Hoosierfan2017

Sure, but it seems very unlikely to me that Buckner would’ve been able to whip up support to fire Dolson just because he wouldn’t hire Buckner’s unqualified buddy. I could see Dolson not wanting to test it, it if he’s just going to be a puppet then might as well not have an AD and save the money.

How much control does the BOT really have over an AD when it comes to choosing the basketball coach? Like, could Buckner really have forced Dolson’s hand into hiring Woodson?

We’ll never know. I have a hard time believing both (a) they had Brad Stevens ‘in the bag’ at $7 million and (b) Mike Woodson was the best they could do after Brad scorned us. The two theories don’t go together. Picking Woodson just wasn’t a serious decision for a multitude of reasons. If they were serious enough about winning to go that hard after Brad then they could’ve bagged someone else. I just really don’t know how you can go from a grand slam candidate to a pop out.

How I imagine the coaching search went. How old is he? - 63. Hmm. Must have a lot of experience! - he’s never coached college basketball. He’s an NBA coach. Even better! Which team is he the coach for? - Well, he hasn’t been a head coach in almost a decade. Was he a good head coach back in the day? - No. He only won 46% of his regular season games and 39% of his playoff games. Ugh. Well, where did he go to school 40 years ago? - IU Perfect! Offer him the job immediately. So many red flags but unfortunately the only one that mattered was the red IU one.

Idk how that crowd even started. Imo, you can tell early on if a coach has “it” or not. It doesn’t always translate immediately on the court, but there are signs within the program. Does anyone really think Woodson has it? Because I think it’s clear that he doesn’t. Archie is 19-32 at Rhode Island yet a contingent of the fanbase says we’re too quick to get rid of guys. smh.

It’s why I roll my eyes whenever folks try blaming the fans for IU’s pisspoor program. He’s gone to seven elite 8s in 14 seasons at UK (IU has made seven elite 8s in the past 47 years). One of those seasons was the covid year, and his team was 25-6, and #1 in the SEC at 15-3 when the season was canceled. So, seven elite 8s in 13 seasons. He’s batting 538 when it comes to making the elite eight. Mike Woodson is batting .520 in the Big 10 as IU’s coach, yet we get called ridiculous and the problem when we say he should be fired. It’s all a bunch of nonsense.

5 straight tournament appearances with 2 elite 8 trips.

Not going to win many games when you make literally zero threes.

Based off some of his recent interviews, I’m not sure Woody knows who he has coming in until they show up on campus for summer workouts.

It’s me. I’m overly pessimistic to keep my cover.

Yeah he had a foot injury, missed two games toward the end of the regular season, and then played the last two games. Talk about a team full of knuckleheads. Vonleh was nice from the times I met him, though.

Why do folks think that Vonleh shut it down?

Long 2s are a must. Can’t play inside out without them. This is the kind of game I could actually see them winning. Always seems like they pull off these wins to bring fans off the ledge (before inevitably putting the fans back on the ledge a few games later).

20 shots and 35 minutes for Sparks is the best way for us to combat the small ball.

It’s not the reason for IU’s failures, but the program’s culture is definitely outdated/stuffy. Needs a revamp big time.

Idk, I look at someone like Porter Moser (who some folks wanted when we hired Woodson). He was more “proven” that May is at this point. His first two years at Oklahoma he went 19-16 (7-11) and 15-17 (5-13). He’s got things going well right now in year 3, but it took multiple years. I would expect similar things from Dusty May. Mgbako and Reneau (don’t think Ware will be back regardless) are really the only two players on our team worth keeping, and I would expect both to leave if May became the coach. Same with McNeely. None of them have Indiana connections and could go anywhere. Why would they stick around to play for a random coach they know nothing about?

You’re one of the fans who doesn’t want to play in the gray area. If that’s what you want then you basically need an RMK-caliber coach to consistently win big. You’re not doing it with just an above average guy.

The bolded isn’t true, but this is probably the level of analysis Dolson operates at.

Ignoring your obvious attempts to inflame, if Dolson isn’t thinking about how to hire a coach who can win immediately then he might as well shut the program down.

If you want to watch more rebuilding that’s your choice, but I’m ready for fun IU basketball again. We haven’t had a fun season since 2016. I want a coach who can win immediately.

Texas poached a coach from an in-state conference rival.

I’m very pessimistic when it comes to about everything, lol. I want to see IU move like the top dogs move. Poaching someone’s coach would be a clear signal that we’re ready to start doing so. Hiring May is a wait and see move. I’m too impatient at this point for that. May could succeed here, and he very well may be the best we can do. It just doesn’t fire me up.

The mid-major flavor of the year doesn’t excite me. I want to poach a coach from another program. If IU can’t do that (and I don’t think they can), then we’re likely in for another multi-year slow burn rebuild. I’m not interested in that. I’ve been hearing “it’s only year X, wait till he gets his guys and system in place” for far too long. Get me a guy who can kick a** in year 1 and I’ll be excited.

I would probably rather just have a fourth year of Woody than fire him and hire May after this season.

I imagine my avatar being Woody’s reaction when he and Buckner finessed Dolson into giving Woody the job.