Dave from Dayton

Lots of lead changes... Wild race at the end. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 set a new all-time race record with 70 lead changes, surpassing the previous record of 68 set in 2013. A comparison to previous years highlights a massive shift in racing strategy and parity. 70 lead changes among 14 different drivers, culminating in the closest finish in race history.

Just this morning before reading this mustc thread, listened to Little Charlie and the Nightcats on Spotify. Was in two playlists. Jazz Blues Instrumentals and Jazz Blues Since 2000.

Preseason projections and evaluations can be indicators. But no one really has a great handle on any rebuilt teams until well into a tougher part of the schedule. Except for maybe the coaches...after some practices. Right or wrong, last season got the short end of the stick for many reasons. Not much was satisfactory except for getting a coaching change and Lamar Wilkerson...and isolated glimpses of development and improvement. This new season we may have a really decent PG who stays healthy. Maybe. After that, we have upgraded size and gotten mostly experienced players that have more than one year of eligibility remaining. They have not played together. They have a new head coach in a new setting and new offensive and defensive schemes. As for talent...discuss that as you will. I won't. There's just too much preseason hype for me to get into anything other than rough comparisons. Too many other things are vitally important. We all know about effort, ballers, athletes, how smart they are, turnovers, team play, coaching, defense, shooting, assists, rebounding, health, locker room issues, youth, depth, B10 physicality, road trips, scheduling, one more scholarship...) Pleased that this team will get some serious practice and games preseason. Still trying to get my arms around the portal and $$$$$$ being thrown around. The season keeps getting longer. Travel distances greater. Preseason and practices expanded this year. I'm going to enjoy warmer weather and there is no hurry to get to the fall and winter sports. *When's tipoff?

Maybe we could offer the last scholarship to the son of one of the B1G referees. (Like Wisconsin does?)

I am very proud of our National Football Champions Indiana University. As the runner up...did Miami have to go to the White House twice this year? Happy Twilight Zone Day!

On the surface, if all things were clear cost/benefit... The above reasoning that 'we' are spending and IU needs 'to deliver a six seed or better' seems appropriate. Except for the apparent mandate that the team and coaches just have to deliver a six seed. (Or else 'we' won't gift NIL.) As we saw with Woody and his teams, they didn't deliver. And we still get an estimated $20 million. Football success probably had a lot to do with it. I wonder about this. Gifts to athletics are motivated by all sorts of wants and desires. Some may be because of gratitude for one reason or another. I have all sorts of questions about the process. Some may never get answered. I don't question that student/athletes deserve pay. Gifts are an interesting source of NIL. Gifts to university athletics are generally not directly part of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) because NCAA rules prohibit institutions from paying athletes directly. However, donations to NIL collectives—separate, supporter-run entities—are the primary funding source for athlete NIL deals, representing 70-80% of revenue. Seems to me that there are no musts to deliver. Coaches get paid oodles whether they deliver or not...per their contracts. Students get their $$$ regardless. There is little or no control or feedback about winning. Moral suasion, pride, doing a job well...and future opportunities...yes. That seems to me to disconnect from fans gifting to NIL and athletics. I am not questioning that it appears that $20 million in NIL appears to be in the range of a middle seed in the NCAAT. Although that is obviously subject to debate. In economics, it appears to me to be almost perfect inelasticity between how much NIL is funded by fans depending on performance in previous years. Football, those that have disposable funds and, of course, businesses marketing, all are wild cards in this.

Wish him the best. And it is very likely that he is not a good fit here.

Serious question about IU FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: When will IU have our 3rd? Whomever doubted Coach Cig should be made to run the stairs in Memorial Stadium wearing flip flops and squirted with stadium mustard at halftime...and if voted back on the island...totally assimilated.

Found this video. Shows a thin Givan making jump shots with quick release. Can use left had in jump shots and near the basket. Can dribble some. Good positioning on rebounds. Seems to have good hands and some vertical. But cannot tell how he really responds against a good defense and banging. Near end of over 7 minute video team plays against Indiana Elite. Would have to get some beef over a year or two. Listed at 6'9" and 215. There are other videos out there if one drills for them. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=ladarius+givan+basketball&mid=52489E73ED3F798E1F4552489E73ED3F798E1F45&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUC-OvzSZfWsw7_yb-5sPsxMw&FORM=VIRE

I’m not saying I'm out of shape, but my favorite fitness machine is the dining chair. I love chair exercises like yoga and transcendental meditation. But I have a tough time with the stand up part. I sat on a stool and lost 1/2 a pound. Sit happens.

Indiana University National College Football Champions! A classic:

You really have to hand it to Pavia...because he can't reach it himself.

Will there be an announcement next week? Indiana Welcomes Big Barry Wing Wang! 'Barry' Wang Junjie... Couldn't find a recent analysis of this prospect. A March 2025 analysis is linked. While dated, there are some interesting points. His first step is slow. He has a high motor. Defense is not as bad as his statistics may show. Not a lot of verticality and blocking shots isn't great. {Since this was written, his shot is reportedly better, and he has added some muscle and experience.} https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/junjie-wang-scouting-report-china Based on the 2024-25 West Coast Conference season, the University of San Francisco (USF) men's basketball team finished 3rd in the WCC standings with a 13-5 conference record. The Dons concluded that regular season strongly, trailing only Saint Mary's and Gonzaga, and were a top contender in the conference.

First thing on the news this morning... IU Football Helmut on the big screen...IU Football Heisman Trophy Winner Quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top selection in tonight's NFL draft! It sure is wonderful to have my IU National Champions in Football banner outside among all of these aging OSU banners. Neighbors in back see my stained-glass IU suncatcher...and they are from Ft. Wayne. We want another one, just like the other one!

"You never know what you're going to get." Say coaches DD, DA, RC, KJ, NN, RC.