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Exactly. All the way around I'd prefer a June visit. I think a lot people don't know how business-minded some of these young men are, especially with NIL.

It will mean more if he visits and bonds with his HS teammates, sees how they are getting coached, loving B-Town, etc. Think of the impact JHS had on Malik's visit.

He quit to set up his preferred replacement at Nova as he moves on to coach the 76ers. [winky face emoji]

Certain activities on social (by players and those who interact with them) make me think Kopp is a candidate to not return.

Cockburn was quoted earlier this month as saying he doesn't care if he goes undrafted. He believes in himself, etc, etc. He has tried the last two years to get out of Central Illinois. No surprise.

I have a difficult time believing it's true, but the rumor goes beyond that garbage account.

If the Emoni Bates chatter is legit, I trust CMW to handle whomever he brings on board. After all, this is a coach that benched half his team for an entire game in the midst of a slup. I think CMW would have no issues saying to Emoni or anyone else, "It's my way or the highway." and truly meaning it. Also, this IU squad has a few leaders that won't let a bad actor spoil the entire show. There is a culture in place at IU that I don't believe exists at Memphis -- one which won't tolerate any BS that erodes the on-court chemistry.

Never ceases to amaze me how some people on message boards think because they don't know what a player is doing the coaching staff must not know either.

Coach Woodson stated at the end of the season that the team's biggest need is shooting. From a distance it's difficult for fans to understand the interest the coaching staff has placed in some players that statistically don't fit the coach's stated biggest need. It's also difficult for some fans to trust the staff because the fans have been asked to trust a few staffs in the last 20 years that have proven to be incompetent. (Just to clarify, I think we all understand the desire to pursue Reneau and other bigs should TJD leave.)

I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I have a difficult time thinking this team will be improved enough offensively if we play TJD and Race together a lot like we did this past season. Race had a very hard time playing the stretch 4 spot. He can't create his own shot off the dribble and he isn't good jump shooter. (He is a really bad FT shooter.) In many cases, I thought JG out performed Race late in the season. JG may be a better stretch 4. Also, CMW said very plainly that shooting was our greatest need for next season, but so far we haven't done much to improve in that area. Perhaps Gallo and Bates really improve, or maybe Banks is a great surprise, but I'm skeptical that without a new stretch 4 and new talent on the wings that next season will be much better offensively. Players can improve, so I'm hopeful but not optimistic. Part of me thinks how can I expect different results with the same players in the same system.

He's got multiple years to play, so if he wanted to rotate with Trayce, Race or whomever returns for a year and then rotate with Duncomb, Reneau (fingers crossed), etc. in the following years he could.

Yep. The person talking was a former IU athlete who is close to the current team. Sounds like there may be more to the story that would potentially aid in understanding why X was driving so fast. (Still dangerous and X could have done things better.) Don't know if any of it's true, but this made it sound like X was trying to get away from trouble that presented itself in another car.

Does anyone saying there's no room for Pack know if he only wants to play pg? For those slotting in JHS as a sure-fire starter, what makes you think a kid who has never played college ball is definitely better than a kid who was an All-Big 12 player? JHS could he amazing, but we don't know yet. Reminds me of some people of the boards who thought Bates would start, or even be a one and done. There's too much unknown. Talent likes to play with talent. Teams have multiple players on the floor at once who can either initiate the offense or play off the ball. There really is a lot of flexibility here. Whether or not IU goes after Pack or Pack is interested, time will tell. It's just premature to slot in starters or determine that these kids won't want to play together.

It seems like many are speculating and reacting to the speculation without considering how often coaches are really in contact with recruits. They call and text daily or weekly with recruits they want to keep tabs on. It seems possible that although Woodson wasn't at the game, he or his staff communicated as much with Booker and his family (if IU sees him as a priority). The staff could set expectations for that evening and contunue to set the table for our the recruitment will unfold this spring and summer. The other possibility is that there's been enough communication between Booker and IU that the staff knows Booker isn't that interested in IU, so IU sends an assistant to a big game for PR reasons, make connections with other high school coaches that are in attendance, etc. Or that IU isn't terribly high on Booker, so the staff is keeping tabs, but won't become heavily invested until they see certain things in his game, attitude, etc. My point is that there are a lot of unknowns.

No need to fabricate arguments. I didn't say ot was going to happen. I said it's how the offense will improve.

I definitely never posted that they are the answer either. In fact, I've posted the opposite. IU needs a new 2 - 4 to improve on the worst offense in the B1G. If we're lucky enough to keep X and TJD, that's a great start. JG at the four and an improved Bates and a great freshman season from JHS would be nice, along with Trey developing an outside shoot. Though to be really competitive, IU needs to dip into the transfer portal for a 2 and/or 3 that can score at all three levels.

Preach. I've seen some IU fans wanting Race, Trayce and JG on the floor. That's reliving this season's nightmares of clogging the lane and not being able to shoot from distance.

Absolutely. College coaches are making calls to high school coaches and AAU coaches (and have been for over a month) to say if player X was interested in leaving his current situation I'd love to have him. The reverse has been happening too. High school coaches are are still close to players that have graduated and AAU coaches still connected to a player are making calls to college coaches to see if there's interest in a player.

I love Race. But I have to put aside my love to objectively assess his role. In reality Woody put him at the four because no one else fit the mold of what Woody wants in that position. Ideally Woody's four is someone with great perimeter skills -- someone who can shoot from distance and create off the dribble. Race proved throughout the year that he can't do either of those. He is a traditional four who is at his best with his back to the basket. Unfortunately he isn't big enough to play the five. His presence helped clog the lane. He was so one-dimensional that unless he was in the post the other team didn't guard him. He bogged down the offense -- along with Kopp and Stewart. He had problems guarding the more authentic Fours throughout the season. He can't contain them on the perimeter. Also, he is a fifth year senior who hasn't learned how to shoot free throws. It was so glaringly obvious at the end of the season that JG was out performing him that JG got more meaningful minutes in the B1G and NCAA tournaments. I love Race and thank him for his contributions. I love how he rallied around Woody this time last year. I love him for working hard to come back from all of his injuries. I love what he was doing for his hometown to recognize BLM. All that said, he needs to drastically expand his skill set if IU is to improve next year.

No inside info, but some programs have two good ball handlers on the court who can create for themselves and others on the floor at the same time. Next year's team needs X. A senior who can mentor and complement the freshman would be ideal, especially as no one knows how the freshman will perform in college.

Cue the Lord working in mysterious ways?

Yes. We need play makers. Guards who can score at all three levels.

Maybe, but why? He has an established culture in Houston. He went to a Final Four last year, so he's proven he can win big there. Everyone there likes him. Houston is about to join the Big12, a conference that he knows well. I have no inside knowledge. I'm just curious why he'd make that move. Is LSU offering a lot more money?

Anyone know where the IU band/bench will be in the Moda Center? Want to get tickets around other IU fans.

Talking to Woodson. They're buds too, you know.