Dave from Dayton

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!

Each coach and each team may have differing styles and features. Banging may be varied with chippy, sticky, running, methodical , finess, set plays, transition, defensive strategies, matchups etc. Some lean to run and gun. Others go for high basketball IQ. Also it depends on which players are on the floor. What a team really needs is great recruiting, a great coaching staff, university support, fans, point guards, wings, bigs, great execution, scouting, making shots, etc. Banging or not, referees'calls or not, young adults need discipline as a team. And they need to help each other. It may just be that IU needs upper classes that know to play with effort the whole game. Just refuse to lose. I don't think that the Big Ten is at a disadvantage because of a reliance on bigs and Banging. IU just needs to put together enough of the above assets to excel. In the last 2 decades that has not happened often enough.

Congratulations to Bottom Line. Also, a tip of the ole toupee to Btown Banners and those that manage this site. It is great to have a well-moderated site to learn and chat about Indiana Hoosiers athletics. However, Bottom Line is a professional sports handicapper. That just might be considered by some to be totally unfair. Except for one thing to be discussed later.* For those of us that cannot ever say that certain other University sports teams just might beat our Hoosiers..there should be a category. And no, it's not a participation trophy. Maybe, it just might be a red and white striped box of peppermint candies. So for those contestants that suported and predicted a Hoosier win regardless of the metrics and other insider information...enjoy your candy stripes. * Rules are rules and they are clear. Sometimes one has to pick against the Hoosiers to win this Prediction League challenge. But some of us will never, ever grow up to do just that. PS I will bet a beer with some people when discussing Indiana or other team sports. But I do not bet $. Not ever. There are bigger issues that we make our choices and have to live with the consequences every day. Those choices are big enough bets for me. Well, I was pleasantly surprised with a 14 and that I beat Alaska Hoosier and Barrell Rick. Not to mention Josh..so I won't. Whew! I probably will never do better than that. Until next year when IU wins every. Single. Game. And that is what I will predict. And I just might get two scores right out of about 36. And a huge tip of the ole toupee to the team and coaches. Indiana basketball is back! PPS As an aside...I grew up within walking distance of Ellis Park in Evansville. It was interesting when reading the racing form how one could see some excellent background on each and every horse and jockey and trainer and owner and the condition of the track, etc. I can still pick horses but always insist on having the racing form to do it. One would also have to watch the horse and jockey before picking. My younger sister had a knack. She 'knew' horses. She picked 7 of 8 horses on the nose one day. My father put a $2 bet down on each race pick by her. Bought her a 10-speed bike with part of the winnings. I kid you not.

I am so fired up! Our wings and guards better be on tonight! Anyone at the game for an on-site glimpse?