cthomas

Agree that commitment to the program is incredibly important. A disgruntled coach would be pure poison. The team should be more important than any coach or recruit. CTA will succeed or not, but right now gets the final word.

We can talk about assistants all day long, but CMW is the big dog here and he runs the show. The people around him help him navigate the college game, but I believe he makes all the calls. The Maryland game was to me the first time that I have seen this team composed for a full game. They never looked rattled or unsure of what they were supposed to do. That's coaching and the team learning to trust the process. Hopefully, that continues.

When you listen to him in pre/post game interviews, he just sounds like a guy who is confident and completely in control of what he is doing. Given his background and experience, no one is going to rattle or intimidate or get under his skin. I like that in a coach.

Coach Woodson is making a real difference with these guys.

I think we can win, just not sure that we will. Rob's absence worries me.

Hoping the best for Rob, but given how he left the court, I don't see him at 100% for a while. Hopefully, he'll prove me wrong. I appreciate everything he has done and how he represents IU.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm always in our guys corner through thick and thin as long as they are committed to the team. I've liked Rob because he has seemed to be a team guy. He has been through a lot and he keeps showing up. And, occasionally, he is superb.

Everyone is on a high right now and deservedly so. The team faced extreme adversity and toughed out a much needed win. It will take every bit the same effort, focus, and intensity against Michigan. Let's not take a step back.

I can't emphasize enough how much I love the way CMW works with the kids. Not sure I've ever seen a more genuine coach. That has to resonate with the parents of the kids he is recruiting.

I kinda like how he rolls.

They appear to be better at every position on the floor except possibly center. And, they have two of those. We have home court. It will take everyone's best game of the season and laser focus on the defensive end. Looks like a mismatch on paper. But, as we've seen so many times, there's a reason we play the games.

I simply meant that CMW seems to want long, athletic, interchangeable players. We currently have a lot of guys who are mostly good at one thing, sometimes very good at it. But still limited other ways. I think we will see a very different looking roster going forward. I actually like the players we have, but think CMW is heading in a different direction.

It may not be the player's choice in every case. CMW seems entirely capable of having the hard conversation about what's best for the program. The kids he is recruiting look to me significantly different than the ones currently on the roster for the most part.

Those two in the paint would be a great incentive to develop range on the jump shot.

If there was a better option, I'm sure CMW would utilize it. I frankly don't understand the second guessing of a coaching staff who sees these players every day. Unless of course you believe you can coach the team better than them. If that's the case, I'd be more than happy to let you have a crack at it. As far as Phinisee is concerned, I accept his limitations and love the effort and defense he brings. Anything else is gravy.

Let's just resign ourselves that nothing is going to be easy for this team.

Agree with that. I wonder how much of that is today's kids growing up in the NBA era of take your man off the dribble one on one play. That's probably been how they have played their entire lives.

My point is that whatever we think doesn't really matter because, right or wrong, his opinion will prevail. It's his team and he is accountable for the results. Like it or not, that's how it is.

Only if CMW thinks it's a problem.

That was then, this is now. He had some credibility that CMW doesn't have at this point. Not to mention the players are a completely different animal now.

Welcome to college basketball where nothing is a given. Our loss at Wisconsin suddenly doesn't look so bad. Shouldn't have happened but everyone is susceptible to losing in this conference. Going to be a crazy ride this year, so buckle up.

Lucky S.O.B.

I should have been more clear. I'm not blaming her for taking advantage of what the system gives her. I was more than ready to start something new after four years of college. I love that the women's team is having success. If she was not on the team next year, someone else would be. It's probably not a popular opinion, but I would like for eligibility to be four years, period. It should be about getting an education and really nothing more. That kids with elite athletic ability can get that paid for them, and now make additional money, should be considered a privilege. And I hope that she achieves what she wants.

Let's hope.

Insane, and a little disturbing. At some point real life should come calling.