ziggyiu

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.

Have you watched IU this year? The Hoosiers have a giant gaping hole at guard too. ; )

I love all the Hoosiers, but I can't imagine the duo of Race and Trayce is what Woodson really needs for his system. Ideally with 4 out and 1 in, you have four players who can shoot well from deep and can create off the dribble. All due respect to Race's many talents, those are two things he doesn't do well. Also, if Trayce can't develop any semblance of a jumper he will continue to clog the lane -- making it harder for our guards to create off the dribble. When he screens around the parameter everyone knows there's only one thing he will do next. When Race is on the parameter it's too easy for his defender to sag in the lane. Together they negate the advantage of spreading out a defense to create open driving lanes and open three pointers. Again, I love these guys and wish them the best, but their talents aren't very complimentary to what Woodson would like to do. There's a reason IU had the worse offense in the B1G. IU has some nice pieces, but as a whole they aren't necessarily compatible. The guards are excruciatingly one dimensionly too, which doesn't help. Some arw only comfortable shooting from deep, while some are predictably only adept at driving. No one, with the exception of X sometimes, can score at even two of the three levels.

I really can't show enough appreciation for this post. You are a messenger of truth.

On one hand I understand what you are saying, but on the other it's difficult to deny what the kids are saying about their recruitment these days. Duke plays in a small gym, but it's a nice place. Also, there are a lot of bells and whistles around it that make a kid's eyes pop, same with UNC, UK, and KU. They have great swag (on a pod cast earlier this season an IU assistant coached talked about how the swag is a big deal to these kids). We know IU upgraded some facilities in the past 10 - 15 years, but I know some visitors who have said these upgrades took IU out of the 1980s, but they don't compare to what kids experience at other high-level basketball schools. Facilities aren't the end all be all. Those elite schools have great coaches and they win a lot, two of the most important missing elements for IU. That said, IU will continue to lose the wow-factor for some elite talent because IU doesn't bring the same glitz.

Look at what UL has gone through since he left. The vacated title and mediocrity (at best) since . . . with sanctions and other schools doing negative recruiting. The impact of the cheating was a net negative. If only catching and punishing the cheaters were more of a priority across all programs . . . But I digress . . .

The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that the issue goes farther back than 10 years. IU could have gone with a big hire after Davis's interim year, but they made a concerted effort to put basketball in the back seat. Some high ranking admins and donors didn't like that the basketball program was the school's identity. That concern has carried over for more than 20 years now. It's a deep rooted issue, and only time will tell if the new president and new AD can/care to find the donors with a different mind set and will lean on certain admins to adjust their thinking. The fans, the history, the media interest -- so many external culture points are aligned for IU to be relevant on a consistent basis. The question is whether the new power brokers can/care to change the culture on the inside.

Wish everyone the best no matter what happens. Based on playing time, new recruits, draft projections, the transfer portal, etc. it's tough to guess. One thing I'm curious about is if CMW will pursue another guard in the portal at the end of the season. We need more guard help than what CJ Gunn and JHS can provide next year. TJD - I think he stays. He is not close to getting drafted. The staff is trying to get him into the mind set that he's a sophomore, that's why he is listed as one. I imagine he'll test the NBA waters and get feedback for how to improve him game (the broad strokes we all already know), and he'll return to work on those aspects. Race - Taking the opportunity to speak at senior night makes me think he's leaning toward leaving. Opens the door for more JG (good, bad or otherwise). Michael - I think he goes somewhere else for more minutes. Parker - A little surprised to learn he'll give a speech tomorrow based on the journey he's had in his college career, though maybe he isn't jiving with this staff (ie, the suspension, the benchings). He has been more active driving the ball in the second half of the season, which makes me think he's taking to the coaching. Kopp - He hasn't provided what we brought him in for. He's too one dimensional and too hesitant to pull the trigger in his one dimension. Nothing would surprise me, but I think his minutes could be best used by someone else. Rob - Such a heartbreaking career. Would be a little surprised if he stayed, but not leaning into the senior night speech was interesting. He could find himself behind X and JHS. Lander - Maybe he goes, maybe not. He has his whole career in front of him with the covid year and potential redshirt year. If he were to transfer, where would he go? I would think IU is still his best bet if he wants to play high level college ball. Logan - Don't know why he'd transfer. Staff really wanted him to stay committed last year. He needed a season to gain weight and learn from experienced players. I think he can bring it in spurts next year.

I'm over simplifying it, but while the lack of any consistent shooting from deep is horrendous, the problem goes deeper. It's the guard play overall that hampers IU. There isn't one guard who can create on his own. There isn't one guard who can take it to the goal with any consistent composure. There isn't one guard that can hit free throws at a high level. There isn't one guard anyone can reliably state is a lock down defender. There isn't one guard that has the talent or mental fortitude to carry this team when enduring a bad stretch in a game. Basketball is a guard oriented game, and IU's roster is littered with inept, one-dimensional or complimentary guards.

Greg was a highly recruited kid who averaged about 10 ppg as a freshman and was selected in the 1st round of the NBA draft following his senior year. I don't know about C.J. as I've never seen him play, but that's a tough comparison on paper at least.

I believe Dec. or early Jan. of Romeo's freshman season.

Difference between Kopp and Stewart is that Stewart had to sit out a year. He's had an unusual journey. Another difference is that Stewart has been a lot more reliable from deep. I think IU will want to keep Stewart for next year.