BGleas

Again just going off my experience with these things as a PR person in sports, and we never spent an ounce of time or energy on that. Maybe college is different than the NBA, and that's entirely possible, but it's not something we ever did or spent time on in my experience.

Yup. Again, just going off my experience in PR on the NBA side. I've been a part of GM hirings, Coach firings and hirings, trading stars, drafts, etc., etc., I can't recall ever being part of a conversation or any action around putting out false information to get the media or fans off the trail. Maybe college is different, but I think all this smokescreen stuff happens far, far less than fans think.

I think Dolson is spending virtually zero amount of time or energy sending out false flags, trying to fool people or send people in wrong directions. He's doing his job and keeping things as quiet as he can, but he's not wasting time sending out "smokescreens".

In a vacuum I think Wade could do amazing things at IU. He could win big. The problem is, a faction of the IU fanbase and media would never let it happen. They'd never allow him to do his job without noise and interference from day 1. I'm not even necessarily saying that part of the media and fanbase are completely wrong, just saying they'd make Wade's job infinitely more difficult from the jump. It would maybe be a no-win situation.

Yeah, IMO you can spin some inspiring things with just about any legit candidate that's be discussed. I can't find anything inspiring about hiring Brad Brownell. Not saying he couldn't do well, just nothing about it would get me excited at all.

Makes sense. I hear what you, @IUBtown and @IUHoosierJoe are saying. You'd hope donors would give a new coach a great start even if not their preferred choice, but what you guys are saying makes sense too.

That's why I made the distinction between salary and NIL. Of course you're not giving McCollum the same salary as you would Brad Stevens. That's obvious. But regardless of the coach and once the contract is done, you'd want to give that person all of the resources possible to be successful and have the best roster they can acquire. When it comes to NIL, I'd think you either want the program to do well and have resources or you don't?

Why would it change based on the candidate? Like, is a donor giving $5M to NIL if the hire is Stevens, $1M if it's Cronin and $500K if it's McCollum? That seems weird. I get giving different amounts for the salary, but giving to NIL seems like you either want to support the program or you don't.

Seems like a really good hire for Arkansas. Cofield was previously the GM of the Celtics G-League team and played at Penn, so seems like a super smart guy and a strong hire for Arkansas. Not surprised colleges are coming for execs at the Celtics, they're a well run organization. Given the small world in these circles I would venture to guess that Cofield probably did speak with Stevens about the role before taking it, but who knows? I'm just guessing there. @Jet812 won't like this because he's got this idea in his head that im not an IU fan and just a Celtics fan that only posts anti-Stevens stuff, but yeah I don't think this has anything to do with Stevens or IU.

Goodman, Rabjohns, etc., can be correct that Coach X is out for the IU job, and that can be an accurate statement, but it also doesn't mean they were ever actually being considered. If we listed 8 names that aren't going to be the coach, it can be accurate, but doesn't mean Dolson was actually pursuing all 8.

That's what I thought, but wasn't sure. Just one example, but I think it supports the theory that if you can coach, you can coach. The other stuff can be figured out, especially with resources.

Agree! My hope is that IU's NIL, and maybe a newly hired GM, helps with the talent part early on if there is any adjustment period on that front for McCollum. Painter doesn't have the money or history that an IU would bring. It may be lightening in a bottle, but since you mentioned Alabama I don't think Oats had much experience on these fronts before getting to Bama (i could be wrong, don't know a ton about his history). I guess I'm willing to gamble on IU's NIL to carry recruiting for a potentially great culture and team builder, and X's/O's guy.

Completely understand the hesitation and share in some of it, for sure. I'd just be excited to have IU hire a real basketball coach. For his lack of experience at high major recruiting, I think he'd make up for it in short-term with probably being our best coach in terms of identifying talent for his system and team building since Sampson. I just want a winner, a smart coach, a culture builder, etc. There's definitely concerns around McCollum, but I want IU to get back to having the toughest guys. Get back to having the smartest coach in most match-ups, etc., etc., and i think McCollum has a chance to be one of those guys.

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time :). But yeah, i think it's almost a certainty that he's never been a candidate, but was trying to be as benign and diplomatic as i possibly could. But if I'm wrong, which is entirely possible, I really don’t buy that this would be some weeks long back and forth. It would be a quick and easy negotiation and move fast. IMO it wouldn't be something Dolson could "fumble at the finish line" after months or weeks of back and forth.

Just my opinion on Stevens, but I can't imagine he's in some sort of weeks long negotiation with Dolson/IU that could fall apart at the finish line. Doesn't sound like Stevens style or how these things even typically play out. These things usually move fast once there's an initial framework. IMO, he's either never been a real candidate, he's already signed (unlikely IMO, something would have leaked), or he said call me back when your season is over. I just can't imagine there has been weeks or even months of back and forth.

I came across this Tweet over the weekend and thought the replies were really interesting. Of course guys like Sampson, Izzo, Jay Wright, etc., are getting most of the mentions, but Ben McCollum's name is getting a lot mentions as well. Says a lot IMO given that the guy is in his first year as a D1 coach. We don't know how he's handle the step up of course, but there's no much debating that the guy can coach, develop identity and build a winning culture. https://x.com/CoachWolfson/status/1898484485035081905?t=NUIErYLGC-Gt1n9JBDiCLA&s=19

It is a logical inference, that doesn't mean it's 100% correct, but it is a logical leap if you're a reporter and you know the names you shared aren't interested. That doesn't mean Goodman knows the exact list, it's almost a certainty that he doesn't. Either way, I completely agree with you. Let's go hire ourselves a real college basketball coach that can develop a culture, has a history of winning, and with IU's resources go get this thing turned around!

Just my guess, but most likely his info is coming from agents, coaches, and others in the college basketball world, which IMO would be a more accurate gague on whether a coach is no longer a candidate or not. It's just a logical inference that if you've heard that those coaches are out, then Dolson is moving down his list. IMO the "moving down his list" part is just a logical conclusion, not part of the sources info.

I'll keep saying, I'm really confident in this hiring process. Just go get a real college basketball coach that has a history of building culture, developing identity and establishing a consistent, winning program. IU's resources with a coach like that can do great things. We don't need to win the press conference, we need to win basketball games and win them consistently. https://x.com/coachajkings/status/1898378253120717283?t=T1y4UyvLlmBN5oNYQc2__Q&s=19

I don't even really care about pace. Much more concerned with efficiency. An offense isn't good or bad because the pace is slow or fast, it's whether their efficient. UVA's title team maybe played at a slow pace, but that was a very good offense and was very efficient.

Interesting to see who people would pick amongst each duo. Without putting much thought to it and really off the top of my head, I would go: Stevens Few (Drew has the title and Indiana ties, Few has the longer history of consistent top teams but is older) McCollum (tough one, I like Schertz too) Turgeon :) Devries Collins (tough one) Otzelberger

This is what happens when you all pressure me to post non anti-Stevens stuff. Lol!

https://x.com/Cwat205/status/1897700739012599979?t=PE3jXKdxpOT12UOVew5uVQ&s=19

Will be really interesting if Sam Cassell also comes to fruition at FSU. That would be assistants hired at the first three schools to fill their openings (Miami, Utah and FSU if it happens). Definitely interesting.

BGleas? Haha, not me. I don't live in Indiana, but stoked to hear there are more of us IU/Celtics fans out there.