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John Beilein with Dane Fife as head coach in waiting? No one is perfect, but with this combo you have a proven successful head coach (Sure, his NBA stint is a stain on his record and he's older, but I'm curious if anyone would quibble with his basketball knowledge.) and a successor lined-up with great ties to the university and desired program culture, the B1G conference and regional recruiting. This might be a case where one individual's flaws are canceled by the other's strengths.

Remember how bad Archie's recruiting was last summer? It will be worse in 2021. He has very little fan support, and the kids and opposing coaches know it. He'll have fewer years on his contract than what it would take to see those kids through their junior year. (So he needs an extension, can you imagine that happening?) There are actually quite a few reasons to think the program won't fall deeper in a hole performance-wise and financially if Archie is let go after this season.

He won't be considered precisely for the reasons he was fired. Also, he wasn't acceptable to the higher-ups last time IU was looking for a coach. *Please note, no personal takes are included on Mr. Marshall in my response.

The parents should think about how that stuff puts their kid in such an awkward spot.

In all honesty, that's why it may be more financially expedient to pay the buyout now. As much as the admins have botched the program, they truly do know your scenario is a viable option that they'd prefer to avoid.

Ok. Let's say merchandising is down this year. Do you think the administration didn't plan for that? They know how to cut expenses to offset losses. All I'm say is, the department brings in over $100M a year. Archie's buyout a) is still negotiable as all contracts are b) is spread out over years c) requires him to find a high-paying job that offsets the buyout. For example, if Archie gets a job that pays him $1.5M, that's $3M removed from the $7M buyout, and, again, that's $3M over the course of years for a department that makes over $100M annually. Don't forget donors that could suddenly give generously for a specific purpose.

With all due respect, you may be underestimating the wealth generated by the universities in the B1G, donor support, contract negotiations and time. He may or may not be back, but money (particularly only $7 million over the course of years--and even less because if he gets another job, which is is required to do) isn't an issue when even during the pandemic IU earns more than $55M a year with just TV rights, donors fork over millions a year, merchandising, etc. Yes, budgets were cut this year, but so were expenses. Like I said, some athletic departments, even in the B1G, are reporting still having earned money during the past year. Also, a few million here or there over the course of a few years won't stop IU from hiring a great coach. A hire that excites the fan base makes the department more money over time.

If Archie doesn't make the tournament this year, it will be difficult to bring him back for a fifth year. That's four consecutive years without earning a spot in a 68-team tournament (Maybe last year IU gets in as one of the last four or as a ten seed, but it didn't happen and that's not much success anyway.) If he barely makes the tournament in year five, you risk firing a guy who "is turning the corner" according to national media, and it isn't good optics for potential future IU coaches. Also, he will need a contract extension, because it's too easy to recruit against a guy who only has two years left on his deal. The $10 million buyout isn't insurmountable. It's paid over years, is off-set by other earnings, and it's not uncommon for contracts to be further negotiated at the end of a person's employment. Despite how the pandemic has impacted sports revenue, IU isn't poor. Some schools are still turning a profit, due to effectively scaling down for the year. If Archie doesn't show serious progress in the season's final month, it's not his coaching acumen or a lack of funds that keep him in Bloomington for next year. It's either administration's ineptitude or their lack of caring.

Just curious, where did you hear that? He was close to accepting the Georgia job when. He ultimately decided not to take it and the university settled for Crean. Then in Oct./Nov. Wichita State was pursuing him when Marshall was forced out before the season began. It seems he is entertaining offers.

I grapple with how to put about the more out-going members of the IU fan base in context, particularly in terms of how they impact a coach, the team, recruits, AD and other program decision-makers and influences. For the most part, blaming the fans for outwardly calling for a coach to be fired is really just a symptom of the cause. If win were winning these gestures wouldn't be made. Also, how else do people express the desire for improvement when they are otherwise powerless? On the other hand IU has fans that display little perspective on the opposite side. They see MSU have a bad season or UW have a bad game and mock cry for Archie to be fired. Poking at other members of the fan base and not using context doesn't help the whole of us.

My post was in reply to the staff wanting TJD to expand his game, not what the expansion looks like. It's because TJD doesn't try anything outside of 5 feet any more (and when he did earlier in the season it looked awful) that he'll play college ball again next year.

Race shoots 3s -- not many, but he'll pop 'em from time to titime. Archie is all for TJD expanding his game. It's a wonder why off some many different pick and roll situations he almost never shoots it. Now, most times he doesn't even look at the basket, and defenses have noticed.

Just throwing this out there, but Matta considered taking the Georgia job. It was his for the taking, but he ultimately declined it. The man is feeling better and wants to coach. It's a matter of trusting that his body will hold up and finding the right situation.

I understand what you're saying, but know that both Cody and Yogi were courted big time. The staff did "beg" and "plead" for each to attend IU. At least for me, I don't love them any less because the staff had to work incredibly hard to convince them to enroll at IU.

That does not make any sense considering the time and effort Archie's put into Dort's recruitment. Dort may or may not be a Hoosier, but it's obvious Archie wants him.