ziggyiu

While I understand the chatter about Pearl and May, it's a little disconcerting that those names are so dominant. I hope Dolson is casting a wider net--Drew, Donovan, etc. If Louisville snags Drew or Donovan and IU takes May, it would suggest to me that IU didn't aim high enough or IU is more damaged than I imagine. Big Ten has more resources and more stability than ACC. It's not like UL is ahead in NIL, facilities, etc.

Just based on my experience and discussions with colleagues, coaches do meet with ADs. The frequency, topics, tone, etc. all very just like they would with any employee/supervisor relationship, though admittedly the dynamic changes based on success, tenure, etc.

I know what the bottom line is, and I'm agreeing with it. Because of his lack of confidence he acted out in a way that made him incompatible with the job.

This × 100. The aloofness was mistaken as arrogance. He's an awkward person, and he didnt know how to embrace the attention. It's almost like he didn't have self-confidence and in some situations he overcame his lack of self-confidence with grander displays of righteousness . . . or so I've hear.

@Chris007 Without providing specifics, wink if you see options A - D in the list below. Amir Abdur-Rahim Dusty May TJ Otzelberger Scott Drew Tommy Llyod Mick Cronin Greg McDermott Tony Bennett Grant McCasland Nate Oates Bruce Pearl

I know. I've been here for years. I'm just having fun at how we're all await word from you about CMW's future.

This is @Chris007's board. Everything else is just noise. ; )

I love what he did to expose Illinois paying players.

Just to be clear, is Trilly saying IU has reached out to Pearl?

Nearly each institution in the BigTen has more money than they know what to do with. The new TV deal, big donors, etc. make almost anything feasible--if it is wanted badly enough. Also, if IU is willing to fork over $15+ million to get rid of a bad football head coach, then less money to move on from a bad coach in the beloved sport that has been the university's athletic identity for more than 85 years won't be an issue--if they really want to. These buyouts sound like big money, and they are huge deals. It's just that the wallets are getting so fat it can be difficult to comprehend.

He has been very impressive.

I'm just speculating--I'm not advocating. @Chris007 - Do you think Dolson would try to work a coach-in-waiting situation for May? Kind of like a one year deal that smooths the transition? Gives Woodson one more season to get thngs back on track but also secures the future. (Again, in Dolson's mind.) Similar to the Keady, Painter situation? Obviously, Painter had just one year at SIU and then made the jump. May is much more advanced in his career. Curious to get your thoughts. Is this something you think Dolson would pursue? Isbit something either coach would be amenable to?

Just to your comment that Woody didn't actively recruit guards, I've heard that IU did really try to get more guards from the portal last spring. One of the major issues was many of the guards were turned off by having X and Trey--two starters--return.

He's complicit in Zag boosters buying top tier talent out of high school. NIL wasn't great for Few and his bagmen as it put other programs on more equal footing in terms of buying commitments.

He's definitely not a guarantee. In fact it's closer to a cinch that he'd turn to crap if he came to IU. Our administration has that effect on folks.

May didn't have D. Wade to ride the team to the FF. May actually had to coach a bunch of kids that aren't lottery picks.

Wonder if this explains why Willard did a blow by in the handshake line.

It's also a ridiculous question. There's no good answer to something like this. It's bait that coaches shouldn't take.

I agree with you, and that wasn't the point. I disagree with the previously stated position that the 10-15 difference makers in the portal come spring are enough to offset the swings and misses with high school recruits in the fall. It's easier to maintain success, show development, create a culture and much more when successfully reeling in high school kids. I like the portal. I can be a great boost for a program. I just don't believe it has the same sustainable benefits as being great at recruiting high school kids.

Only 10-15 potential difference makers across the 60 or so high major programs that will all potentially be vying for them makes for really tough odds.

The strategy part that perhaps needs reconsidering is such an intense focus on the DMV (and to a lesser extent NC). I really like coach Hunter. It's just that we've swung and missed a lot in that region and that's his base.

Interesting. Thanks.

Hey, @Chris007 - I don’t mean to single you out by any means--I'm open to any response. Why do people think he is an insider? I'm not being flippant. I'm really curious. Everything I've ever seen him post is vague, so he can squirrel out of his predictions. Or his posts are nonsensical. When someone calls him out, he whines about it and hides. I know a little bit about him. Perhaps he's a really great source for high school men's lacrosse in the Chicago suburbs. I've just not seen why people think his content--message board posts, Twitter posts, emails--are insider information.

One specific thing that demonstrates his attitude while on his IU visit: He was reposting people's pics of him at Maryland (his visit there) while meeting with IU's staff, touring facilities, etc. He didn't care to be in Bloomington and he had no tact or class.

It's not just that he's from there. There are friends and family that want him close to home after being away during high school. Local businesses have promised a lot of NIL to him. These are businesses with connections to family and friends. UM has shown him the most love and the most consistent love. They promise they'll run things through him. There's something to be said for all of this. He may or may not go there, but there are plenty of reasons for people to consider UM the leader. He's clearly interested in other programs and the opportunities they present. It's reasonable to think him has UM in the lead but wants to check others out because there are things to like about other schools. He's being deliberate and weighing the schools against each other.