AKHoosier

I think it's highly unlikely Newkirk isn't among the top 9 in our rotation. He'd be a top 4 guard though, so maybe that's all that really matters.

Plus it'd be funny to see them take a guy we kicked out because of character issues. They ripped us for having an out of control situation off the court, now they're going to take the guy that was majorly responsible for that? Sure, let them take him.

Such big news. I love the versatility of our front court next year. With Bryant back, I wouldn't mind seeing us add Spike Albrecht now, as I'm not really sure we need to find a 5th year big anymore. However, I'd be fine trying to find a freshman or transfer big man to be able to practice against Bryant and Davis every day, in preparation to take the reins whenever Bryant does leave.

I can't even describe how badly I want a front line next year of Thomas Bryant, DeRon Davis, Juwan Morgan, and O.G. to go along with hopefully a grad transfer 4/5. That'd probably be the best frontcourt I can remember for IU in my lifetime, although I'm only 30. Ugh, please happen!

I remember thinking that about Vonleh too, and we all know how that turned out. I got my hopes up that we really weren't recruiting any other bigs in the 2014 class, so that must have meant he was coming back.

Wow, unbelievable ending. So glad Nova won, I love parity and seeing cheaters lose.

Elephant in the room: Anyone hearing anything on the Crean to Vanderbilt rumor? I checked a Vandy board, and it seems they say there's mutual interest. It's been floating out there for a day or so now. It's premium information, but there's a 5 page thread on peegs regarding it, as well as the Vandy Rivals site. Also, there's a thread on it on Kentucky's Rivals site too. But the Vandy site is what caught my eye, as they say there's a nugget from a B1G source regarding mutual interest from a coach in the B1G. Who knows, will probably amount to nothing by this time tomorrow.

Weird. Straight to Europe?

Some of the bone-headed plays he made to spark the other team too were just as important. Some of Troy's bad, out of control shots were effectively turnovers. OG can be that catalyst this year, while also playing better defense and taking better shots.

Hopefully we at least get a visit, although taking him would probably put Paul Scruggs out of the equation for 2017, right? We'll still have a lot of guards in 2017, as Blackmon is the only one who may go pro after 2016 - 2017. That would leave Robert Johnson, Devonte Green, Josh Newkirk, and Curtis Jones as the primary guards in 2017. Adding Simon to the mix would certainly be nice.

Oh no worries. I wasn't trying to start anything, just wanted to see if one of us had information to share on this, because it does look like it's still out there. I even checked another Vandy site and evidently the mod for their Rivals site thinks the new coach is going to be either Greg Marshall or Tom Crean. Seems like they're really targeting Marshall first.

Wow that's out of nowhere. I think he's from Georgia, I bet he transfers closer to home. Weird recruitment. He was always considered a lock to OSU.

And Cliff Alexander before them. Something stinks in Kansas.

I keep completely forgetting about Curtis Jones. I honestly know nothing about him other than he seems to be a good scorer. He is a complete x-factor next year. If he can provide good 3 pt shooting and perimeter defense, that would negate the loss of Yogi quite a bit. It'll have to be a replace-Yogi-by-committee approach, which makes me nervous because 2 of the guards in the rotation will be coming off significant injuries: James Blackmon and Josh Newkirk.

Reading Thomas Bryant's comments after the game makes it sound like he wants to come back: "This game right here just gives me a lot of motivation. It fuels me." Who knows, I still expect him to declare and go through the process all the way until the end of May.

What year did we not get better than the previous under Crean? The exception of 2012-2013 to 2013-2014, we've improved every year.

The thing is, last night (and the past 10 years too) proved talent wins championships. You need to recruit the McDonald's All American, 5* guys. My point is we need to go hard after Thon Maker to take that extra step.

That's the thing though, we've said that basically every year and it still hasn't happened. I fear that he is what he is now. I'd still say I want him back as a senior, but I wouldn't mind to see his minutes go to OG, Morgan, or Hartman at the same time too.

This game proves he's not nearly ready to compete in the NBA. He may be ready to get paid and drafted in the first round, but his game is far from ready.

It sucks the game isn't even a little competitive. Maybe we're farther away from competing for a national title than we thought.

This one is NOT on Crean. Down a starter, and facing an opponent that just can't miss. It figures U of No Classes would have this type of game against us.

I've never seen anything like this. Absolutely unreal. Just f***ing ridiculous. A team that shoots 31% from 3 shoots over 80%? And of course, it happens against us. Never seen anything like this, and probably never again.

  No thanks.  He was pretty overrated as a 5*.   I'm not sure if there's anything out there yet, but what about Michael Young from Pitt?  He's a junior and I think I saw that he's on track to graduate early.  He's a beast, 6'9" and 240 lbs, averaged 15 pts and 7 rebounds this year.   He'd be a great replacement for Max, although he may not even transfer.  I thought with the coaching change there, he may opt for his final year somewhere else that could get him more exposure, develop his game, and play on a better team.   Plus his old teammate, Josh Newkirk, could recruit him here and tell him how awesome it is here.

  Don't be so sure..

I wonder who is on the short list to replace Dixon at Pitt.   Have to think they immediately target Archie Miller, as I'm pretty sure his family is from that general area.