Dave from Dayton

Get Offa My Lawn!

Quinn Buckner does not approve that last statement. College Basketball Hall of Fame (Inducted: 2015) 1984 NBA Champion (Boston Celtics) 1982 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1981 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1978 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1976 NCAA Champion (Indiana Hoosiers) 1975 Third-team NABC All-American 1975 First-team All-Big Ten 1974 First-team All-Big Ten 1972 Illinois Mr. Basketball 1972 Mr. Basketball USA

Yogi had an incredible first year as a freshman. Then he got injured. Bell rang a couple of times. And other injuries. Never really reached nirvana. Comparing Yogi as a college great to Cupps as a senior in high school maybe a little premature. Yet, Yogi was a dream. Cupps may just be our future.

Well deserved! Congratulations TJD! Got it because he is so very good. And we swept Purdoooo.

Or just fantasy?

I cannot tell a lie...

Just saying...

Boca Raton means mouth of the rat. It is on Florida's east coast and there are pros and cons. Lack of income taxes, warm to hot weather year around and some access to beaches are great. But there are not a lot of young-adult activities. The pronounced lack of diversity is noted. We all know the pros and cons of B'town. Remember, selling a state university outside of the state gets quite competitive. Young adults look at things differently than I would. Young adult elite basketball players would bring some personal perspectives, needs and wants. Looking at the head coach, the personal connections, the potential for improvement, method of play, nationwide exposure, the competition, the team, the facilities, the culture, the fit, the amenities, and the education(?)... To me, whether the prospect likes big cities on the coast or medium-sized college towns in the Midwest are huge factors. And is the central USA considered just fly-over between the coasts? But, maybe not the most important.

No we don't! We aren't negative. Never have been. We are all very, very smart. for instance, I really came close to acing the cognitive test! Got 2 out of 5 right. (snark) Bring back Dack itch or Dr. Itch...whatever his name is. He did really well at West Virginia. He is smooth, politically sensitive, never over-supervises, the OAD recruits love him, listens well, and always has all of the facts and then some.. Or bring back Archie! A giant among the coaches we've churned through. Flexible, recruits Indiana, gets the most out of his teams even if things go wrong in the locker room. Or Mike Davis, or he who must not be named, or Top Cat Tommie...gives us all such warm feelings...Maybe I will call that one...may I borrow your phone. Thanks! I think that the ideal job in the Athletic Department would be as the Sh!tty Little Jobs Assistant Director. Would not want to be a coach or the person at the top. Not me. (Off the record...looking forward to next year. Wish all those involved in IU athletics, including the coaches, the players, and the support staffers...not to mention the smart and positive fans a great spring and summer.) Go IU!

Well, IU did what many of us thought they might do at the start of the season. But, they ended up with the backup point guard, a freshman. Albeit a 5* but that does not count much as one gets to college play. We did not have a great defense. We did not have great wings. We had a weak bench. We did not have great shooters. We had inconsistent play. And we only won 2 out of 3 games with a bad couple of losses. When IU wins or competes favorably in the big ten and goes far into the NCAA Tournament on consecutive years...and the point guard and wings are not freshmen, and the bench is strong down to say 8 players, and we make our free throws, and get the lose balls, and the players try hard most of the time and refuse to lose...then you might say we are elite. In this day and age of semi-pro college basketball...good luck with that. I think we are getting closer and closer with Woody.

We need a shot doctor, too. Love (if we get him) could use help if it is not too late. Heck, IU needs help at the line. Well, XJ could use assistance in closing. And Galloway... Explain to me who our 3-point specialist is. Oh, yes...another PG...is it Cupps? A frosh...? Is this the way of the future? Scrambling for transfers... Teammates won't click until well into the conference games. Hope that Woody is asking: "Can you guard?"

Indyuky...examples: thar you go; whole 'nother; comereaminute; up in here ( I'm here); do what now?; ope (excuse me); distance is measured in car time travelled; ope, I'll sneak right past ya; in going from east Newburgh to Evansville...'crosstown time changes; do you want paper or plastic bigs?

Does Love help the team or just shoot but not necessarily well?

I have no inside information on any of the players or coaches. I do not have enough information to really speculate what would motivate JHS to go or to stay. Having said that, I believe that he most likely will go pro. Possibly, in part, because he has only been at IU for one year. That and the risks. I say that $4 million in the hand is worth $4 million. And it is a multi-year contract...so really in 3 years (increasing year to year)...that is a lot of money....in hand. I'm just kind of active searching different sites online. Google is my friend. Found a site that had last year NBA draftee base contract amounts. I really should have stayed in basketball and made that kind of money. Well, except for 3 or 4 reasons: Lack of talent; lack of athleticism; lack of size; lack of...well, you know). But I did grow up in Indiana with a basketball hoop in the alley behind our garage and was out there quite a lot. I remember way back in the old Fieldhouse, George McGinnis looked up to me. I was in the 25 row. He looked down on me too. When seated on the folding chairs on the sawdust floor.

JHS #13 and TJD #30 in the mock draft is how I read it. Probably not a tough call for JHS. Prospective contract for JHS might be in the range of just under $4 million in the first year alone plus benefits and marketing rights. For TJD it might be $2 million plus... Makes my final salary as a Chief of Engineering and Planning at an airport system look kind of paltry. Starting a GoFundMe...

Better you than me. Just saying. Get back in there. Give one for the Clipper.

Yes! Hits 74% of his free throws! And he is rocking a headband, too! What's not to like?

Posting rumors about potential transfers to Indiana remind me of this:

Daughter lives in San Diego near Balboa Park...used to work in marketing for San Diego State. She does not follow SDSU sports. Just said that she was surprised that she did not hear any yelling in her neighborhood when they won. My wife and I were watching the end of the game and spot checks throughout. All I saw was missed 3s. And rebounds. And players roughing it up...

Lately it was his sinuses. Heard that others have slow feet. And/or low motor. Ah, yes, some have no brain, no heart or no courage. Maybe the Wizard could help. He helped UCLA years ago.

Ivan Renko says: "Das vadanya."

Keith Smart, Andre Harris, and Dean Garrett come to mind. Keith Smart - Indiana University IU Basketball History (indianahq.com)

Wow! Great story, BL. I probably used the wrong terminology. Did not intend to imply that you were a professional gambler. Was somewhat trying to point out my own inability to be objective. And emphasizing your ability, and those at the top, to be objective. As you said...vote with your head; cheer with your heart. Uh...nevah!