Lt. John McClaine

That's cool, man. I always liked our Nike jerseys a lil better than the Adidas ones. The rumor is that we will discontinue our Adidas affiliation when the contract ends in 2015, i believe. I heard that we were looking at the Jordan Brand.

I've got that Bob Knight Plate too, that someone posted a while back. I'm pretty proud of it, when i bought my house a year ago my garage was on life support. There was dry wall tape all over, it wasn't painted, there was cuts and nicks all in the dry wall. First thing i did was prime the walls after all the sanding was done which took a while, then i sprayed about 20 cans of Orange Peel on the walls to give it kind of a textured look which really just helped cover up the spots that the sander wouldn't get anymore. Then i painted the walls a cream color and painted the ceiling white, then I had an artist friend, the same friend that gave me the Bob Knight autographed Sports Illustrated paint the Indiana Hoosiers on my overhang in the garage. The overhang is perfect because it really showcases the Indiana Hoosiers with the Center Court logo in between the two words. She wanted to make the whole garage candy striped but i decided against it. I wish i had a before pic so you guys could see how awful the garage was.

Crappy pic, but the other corner of my garage. You can see the Sports Illustrated Magazine. My ex gf's mom was from the same town in Ohio as Bob Knight, so she was able to get an autograph from coach back in the day. It says, to Linda, best wishes Bob Knight. Then i've got the 1953 team photo that I actually found in the trash at Assembly Hall for a game I went to 2 years ago, so i figured I'd put it to use. Then I have another poster which is like the others that I have framed, it's got pics of the team and a schedule, it's of the 1981 team with Isaiah and Randy Wittman, etc. Randy is actually my wife's cousin, i met him a year ago, nice guy.

Good Convo going on here guys. I feel that this player became available and Crean knew that he could help us out at a position that we're quite vulnerable at. As for the Spring Signings, IU and many other teams have Spring Signing every year, it's become the norm in College Basketball because of the high transfer rates going on in NCAA Basketball now. I commend Coach Crean for leaving no stone un turned when it comes to recruiting and Improving this ball club. Kasongo was a very good player that became available at the right time and Crean went for it, and it sounds like Kasongo was very high on IU, but as someone else mentioned, we're not in the position to take on any potential baggage. So now we go after Holt, and I know many will be opposed to that because of the other schools that have offered him, and I get that. But the fact still remains we have one scholarship left, and we might have the worst Front Line in the B1G, and it's mainly because of depth. We have Jeremiah April who would not play or be red shirted by the majority of other teams in the conference but we can't because of depth. We have an unproven, but highly touted Hanner Parea that averaged 2 points a game last year, and we have an undersized 6'6" power forward in Devin Davis. I'm not counting Max Hoetzel, Tim Priller or Troy Williams as options because I consider them wings. So for the mere fact of being prepared in case an injury occurs to one of your 3 forwards on the roster, I think that Coach Crean has to use his last scholly on any kind of Front Court player. It honestly could be the difference between NIT and NCAA Tourney.

Lighten up Francis

I wonder what Kasongo's options are now? JUCO school, Prep School, Other?

Man this honestly ruined my evening! At least now the whole Emmitt Holt visit makes more sense, Coach Crean's Contingency Plan.

Has Roy Williams lost something? I know he's getting old, and it seems like he's been around forever. His Kansas teams in the 90's we're always loaded with talent, and when he first got to Chapel Hill he was bringing in all kinds of talent, but here lately his teams still have talent but have underachieved in the ACC. Matters not to me though, because I've never been a fan of UNC or Roy Williams.

I'm so confused, but yet very excited. I can't remember this late in the game tweeking the roster with a late addition. Usually late Spring is considered late, but mid August is a new one for me. I can't remember a recruit joining the Hoosiers this late. I'm just glad that it looks like our frontcourt will get a lil bit of help because right now we're a lil light in that department, we look more like a MAC school down low compared to the rest of the B1G.

Nobody is gonna lose their scholarship, and neither Kasongo or Holt would accept being a walkon. We'll take Kasongo, and Holt will probably just stay in Prep School.

My garage with my IU calendars from 1984 to present. Not pictured Bob Knight autographed Sports Illustrated from 1980, and the 1953 Nat'l Championship Team Photo.

If we'd sign both guys, then this would be the largest incoming class at IU that I can remember.  While it would be a talented class, it would be a huge class.  James Blackmon jr., Robert Johnson, Max Hoetzel, Tim Priller, Jerimiah April, Nick Ziesloft, Emmitt Holt, and Ray Kasongo.  It just looks crazy to see 8 names that are all newcomers, especially with 7 of them being Freshman.  I personally think we just bring in one.     But anyways it got me thinking of other large classes that IU has had in the past. The only class that I can remember being this large, off the top of my head, was the 89 class that had Calbert Cheaney, Greg Graham, Pat Graham, Lawrence Funderburke, Chris Lawson, Todd Leary, and Chris Reynolds.  Of course Chris Lawson transferred to Vanderbilt and Lawrence Funderburke transferred to Ohio St, but still that was a big class and a very nice class.  Just think of how much better we would have been against Kansas in the tournament if we would have had the two big guys in Lawson and Funderburke.  That way Matt Nover, aka Ricky Roe in Blue Chips, wouldn't have had to guard 7'2" Greg Ostertag.  This was also the year that Alan Henderson was injured, and Bob Knight really had to go small.   I wonder how many of you youngsters recognize some of those names.  Back to the present, this has shaped up to be a nice class.  What once looked to be a bit one sided as far as back court players go, if Crean can get Kasongo and Holt to go along with a project in April and Priller, then it will seem to become a more balanced class, and one that should help get us back into the tourney.  I have been begging Crean to bring in another front court player just because I feel that the young team will foul out when playing a strong physical team merely because we have no depth, or we'd be behind the 8 ball even more if we got an injury to Hanner or undersized 6'6" Devin Davis.  Holt and Kasongo would be awesome, but I'm thinking we just bring in one of them.  Regardless though, whoever we get will help an undersized, young Hoosier Team.  Go IU

So even if you got it from the IU website, it will still cost you an arm and a leg?  I think i usually get mine from, IUHoosiers.com or tisbookiu.com/home.aspx, or iuhoosiers.cbscollegestore.com.  Maybe one of those will help, but they won't come out for another 8-12 weeks probably.  I've got every single one going back to 1984, so rest assured i'll get mine.  Maybe we can work something out.  

We should feel good about this.  I think it's a done deal.  This does however, further illustrate just how much the Luke Fischer Transfer hurt us.  If we had him on the roster then we would not have to spend another scholly on a 2014 player.  That being said we are in a lucky spot to get a 3 star big man that had committed to Oregon.     Does this remind anyone of the Mike Davis era after the Final Four run?  Do you guys remember how undersized we were every year?  I remember the first year that we did not make the tournament in forever, I believe it was 2003-2004, Bracey Wright's soph year, and the only post players we had were Mike Roberts, Sean Kline, and freshman Pat Ewing Jr.  (DJ White was on the team but injured)  We had good guards but it didn't matter because every team we played got us in foul trouble and absolutely man handled us.   My point is, if we don't get Kasongo, and I think that we will, but if we don't then IU has 2 post players in Jerimiah April and Hanner Parea, and one undersized 6'6" guy in Devin Davis. That's it!  In my opinion, this should never ever happen.  I know that the staff tried on some players and just couldn't land them, and like I mentioned before with the Luke Fischer Transfer, but it would be a shame to waste the talent that we have in the backcourt this year because every team we play will kill us down low and on the boards.  This further illustrates why getting Kasongo is so necessary, but to me it's crazy to think that we're even in this position, at all.  

My takeaways, but i only watched one of the games:   Yogi is a very good lead guard, and he will be able to play more controlled this year because of more weapons, and I think his energy and stamina will be better because he has shooters and guards and wings that can run with him.   Nick Z can shoot the rock, and he is a smart player.  If I had to compare him to someone, I would say he plays like a Kyle Hornsby, Lance Stemler kind of player.  He is not afraid to shoot the ball unlike a certain guy on the team last year that only pump faked, but I digress.  He might actually put up more ppg than he did last year, and I can see him starting some games for us.   Troy will continue to start on the wing and will probably lead the team in rebounds, definitely offensive rebounds, and will most likely take better shots.  He has a chance to be an All Big Ten caliber player.   Devin will double his minutes from last year and will have a chance to lead us in rebounds.  I still don't think he can shoot, so the majority of his points will come from the free throw line, because he draws fouls very well.  I don't like him guarding B1G 4's and 5's.     Stan, well he's still got that unorthodox style of game, particularly when he's going to the hoop and jumping off his left and throwing up a runner.  Honestly though, he's pretty good at it.  Saw him do a Euro step runner yesterday and he banked it in.  He can score in bunches.  I know some have mentioned him switching to shooting with his right, but yesterday when he shot free throws he shot with his left.  I like him, but if it were me, I would have him come off the bench, but I still see him starting some games.  Like the rest of the guards on the team his defense must improve.     Blackmon and Johnson will both see a lot of minutes and can definitely play.  They are the best freshman guards that IU has had since Eric Gordon and Jordan Crawford in 2007.   Hoetzel has a ways to go, he's not bad and you can tell he has potential but at this point I don't see him getting heavy minutes. Same thing goes for Priller, although i saw him shoot and make 2 three pointers last night.  He can shoot the rock, but he can't rebound or guard anyone.  He's a situational player.  

I know it's just one player, but it's the position that he plays which makes me so excited.  With IU being loaded at guard, and with the nice showing of Nick Ziesloft in Canada I'm pretty confident with our backcourt.  But with our frontcourt not so much.  With an unproven Hanner, and undersized non shooting Davis, and a Freshman project in April, we have one of the worst frontcourts in the B1G.  Imagine if Hanner gets hurt or one of the others?  Getting Kasongo is a must, and the staff has to realize this.  i understand how people are concerned with 2015 recruiting, but if Crean doesn't make the tournament this year, he won't be here next year to worry about 2015 recruits.  It's now or never, and this kid is a legit Power Forward, not a wing or a stretch 4.  He will help us. I'm excited!

we won't have Adidas for much longer, anyways. 

Yea it's been super quiet with this kid.  I remember about a month ago when he became available that Greg Rakestraw mentioned him and IU on 1070 the Fan, and I immediately assumed he'd be a Hoosier.  Flash Forward a month and this guy has been Missing In Action.  He'd be a great get. 

The signing period ends on May 21st i believe, so hopefully something happens between now and then. 

Looks like Arizona St. is the team to beat for Andre Adams.  USC is interested too.

This kid actually excites me because he plays defense and runs the court.  We really don't need another scorer but this guy seems to be an energy guy, and man what a shot blocker.  His timing is great and he doesn't give up on plays, and does he have a freakish wing span or something? He swats a lot of shots.

Whoever we get, chances are we haven't even heard of the guy. We need a guy that does his job well like Jeff Meyer, like Kenny Johnson did, etc.  Somebody that has AAU connections, and someone familiar with the midwest and has networking ability with the local HS coaches.  Is that Greg Graham?  Is that AJ Guyton?  The problem with those two is they've never had a position quite like this.  Time will tell.

I don't know if I've been this active in the off season, ever.  Every day I'm doing my research and seeing if we got anyone signed for 2014-2015.  I don't think there's any doubt that Tom Crean has to use the scholarships.  Like someone else pointed out, Coach Crean has to make the tourney next year and have a much better squad than this last year's team.  I know that there's not a lot of big names out there floating around, but he has to bring in more talent to mesh with the guys that we already have.    It's interesting how Crean and staff brought in Jeremiah April and he was completely off the radar.  What's the chances that he does it again?  Bringing in a name that nobody's mentioned, that is.  Here we are saying Cunningham, Harris, etc, but what if Crean pulls a fast one again and brings in another guy none of us have heard of?  For me, i just want a banger down around the basket, somebody that can defend and rebound and add toughness.  I think we're set at the 1 and the 2.  I would not be opposed at some wing depth to help out Troy Williams and freshman Max Hoetzel.  If we could bring in somebody that has some experience like a JUCO or a 5th year senior at either wing or power forward, then I think you take that plus the other 4 freshman coming in and I think you view that as a pretty good recruiting class. 

Yea i'd have to have Yogi and JBJ in the backcourt with Stan on the wing.  I could see RJohnson sliding into Stan's spot if he doesn't play well.  But I assume that Coach Crean will keep Stan in the starting lineup to begin the season.  Troy Williams will most definitely start.  He is a guy that you don't have to have plays ran for and he can get to the rim.  I see Troy having a big year for IU next year.  Then at the 5 or whatever you want to call it, basically our other Frontcourt spot, I'd imagine it'd have to be Hanner Parea..  There's just nobody else on the roster to play post defense for us on the current roster.    Now of course things can change from now until October, and we all know that Tom Crean does not bag scholarships.  I can see him bringing in another forward and wing to balance out our class.  

Out of the three that you mentioned he is most like EJ.  Roth was just a shooter in my opinion and Hulls was a great shooter and could handle the point, but JBJ is capable of so much more.  Where as Hulls could keep the dribble and handle point guard duties, you could not run an offense thru him.  JBJ can have an offense ran thru him, he can create space, he can drive, and he can dish.  He's a very talented player and if i had to compare him to a former IU player, i would say a cross between Bracey Wright and Eric Gordon.  He's not quite as explosive as Gordon off the bounce, more like Bracey, but he's a better passer than Gordon was while at IU.  It should be a real treat.