cthomas

But, how good are we going to be if he is good enough to compete for minutes? Every review of him I have seen talks about his excellent footwork. Bigs with that kind of footwork are generally pretty successful. It's going to be an intriguing summer and fall. The competition for playing time is going to be at a level we haven't seen in a long time.

The difference being that we have size at positions that we didn't with that team. Granted that team had more shooting. I think this one has a very high ceiling.

The discussion about who starts is fun and how it plays out will tell us a lot about who has put in the work. But more intriguing to me is how our added depth will help us play through the inevitable injuries. We actually have the pieces to play through injuries that in years past would have cost us games. I'm really looking forward to that.

Beautiful little girl! What an awesome responsibility it is to be a dad. Tamar has a lot on his plate. We place great emphasis on the basketball side, but honestly, the dad side is what really counts. I'm sure that CMW is making sure he has the support he needs.

The pieces are there to do something special. Now the work begins. The work put in this summer will make the difference between a good year and a great year. CMW will sort this out as we go, but the potential is greater than we have had in several years. I believe how far we go will depend ultimately on the two 5 star freshmen. They are the x factor.

I respect everyone's opinion here. A lot of good reasons for what is being debated. I think CMW already has a pretty good idea of how he wants to use the guys we have. He recruited the incoming guys with a specific plan in mind. I think we will see a lot of them next season. From what I saw last season, CMW obviously sees value in both Kopp and Galloway. I don't think that changes. He also really likes the freshmen. It will be up the guys on the team to sort out the details over the summer and fall. I have to think the competition for playing time is going to be better than we have seen for a long time. That is a very good thing.

I'm pretty sure he mixed Indiana and Kansas together and thought he had it right. Hopefully, going forward he will learn to do a little research for things he's no sure of. Don't hold it against him (I wouldn't want to be held accountable for my youth), he learn and grow.

Well, he's a young guy and I like that's his perception, but I don't think basketball was created in Indiana. I believe Springfield, MA. gets that honor. Hopefully, the truth doesn't cause him to lose his enthusiasm.

A lot to like in this clip. Elevation is impressive as is the ease with which he shoots. No hesitation, just makes plays. He seems overshadowed by some higher profile kids, but I think he will surprise.

Just to be clear, I never said that girls can't play the same game that guys do. I have daughters and granddaughters so I know a little about how this works. I never knew if I was supposed to protect the girls from the guys or the guys from the girls.

She must have something special going for them if true. I know it's been a lot of years, but when I was in college there always seemed to be a lot of fish in the sea.

If the NCAA hasn't awakened by now, it never will. Exactly what did people think was going to happen? There was never going to be a gentlemen's agreement that would limit the the amount to be spent. The rich get richer is the only way this was going to go. We can play in this sandbox, not that I like it, but we are big enough to play. Cheaters now don't have to. The NCAA doesn't, and never will, have any control of NIL. Love it or hate it, but just get used to it.

I agree that it seems unlikely, but I didn't see what we have now coming this quickly either. Once a thing like this starts rolling, it tends to escalate until something stops it. It will be interesting to who or what that thing is.

NIL money doesn't come from the universities. And there are revenue streams like television and their advertising money from "made for tv" big games. I could see kids eventually wanting a piece of these other streams.

How long before players refuse to play in an event without getting a cut of the profits. Will a players union be next?

Might not be that far off.

I'd be OK with that. If TJD returns, I'll take my chances with our guys.

I learned a long time ago to not assume Purdue is going to suck. They have a good coach and he will find players who work within his system. And, although I want to beat them at everything all the time, I respect the way they play and do things. On the other hand, I have zero respect for UK.

Seems like splitting hairs. People are famous for whatever talent they have. They get paid for that talent. I am a photographer but I don't get paid to do it. If I did, I would be a professional photographer.

If they couldn't play, they wouldn't be famous.

Kinda like when you went somewhere and had to sit with your parents instead of hanging out with your friends.

Yes, and this applies to so many other things as well. It's not about what's right or wrong, if that discussion even exists anymore, it's about what is legal. How long before we drop the pretenses and just call them the professional basketball team that represents Indiana University for a given number of years. It really feels like that's the direction we are headed.

Of course it does. The NCAA either couldn't or wouldn't effectively police it, so it became legal. Kinda like marijuana, the authorities couldn't stop its use so more and more states are making it legal. Doesn't make it desirable, just eliminates the enforcement issue.

Still not sure that I fully embrace the new landscape, but you are exactly right. The coaching staff has to on the same page. Anything less is unacceptable. Further, you cannot have a loose cannon who just expresses his personal opinion to whomever whenever he wants.

I see your point, I just think it's going to be really hard to put that genie back in the bottle.