Dave from Dayton

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.

Sad but true. Unlimited money and unchecked power will ruin everything. Some things never change. Read Sartre.

Any word on the recruit visiting today? Josh Harris...

Been to Puerto Rico twice. Once in the U.S.Navy and once on our honeymoon. Down there in September and wondered why there were so many vacancies. (Spoiler alert: hot and elevated chance of a serious storm...Hurricane season is June through November.) Like other places down there, they have been rocked by multiple hurricanes. Still having issues with electrical power grid outages, rebuilding and disparity in opportunities for people. Although it did not stop us from hitting the beaches, checking out old San Juan, visiting the impressive fort, getting to the rain forest and immersing in the countryside and some culture. Did not go to the Bacardi Rum Distillery/factory. Just go out early and siesta afternoon, then go out late. I was reflecting on the goodwill that IU had because of RMK and the referees and the police. Also, politics are not really favorable. If anyone is really wanting to learn about Puerto Rico and the other islands/countries and their relations with the USA...read something about the sugar cane plantations and importing slaves from elsewhere. The islands still have not fully recovered from the sugar companies' exploitation economy, human rights and politics. My daughter and SIL are down there for 5 days at a business conference. Will get a report about their impressions, very soon. Even thinking of going down for our 50th wedding anniversary family trip. Regardless, it will likely be an education for the athletes and a positive growth opportunity for the team.

Being both an engineer and a finance guy...I get a kick out of statistics....and comparisons of the same. I also know that it is a snapshot and not reality. Thank you for putting this together and sharing. Having said all of that...now for the big question. What do you make of this? And how much time did you take putting it together? Can't wait for the season to start to evaluate if the coach was successful in meshing gym rats with a hungry chip on their shoulders with sharing the ball with good basketball IQs. Feeling it a little...

While that may be correct, Alexis missed the last 7 regular season games because of an ankle injury. And then suffered another ankle injury just before the SEC Tournament. He suffered the injury at Mississippi State on Feb. 11 and had his left foot in a walking boot. Golden said Alexis returned to practice on March 3 and was progressing well... per Sam Alexis injury update: When will the Florida forward be back?

I just do not know what to expect beyond better shooting, better offense from the guards and wings, better outside ball movement, better outside defense, better plays, better competitiveness, more wins. What I do not know is about the front court and overall team performances. Also I do not know who will start in the B1G. The coach is also a big unknown with all the variables he and his staff and the team have to deal with. Finally, I do not know about the competition. The head coach DeVries and his staff obviously will be a serious upgrade in many areas with experience in college basketball coaching. I just hope that the team performs well and meshes. Glad that it is happening, finally. If they compete very well in the B1G and get into the top 6 then that is decent. Of course we want them to compete for the top of the B1G but as of yet they do not have the experience playing together, in a new system, with upperclassmen that are well seasoned, and we are missing 5 players. And I hope that everyone stays healthy and grows in a positive manner. Things could be worse...The Purdue Boilermaker Special just had an accident on US 52...crossed the centerline and hit a car head on...one fatality...this is no joke: One dead after crash with Boilermaker Special on U.S. 52

I have been yearning for a great guard or guard combo. Got to have them to get the offense moving and to stop the other team from doing the same. I know that other team members are vitally important too. But we have had guards that just did not compete or execute at the highest levels. They have to have talent. They have to be floor generals. They have to be smart. And they need some other elite asset. We shall see. But since the coach wants the ball in the hoop quickly...that means he needs guards that create. I feel he is trying to accomplish that. I have hope and by the time they toss that first ball in the air...I am going to be sky high with optimism. Yeah...we win the off season yearly. But this coach is an experienced and smart college coach. There are a lot of positive intangibles there.

I don't know about all of that...but there is a Donut Fairy that lives on the north side of Lake Wawasee. I had heard the stories from years back from my wife and her sister that worked at the donut shop there for a couple of summers. Some guy would come in on Sunday mornings and buy a couple of dozen donuts. And the word was that he would take them and deliver them to friends' houses and leave them at dawn on front porches...sneaking away. Years later some found out who he was. My family did not know. But the guy kept coming in on Sundays for years...buying dozens. A few years ago, at a reunion of our wedding party...my wife was telling the story to the bridesmaids. One perked up and grabbed the group hustling to her father's house next door. He is/was the Donut Fairy. Friends even had engraved a plaque with that on it.

Okay, Nostradamus, who's next?

Is that you, Dr. Seuss?

A shout out of thanks to all that support and post on BtownBanners! Thank you! You all help Hoosier fans get though the lean years. Get ready to hang another banner! Right?!

And self-disciplined and willing to work hard. Goes well with being very smart. Interpersonal skills, which are clearly there, puts him a cut above. Wondering about connections...to up and comers and college preps/academies.

Does Indiana's coaching staff need a Secretary of Defense? /s

You're saying that the sky is falling??

Win at all costs! In society it is ok to not have ANY rules. Screw your neighbor. Holders of the public trusts do not have to take care of those trusts. Teachers can say and do anything as long as students move on. Institutions do not have to do what they are by law charged to do. Universities, that represent ideals and are responsible to political jurisdictions do not have to try to teach and improve the lives of students. We are not on this Earth to help one another. Grab what you can. Wrong on many levels.

If that is the case, glad we do not have 21 scholarships.

Reed Bailey, 6'10" F, Davidson College, A-10 First Team, rumored to be favoring IU allegedly posted on Trilly. Unconfirmed as yet. 1 year of eligibility. From the below link comments, fans posted: He can operate as a point forward (41% from 3) and can score from the blocks. He can use either hand near the basket and has a quick first step to take his man off the dribble. He passes well (3+ assists per game) and can handle the ball in transition. No idea about his defense, guarding a power forward. At 6’10, he is not a center and IU would still need a power forward and an athletic center. Fan sites had UK, now getting interest all over...some say it is a done deal. Dunno. IU basketball transfer portal names to know: Davidson’s Reed Bailey – The Daily Hoosier

I understand this sentiment. And I hear those that may blame IU and not Sampson for the overreaction. Also there is enough blame to focus on IU's lack of oversight upon hiring Sampson while he was on non-double-secret probation. One could also blame Knight and his mishandlers in the administration for not dealing with him before he blew it in the press. Oh well. I do not believe that people that act badly are inherently bad people. One thing that is great about the philosophy or belief some hold is that one can redeem themselves. It almost never is too late to change. A whole lot of people screwed IU basketball (and football). To blame one person or two, or to focus on only one time or a couple of years does not encompass what many see as an effort to downplay major sports at IU. Does this sound like a conspiracy theory? Or is it a bunch of clowns? Why not a lot of really counterproductive agendas? I was not happy about any coach hiring decision since RMK. But have cheered for each one to win while keeping eyes mostly wide open. I realize that no coaching hire is perfect. To continue dwelling on or hating what happened before does not really matter today if we have learned from it and the person is not acting the same generally bad way. I am saddened that Coach Sampson did not work out at IU. He should not have cheated. IU should have watched him so closely that he could not cheat. I do not have a big feeling, personally, about which team I will cheer for in the upcoming championship. I will let you know...maybe. What I really enjoy is watching individual performances, excellent efforts, smart plays, shrewd moves, tactics and taking advantage of what is offered by the other team. I want great teams playing at the highest levels. I want A.J. Moye-type leaps. Excessive money and lack of controls and human beings all being involved means that the game is not perfect in a sense. Has it ever been? But the NCAAT is a hoot. Enjoy the games.

90% of the things that I used to worry about never actually happened. Worrying obviously helped.

Achoki Moikobu went to Renton (Wash.) High School in 2010, and later played at Yuba (Calif.) College and Fort Hays State, graduating in 2015. Played as a 6-1 guard. Head coach at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Air, Kansas, where he coached 28 future Division I players. Then director of recruiting at Grand Canyon (2020-21), which made the NCAA Tournament that year, and then assistant at Drake (2021-22), which went 25-11. McCasland said. "He does a great job of developing and building relationships. He is as authentic as it gets. I think he has a tremendous overall perspective of the game and is really special in individual workouts because he understands how to get the best out of players on a daily basis." Tech sports roundup: McCasland hires two UNT assistants for Texas Tech staff

We are moving! Just bought this place in the British Virgin Islands. Within easy walking distance to a marina, a swim-up bar, 2 decent beach restaurants and a great nude beach. I like it because of the double palapas and the views. It has 2 bedrooms and is rated for 150-mph winds. Access by air is a little difficult...intentionally. All are invited to visit during the months of July - October...which incidentally is hurricane season. Houseguests will be required to fend for themselves. Bring food and linen if and when you visit. Pets are not allowed since there are already some local examples of nature that inhabit your bedroom. But, no worry, if you are vaccinated before your travel and have no immune system issues yet. There is a nurse on the island...with some interesting theories of healthcare. It is recommended that contracting with Captain Ron for a 4-hour cruise since that could be quite an adventure. We would post the address, but these places do not have them. For reference purposes, you can fly to San Juan Puerto Rico and hang a couple of lefts. (Happy 4/1.)