lillurk

I know Chris had hinted the Brooks camp had been sending out feelers (I believe it) but I’d still be a bit surprised if he ended up at IU. Osterman shared on Mind your Banners recently that KB soured on IU watching fans react to the 2018-19 losing streak. Obviously the mood is more positive now...and don’t shoot the messenger, I know just like you that UK fans are surely worse after a year like this.

I do wonder if immediate one-time transfer eligibility will make it easier for power 5 schools to use 12th or 13th scholarships on multi-year developmental targets outside the top ~200. If he stays, maybe you’ve developed a rotation player by years 3-5; if he wants playing time and leaves for a lower level, well, you’ve got an open grant for an immediately eligible player and not just racing for a sit out or unprepared frosh

No idea here, could be a long way to go, but would anyone be surprised if this ended up one of those “Alabama, IU, or UK (if they jump in)” types of recruitments? I like IU’s chances.

We are gonna see some dudes get ovations after big performances at home and shed a tear when this guy smiles and hugs them as they’re subbed out once the game is decided. Like...this year.

Setting aside how this turns out, Painter has really operated well in Purdue’s sweet spot, and supplemented it well with Biggie/Furst types either from the northern half of the state or with PU connections or both. Kaufman doesn’t really fit that mold but it seems saw the situation IU was in.

Some interesting scouting notes from a UM oerspective on IU targets Casey and Washington https://mgoblog.com/content/hoops-recruiting-all-about-wings

I think the shape of the roster he’ll be joining us also much stronger than it was when he committed.

Someone here probably knows, but I believe 1. workout hours for current players have limits, but he can be there, and 2. no off-campus recruiting.

I haven’t seen what’s behind the paywall but this sounds promising for IU. Multiple years of Bates appeals to me more than Mangas, and I think you take one (not both) to add a big with the other grant.

I like the Oklahoma pair of Harmon and Manek though I wish each was 2” taller. Can they guard? The offense is a fit.

A more optimistic way for me to think about Galloway: I’ve only got two concerns, the shot and health.

I think in my ideal lineup the 3 is a Troy Williams/Geronimo/OG type who can shoot, finish at the rim, wreak havoc on defense. It’s hard to find those guys, though, and if they can’t hit 3s they’ve gotta be 4s. Also, lots of times those guys are best at the 4 anyway, because they play big enough to let you put more shooting out...by playing a 3rd guard. (If either your 4 or 5 can bang 3s and guard well, too, it’s less of an issue). There aren’t many college teams who can really hurt you if you play a 6’5” guard at the three and take a 6’8” forward off the floor. The equation changes if you’re rolling out two guys who barely clear 6’ though.

Okay I missed the lineup game earlier so I’m going to play now. I’ll use the current roster, so while I think it’s possible or even likely that at least one player not currently on the roster starts, this is my prediction based on what we actually know now: X, Rob, Stewart, Race, TJD. Some thoughts on how I got there and the bench etc. -I think right now, X, Stewart, and TJD are shoe-ins, probably Race, too. -This can let Rob do what he’s done well: catch-and-shoot, mark the opponent’s best guard, move the ball, occasionally push off a steal. It can minimize what he’s struggled with. -It’s possible Rob is actually your third ball-handler here. Stewart is probably stretched as a PG but I think he can excel in a secondary ball-handling role. -Can Race hit ~33-35% on catch-and-shoot threes? If so this can work with some spacing. He’s probably the primary backup 5, too. -Lander, Hunter, and Geronimo are probably next in line, absent any upcoming new arrivals. I wouldn’t be shocked if any of them starts, or earns a spot by the end of the year. In some ways they’re all ideal big minute bench players at this point. -the other underclassmen all have skills that could get them time IF they shore up weaknesses or they’re put in spots they can succeed. -if I had to guess generally on other additions, I would guess one more frosh and one transfer or two transfers. Someone who can play 2-3 and another at 4-5 would make sense, though you could slide each down one (1-2 and 3-4). No insight, just needs

Feels like the staff is all-in on relationships.

It’s a such a chicken/egg thing, I can’t separate on-court success from recruiting. If you win, you’ll get dudes at IU. You also tend to get ‘em when there’s a new regime. One thing I like about the Woody Era is there’s enough here for IU to win WHILE getting that “new car smell” boost. So hopefully one just flows right into the other. Of course lots of the 2021-2022 team will graduate or may leave after next year for the draft, but there’s a decent foundation for what lies beyond that.

Tend to agree that the best case scenario for Race is a Brook Lopez Three Point Shooter Discovery that makes him viable as a stretch 4. Joey seems like a great personality but Race is better at everything on a basketball court.

Play it loud

Yes. These guys are different than Michigan’s two transfers from this past year, but you can look to Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown for examples of how much context matters. Somewhat like Smith at Columbia, Johnson was asked to do a lot on offense at Pitt. Hopefully, like Smith, a narrower role can lead to better efficiency — fewer forced passes and late-clock heaves that kill his shooting and turnover numbers.

It’s also not totally clear to me he knew Dawkins would really throw money around, and if so whether that’s something he would’ve been willing to help make happen. Regardless, even if it makes you uneasy he was mentioned in all this, it’s possible Woodson sees a good coach who needs another chance to buff some tarnish off his name by keeping his nose clean in a high profile role. If so, that’s admirable.

Think the ship sailed long ago on holding players to NLIs they want out of.

Also he comes up in the Dawkins saga because he meets with Dawkins and Blazer and undercovers and says “whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it,” apparently with respect to recruiting players. I would not jump to conclusions that it means he’d run cash or trade favors inappropriately. Seems like he’s in a meeting with some handler-types and just says some boilerplate thing to me. I’m not naive, but this is far from concerning absent other stuff, and if there was “other stuff” it would’ve come up. This was a fed operation with subpoenas of bank records and so on.

Specifically mentions a 2 guard scorer and a combo forward https://www.insidethehall.com/2021/04/09/after-two-busy-weeks-mike-woodson-wants-to-keep-building-momentum/

Woody and co. deserve lots of credit for this offseason. I also think it shows IU can be players on the TR market and may benefit if an ongoing one-time free transfer rule is approved. (There’s probably a similar argument that IU would benefit from an NIL rule.)

I can see the argument to take a G/W or one of each and get an instant-impact FR or grad TR big next year. My hunch is Woody will be happy to have skilled offensive bigs, BUT could build a good team with a Tyson Chandleresque d, screens, dunks, and boards guy in the middle. But I think it’s a “bird in the hand” thing. If there’s a player who helps you after next year, go get him. Duncomb, Geronimo, that guy aren’t necessarily taking you out of the market for someone else next year (though I like those two lots). That still leaves you one spot for an off ball perimeter player