Dave from Dayton

CFB Championship discussions ongoing for expansion from 12 to 16 teams. The below links say for 2026. I speculate that this coming season remains a 12-team playoff. Also reported by ESPN reporter Thamel. Sources: The power four commissioners met again today in... - ESPN Major Update on College Football Format After Big 12's Reported Pushback on Proposed Changes

Yeah. I could visit for 4 months and get totally immersed in the culture and language. That would beat the 4 days we were there. Vraiment.

RtT did not say that we need it. Said he would be "..all ears." (ie. Listen to the discussion of the opportunity and look at the fit.) Seems to be a reasonable statement by RtT. And, yes, we may not need it. It may not be part of the coach's plan. But, obviously, there are other teams that have plans to counter what we might come up with...including their bigs. Not only would it seem to be logical to have that weapon at our disposal...especially if the big can block shots, move, jump, and hit frees. Plus, practices against a big for those learning a new system...may just have loads of benefits...defensively. y

I can see the fans of the other teams chanting: "Let's go Bison!" Or something similar...

Nicely done there, cowboy!

I thought that Lee Corso was the mascot. And Priller...

I had wondered where Coach Woodson had been during the period 2021 - 25. Just saying...

Oh, I wouldn't refer to it as 'great' if we are ranked near 20 at year's end. I would be pleasantly surprised....pleased, yes. It is CDD's first year here. And the team as a team has a long way to go. It will take some getting over some bumps (not humps)...and taking some lumps. Great would be in the Sweet 16 with a good showing there. Great would include the team playing their hearts out routinely. Great would be CDD showing his mettle and BB IQ. Great would be the guards playing like they belonged in the competition for the top of the B1G. Great would-be recruiting improvements for 2026 being experienced during the basketball season. ..and really building something towards another banner. (Great would be a serious upgrade in referees and fairly calling games consistently home and away and in the first half and second half. But I dream. Never mind.) I understand why some would say it is great. Things are relative. To me, great is competing with the best routinely, and bringing it all home once in a while. I am not going to accept all of the hype. But I am intrigued. And I will cheer the team. My expectations are a little lower than others on this site. I hate to admit that. I usually am a positive...cup is half-full of BS..kind of guy. I just do not think that we will get even a sight of that rabbit on the first try this season.

I am so very happy and optimistic about having a coach that knows college basketball. He seems smart, has a plan, gets shooters and ballers that are willing to work. That, plus, he is willing to do the work to build a team. It is his first year. And the cupboard was dry. I am very interested in and concerned with the performance of the guards. But what do I know? I've only loved IU basketball since the mid '60s.

If the guards get the ball into the offense early and we have a halfway decent defense, then this will be a fun year. Wondering about the non-P5 players and shooters and that translating into competing for the top of the B1G. Reflecting on some guard imports last season from the left coast. Not knowing, yet, what to make of CDD and his staff and almost all of the players all being new to each other and to him causes me pause...and lots of hope for the future. Yeah, we all know these new players are all smart IQ ballers that are gym rats and hungry to practice and perform well. And we know that CDD is experienced and successful building a competitive team in other places. Right? (Winning the offseason is where we have been for years.) We all live in interesting times. (Heard that could be taken as a curse.)

Too wide open of an issue to respond adequately. There are quite a few Evansville environs IU fans on this site. I lived there on the east side near the U of E decades ago. I would recommend networking with any civic organization that you now have membership and contact their representatives in E'ville. Do you want to buy old or new 2 story etc.? Get on Zillow or other real estate platform and that is a start. When I moved to Dayton eons ago, we had engaged a Realtor by long distance for a one-day tour of 5 houses in the City of Dayton limits. Living inside of the city was a prerequisite. Because of a conflict we dumped that first Realtor like a burning match. I stayed overnight in a no-tell-motel and then rented for 4 months to get the lay of the land. We have been searching for a house for well over a year. Going from a 2-story to one. But we are extremely picky and use filters on Zillow to search...we have limited the geographic area for personal reasons. We also have a Realtor looking. But the housing market is...ahem...not what it used to be. And people seem to not take care of their homes and expect top dollar. Grab an experienced realtor and give them a wish list and tell them that you want to see 3 houses in an afternoon. They will have you sign a contract for representing you. Get prequalified for a loan if you need one. You can negotiate down the sales percentage. Try for 4.5% or 5%. Tell them you are in a hurry to buy. You can break it at any time. Ask one over the phone what areas to live in. Of course, 99% of their being is to sell....and I heard that it is a buyer's market where I live in Ohio. Which means selling this house may be a challenge even though it is a cream puff. So pick an organization or a church. Go to a meeting or service. Network and ask people. If you have a job lined up...ask them if they live in E'ville. Or my favorite...grab a 2-night VRBO in Newburgh or Melody Hill or Henderson KY and explore. There are statistics online like school district ratings, walkability, water utility service, tax districts, city/county lines, demographics, time of travel to a destination like your workplace. Are you going to the Abbey Road on the River? Do you have a pick in the Derby?

Did you get flowers and a kiss? Yeah? And a box of chocolates?

I would be more interested in UK when... What. Am. I. Saying??? (Let me know when they get academically accredited.)

I perceive that the coach knows how to build a program. Does he really try to get ballers and shooters that think that the team is more important than individual players? Does he think that basketball IQ and effort means and sharing the ball is more important than a 41" vertical jump? Are guards going to get the ball in play and steal more balls than a front court? Do the number of stars mean more than everything else? Well, I don't know but he may be on to something. I wondered about Archie stepping up. But he did very well in Dayton. I knew that Crean was full of hype and was unsure about him winning without Wade. Sampson is a winner but was risky and IU didn't handle it well at all. No comment on Mike Davis who was too unseasoned. And IU, again didn't handle RMK's last decade. What a fiasco. I will give CDD the benefit of the doubt. But, I just don't know. I like the guards and the shooters and those that try harder.

The top of the Power 5 conferences may have gazillions to throw at 500 ballers. And the rest of the crowd of athletes from less advantaged universities get a trickle. Kind of like those millionaires that are born with a silver spoon in their mouths. They are entitled and 'deserve' it. The rest of us may struggle getting a living wage. And certainly those with disadvantages get less. But hey...that's it. The NCAA definitely blew it. But the NCAA is the power universities who were in charge. Somehow, someway...there has to be a sense of fairness or of morals or...social empathy. I used to be rather conservative. But the older I get...the more...I want to listen and respond with empathy.