few guys with leverage.

Jerry also said he expected an announcement right after the season and before the tourney starts. So huge contract for a guy who isn’t currently coaching. Hmm.