lillurk

In fact others immediately shot this down. Don’t have the tweets handy

Probably no reason to — this past year was a “bonus” year so they already have a fifth year of eligibility if they want it

I’m also encouraged about the snowball effect this could have. I don’t want to overstate things but IU could be quite good next year in a way that seems unlikely very recently. That sort of success gets recruits interested, and begets more success. It got a lot easier to imagine what a successful Woodson regime looks like, and it also seems we’ll see it much sooner than we might’ve.

Perfect list. Remember how he said after the FSU loss that he wanted this IU team to be different? I think he’s gonna be a part of a team like that.

Cone looks like a microwave shooter sixth man with or without Lander back, IMO

“We happen to have some folks in common, so the trust factor for me is pretty high (with coach Woodson).” — CJ’s dad, Christopher. https://www.insidethehall.com/2021/03/31/class-of-2022-lawrence-north-guard-cj-gunn-remains-committed-to-indiana-after-conversation-with-mike-woodson/ Wonder if we’ve underestimated how many connections CMW still has in Indy.

Yeah Lincoln is nice but it’s FARRR from lots of stuff unless you’ve got people in NE/IA. His recruiting there impressed me.

I’d really recommend the Fisch interview that quote is from. Woody’s always learning and growing as a coach, willing to admit he doesn’t know it all and adapt. Mentions liking having interchangeable 6’6”-6’7”+ guys to switch on defense, learning to love the three, putting shooters around stars...all encouraging. Personally, having watched IU play too many waterbug guards and too few rangy forwards for years, the size/athleticism emphasis is music to my ears.

The goal is to win basketball games. That requires good players. Recruiting is hard, and some of the lowest-hanging fruit are the players already on your campus who want to play at IU but were curious who the new coach would be and wanted to keep their options open. Let’s be reasonable.

Enh I mean I doubt he’s coming but other than money, “assistant at IU” is better than “HC at DePaul” in every way in 2021

Like the Rocket Watts fit if Woody thinks he can fit his jumper. His shooting #s are grim

I’m into this. Woody’s gonna be great. Let’s launch some threes, play hard, have some fun, win games.

I like Bozich’s perspective but this doesn’t seem like a search he’s been plugged into

Would be a good time for someone to check recent OKC charter plane departures?

Haven’t seen Smith play but the profile makes me think loosely of Payton Pritchard, the sort of guy who can be a role player on a good team from day 1 and might someday be the most important player on a different good team.

Not sure about your first question but re: the second question, Yogi.

Right, but if you parse “I’m not considering...” followed by the rest of what he said, seems possible it was carefully worded to 1. spike the rumors (check) and 2. avoid saying “I’m not leaving” or “I’m not taking the job.” I have some skepticism, too, and I think we’ll be fine if it’s Muss or something.

If you grant the timing is hard to figure, there’s nothing implausible about this idea whatsoever.

Sometimes your #1 target is a guy you think you can get, not necessarily the best player you’re targeting. (also...how many kids are told they’re the #1 target?)

Sure, that’s fine. The only insider or journalist I saw really push Donovan was Justin Albers. I’ve been around here awhile and have an idea who to trust, but I also think the insiders here have been pretty transparent.

Delaying coming for an extra couple weeks is preferable as a family, for sure. Maybe that helps explain the wait. Again boosts my theory that we’ll know SOMETHING in ~10 days

I tend to think those in the know might have heard if we’d been turned down. No reason he can’t move here to get started before the family comes later.

Not sure but the explanation that makes the most sense to me is: some contractual complications to work through AND Boston was about to embark on a week long road trip. Perhaps easier just to lead the team through that and extricate yourself from the contract thereafter.

Another thing: I have to imagine Stevens didn’t go radio silent, he has no reason to lead IU on. Thats where you gotta have faith in Dolson. As @Treesh pointed out, no hire yet means it’s someone still coaching, either NBA or the tournament.

Right, I said that more to say it gives me confidence SOMEONE knows what’s going on, timing-wise. If you made a big investment, or a career-defining work decision, you’d keep tabs on it like your life depended on it I remain VERY skeptical that the plan is just to keep it vacant until May, or name a staff with a “secret” HC or something. That would create an untenable situation in Boston AND Bloomington. Seems far more likely, if this is true, that there’s a plan to either 1. leave the C’s for IU in the next ~10 days or so (post-F4 the chatter would get intense), OR 2. Announce something in the same timeframe (~next 10 days) but BS finishes the year with Boston. Which one it is would depend on C’s contract, C’s preference, BS preference.