lillurk

I’M IN TOO LET ME WATCH THE FASTEST BACKCOURT ON EARTH

One thing I’ve learned from following football recruiting is that: 1. Scouting sites are loathe to admit they missed and move down players they ranked highly early, and 2. late risers are displaying ability closer to their college debut. They are physically closer to what they’ll be at college and less toolsy potential. In concert, those two things mean that sometimes late risers are still underrated when the dust settles. No idea if this applies specifically to Doughty but I trust the scout/eval talent of IU’s current staff. They all just saw him court side vs. one of the best HS players in the country. If they deem he’s good enough — redshirt or no — I’m inclined to trust them.

I did a little research. King was 247’s 266th ranked player last year. 6’2”, played only 200 minutes. From FL. Probably not a relevant target for IU. Storr has been at 5 schools in the past 5 years (4HSs and SJU). From Rockford, IL, was the consensus RSCI 89th ranked player last year. 6’6” guard who started 17 games and played 21 minutes, 8.8 points. 40% from 3 and 75% from the line. If you think the school hopping is explainable I can imagine taking a flyer here. Stanley’s a 6’8” big who’s been great from 2, 5/13 from 3, and under 50% from FT in two seasons. Also started about half their games this year but played less than Storr.

I think it’s assumed he’s getting an extension, and the NW fans I know credit new assistant Chris Lowery (B1G asst COY) for turning around the defense.

Absolutely. And the dichotomy is why you need to be able to work in both domains. If you only play in the portal, you miss on some of the best players, either 1ADs (JHS) or multi-year players who don’t pique NBA interest as highly (TJD). But the portal gives you a shot at smoothing roster upheaval, weathering an early departure, finding the exact role player that HS Recruit A never developed into, etc. And as Kopp said in his 100 things list, guys might choose school 2 for a different reason than 1. Also, consider that the current arrangement is exacerbated by extra COVID years.

Loose theory: you need 7 dudes to be a final four threat. UNC ‘22 an obvious outlier at 5 but that also explains why they were lower seeded to begin with. IU ‘23 had 6 before X got hurt, plus 3 guys who you’d think could be a dude some nights, and/or be there consistently by the end of the season. Anyway, based on projected returners today, I feel good that IU has 3 dudes as it stands for ‘24 right now: X, Trey, Reneau. Banks and Gunn COULD be dudes next year, TBD. Too early to know if either frosh arrives as a dude (both will be there someday sooner than later…but maybe not in ‘24). Thus the portal needs to provide at least 4 dudes, minus however many returners will develop into one by next year.

Thanks. I wasn’t clear but that was my assumption — you don’t come out and say “we’re only taking one of these guys” but that’s the reality. Especially so if Doughty’s a take, too, redshirt or no.

Someone said Miami’s Omier is a comp — don’t think that’s bad. They’re different but IU could use him similarly.

They had some injury issues and I would guess they needed more shot creation from bigs. Someone who watched more UVA can probably correct me. IU will clearly need interior depth even if you think Reneau is a 30 mpg big. Without a change there is NO second 5 man on the roster. So the handwringing…I mean Sparks profiles as a plus backup at least. Of course they’re recruiting him and Ike simultaneously, at least until one pops (popped?).

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.