lillurk

Both of these teams have lots of transfers, too. It ain’t just Kansas State.

I think he fits if he’s in a role like he would’ve had with X healthy.

Couple of frosh who didn’t, and a couple of jucos too, which is a type of transfer of course. Notable to me how many of the guys on their roster have been to three or four schools.

I agree, that plus my concern about defensive fit with the scheme…probably not much traction

Girard can really shoot it but at 6’1”, would tie Cupps as the shortest player Woodson has recruited. In the scenario where IU has another out-transfer or two, I can see the fit as a 6th man microwave shooter who can play backup PG. A little on the small side for what IU wants to do on defense.

I’d have fond memories of both from their time as Hoosiers but neither is a big loss, and even if they flip a switch elsewhere, I don’t know that it reflects poorly. They got better under Woodson but both had flaws that were player-based issues and not coaching-based ones. It matters more how they fill those open spots. I will say, while I understand Geronimo theoretically wanting to play for Pitino at SJU — Pitino has unequivocally won and tends to value athleticism — I don’t think Rick can magically turn that athleticism into a great high-major ball player.

One encouraging thing is Woody clearly WANTS guys to let fly like Miami does. JHS did, Bates has terrible shot selection but at least took ‘em. Just need a couple cold blooded guys.

I throw in Texas, maybe even over Zags, but yes. There are a LOT of truly insane possibilities alive — e.g. FAU is two coin-flip games from playing for the title, to pick one

My big takeaways from the tournament have largely confirmed things we’ve repeated a lot: 1. You need 7-8 dudes. Dudes 8-10 have to be serviceable, or situationally useful (Durr-style big body for an Edey). 2. of those 7-8, you need a PG, a big, and then probably 4 of the others need to be some variety of switchy 6’4”-6’9” types with overlapping skills. 3. Someone needs to be able to play backup PG in a pinch, but that could be a Galloway-type. Someone needs to be able to play backup 5 in a pinch, but aside from the Durr/Edey situation above, sometimes that might be playing small with a Race, a Malik Hall/Joey Hauser front line, or similar. 4. IU has a PG, it has a big, it has a number of guys who fit that wing mold at various spots along the development curve, but it needs more in-between guys. Luckily that’s what they’ve been portaling and recruiting for.

Aaron Henry absolutely should’ve been the take over Anderson, agreed. I think Lander is a defensible take, and you convince him to finish HS at a prep…failing that, maybe you take anyway. As USPS said, you’re going to have some misses. With 13 spots, you need a >50% hit rate, accounting for some of those being underclassmen who need seasoning. Miller’s problems were manifold but he and staff indisputably made too many bad evals and all the errors downstream from that.

In re: Keion Brooks, Jr. Played 3 at UK, transferred, played 1 at Washington. Looks like he could grad transfer and play his COVID year.

Would guess it’s telephone — player elsewhere with interest in IU informs the staff of intent to transfer + interest (perhaps through intermediary) and then Chris learns from the IU side

Elite 8 next year (not a prediction, just daydreaming). As you can see above, we’ll feel good down the stretch in the round of 16. Going down to the wire in the E8 with, uhhh, the vision’s getting blurry

It’s March 2024. Kaleb Banks tipped out an offensive rebound, then X found him in the corner for a 3 to put IU up 66-57. Shaka Smart calls a timeout to stop the bleeding with 5:19 left in the round of 16. Marquette has no answer for Malik, who has 19 and 8 boards.

That was a Miller Special

Almost surely, right? He barely played until tournament time.

Love this. And they’re different players but X and Nowell have some similarities

I think it’s a fallacy to assume Woodson PREFERS playing two PGs at once. JHS was always going to start alongside X, which is possible given his size and their shooting ability. If you have a clone, sure, we’ll take him. But X / the offense doesn’t need that. Having multiple ballhandlers, multiple drivers, multiple shooters, switchable defenders? Absolutely. And of course if you’ve got two worthy PGs they’ll play together sometimes.

Not looking it up but I seem to recall one of those 3 game suspensions during his time.

Seems like you might!

Appears a female student has that last name, per the IU directory. No idea of relation.

Duncomb was the one scholarship guy I felt sure would transfer out. I know there are other possibilities but it seems possible — not likely, but possible — everyone else stays.

That would rock because it would be good AND funny. Fwiw his brother, a senior at Blackhawk Christian, is planning to walk on at Purdue. Obviously that could change too.

Cupps, Newton, Galloway, plus as-yet-unseen top classes in ‘24 and ‘25…I would bet he coaches at least three more years, maybe four. But I could see hanging it up at that point. Obviously without commitments and due to freer player movement it’s hard to know EXACTLY what that looks like. But if IU really skims the cream from those classes, he’d get a shot at adding a big banner.

I got curious to find Shrews’ old PSU contract to see about an IU clause, but it’s nowhere to be found. As a public school employee, that’s unusual By contrast, you can easily find James Franklin’s, or Mike Woodson’s. That illustrates PSU’s biggest issue vs. ND: just very basically less interest in hoops.