pumpfake

Reluctantly, I have to agree. Our recruiting success is primarily based on in-state guys - that's a good thing and obviously a priority for CAM. But at some point we must start getting some out of state, highly ranked players. Because so many recruits we've landed are from Indiana, we may overvalue them (IDK) but from a national or outside perspective I don't think anyone is overly impressed with our recruiting. Of course getting the right kind of player is important, and building a team with them is the bottom line. I believe we're going to be much better this season than last and what outsiders probably expect. Still, I'm concerned about our inability to land top-75 playes unless they're from Indiana.

That right there would kind of p*ss me off as a fan or coach. On a different note, UI signing Curbelo & Miller (presumably) kind of shoots the whole "you gotta win before you can attract recruits" mantra. Even today, I'm not sure UI is a better team than we are, and certainly haven't been over the past few years.

I'd like to touch on the underlined part, seeing as how there was consternation about "me-first" players (or those taking the "time to be selfish", lol). I think all players want to play, want the ball, and want to be starters. Obviously, game minutes, starting, and shots aren't as plentiful for some as they are others. So, the situation at MU (as we've characterized it), makes a lot of sense for DG and I have no problem with that. The "rub" comes when we drift into the idea of players that prioritize their stats and/or use college as a springboard to the NBA. We've rehashed it many times about 1&dones at IU, but I get the sense Garcia was in the perfect grouping of players for IU - highly rated, but not focused on going pro yet (and that's why it seemed to me like he'd be a great get). But I guess we really don't know all of his motivations and criteria for making a decision - personally I only go on things I read on message boards. The top-15 type recruits are usually considered one and done candidates and probably in their own minds that is the case as well. Those guys are, IMO, very different from most other recruits in that they are in high demand, usually can pick almost any school they want, and come with certain demands/requirements for playing time and opportunities. I guess in some ways, they're all "me first" players in one sense or another. As long as they showcase themselves to the benefit of the team, that's fine and just the nature of the beast. You just have to recognize going in that they are "special" and then decide if that's what your program needs at the time. The one situation that I always wonder about is a guy like JuMo: he tests the waters for the NBA and they give him feedback on what he needs to improve in his game. Let's say they tell him he needs to show the ability to nail the three. Naturally, the only way he can show the scouts he can do it is to take (more) three pointers. If the offense isn't tailored to him getting 3's, what does he do? In his own self-interest the player is probably going to look for and take some shots that he wouldn't have taken in the past, and if he's not a really good at that it can be a detriment to the team. Does this make him a "me-first" player? I'm kind of split on the answer to that. TL;DR Players want to play & score. The more highly ranked, the greater their expectations. I wish we got Garcia, but he likely saw a better situation at MU.

Fair or not, winning the big game is one barometer for success. Most IU fans don't take a lot of pride in our runner-up finish under M. Davis (although we love the players from the team and cherish the Duke game). NFL quarterbacks are judged by superbowl™ victories. It's just the way it is. We are judged by opposing fans because we haven't hung a banner since '87, despite have some really good teams over the next decade. On the flip side of the coin, Kansas is regarded as an all time great program, but their championships have been widely spaced apart (and at least one came under a coach who was cheating).

Indeed. We still lack reliable 3 point threats. After the game on Saturday I had hope that Damezi might be that guy, but last night showed that he's still streaky (and doesn't pass up too many shots when he's missing). While it's very possible we may have some players improve to become pretty good, we don't currently have the kind of shooter we need. Heck, last night Princeton pretty much kept in the game on 3 pointers in the first half, even though it seemed like half of them they shot were absolute bricks they made enough to keep it close.

Sadly, I agree. But it shouldn't be true. During the game last evening when they were crawling the AP Top 20 it was disgusting to see how clearly cheating pays off in a big way with almost no risk of substantial punishment. God, I hate the NCAA.

The same thought crossed my mind. We have to identify our targets early. I know this staff isn't as prone to the shotgun, pass out offers like candy approach but most of the guys we were hoping for over the past month or so were ones we got in late on. Of course Geronimo was late and a success, so nothing is set in concrete. Losing Garcia because we got in late would kind of blow because how many times have we lost players we were on from the beginning (goes back to the Crean regime). I suppose it's just an inexact science and each recruit is different. I want to add the "we need to forget this one and focus on <next guy> : We are only spectators and really have close to zero effect on recruiting. No doubt, the staff has a handle on this and other recruitments and will focus the necessary attention as they see fit. At this point, I'm sure their primary focus is on preparing and guiding the team into and through the current season.

My SWAG is that the fact that MU has recruited him the longest and the travel time to watch home games is significantly shorter there are two major factors. We DID enter the recruitment of DG late and from all accounts had him almost ready to commit. I also think the appeal of being a main focus on offense was a factor that favored MU. Losing out is disappointing because it was looking sooo positive, but that's how things go. Personally, it doesn't sting nearly as much as losing a player we led for and had been in on from the very beginning. Hopefully we can sign Lander next year (and it sure would help against UL if the NCAA did their damn job for change). Finally, it's always the same debbie downers that cry and predict doom. Those people are toxic to all around them and make others miserable. Having worked a few like that, they will never be happy or satisfied and seem to revel in their own pessimism. Don't let them affect your life.

I still believe the staff was all but certain Brooks was coming here, but he kept dragging it out and when uk came calling I think father brooks pushed everything in that direction. If the Garcia's were as star-struck with MU like the Brooks' were with uk, he would have committed by now. Personally, I feel we've made a good impression on the kid and his family and the rest is up to them.

USPS I know you got to watch TJD play a lot over the past few years and I'm curious if his FT shooting was as good last year. In the very few games I saw him play I thought it was a weakness in his game, but thus far this season he's looking very, very good at the line.

Yes, I'm cautiously optimistic and can see the potential for a very competitive team. We'll need Rob to get back on the floor consistently and Devonte to shake off the rust. The other guys have shown that they've worked hard and really improved their games. I'm feeling really good about Smith, Durham, Thompson and Brunk being consistent contributors - which we didn't have enough of last year (Juwan was pretty much it). Trayce is playing up to expectations and Franklin looks quite poised. I think Romeo added a really odd dynamic last year - an elite but young talent that was good enough to be a focus but couldn't carry the load with the season long injury he was dealt. I just think we have many more options this year. Jerome is, and will, take several games to lose the rust but if he can become the player we hope he can be it could make us a top-15 type team. (long post but last night was the first game I got to watch)

I say this only half-jokingly, but I can see kids going on future official recruiting visits with their parents and business manager/agent. Maybe only a select few players will be making huge money, but promising a recruit they will make $10-20K off their merchandise would definitely be significant bargaining chip in the recruiting process. I also have little doubt this will only widen the gap between the top 50 programs and the rest of the NCAA. Finally, as mentioned above, if players are going to be making income from this sort of thing they absolutely should be paying income taxes and their scholarship should count as they are no longer amateurs. Next step (like NU football tried) is forming a player's union.

With all this optimism about Dawson Garcia, it seemed something was missing and it dawned on me - where is Hoosier Guy?

I have to say that it appears getting "love" from the fans of the schools he visits is important to him. IF that's much of a factor in his decision, we should be in pretty good shape in that regard. His tweets to UGA were met with pretty much nothing but pro-IU responses, LOTS of encouragement on his IU visit tweet, and the A&M tweet is probably 60/40 pro-IU.

Wow. That is a significant blow to their (PU's) recruiting hopes (at least the message board crowd). It would seem they are down to only one target that they hoped to land (Dickinson).

You're correct, IMO. I'm not an expert or rabid follower of college football, but I've said for years that pouring money into facilities without ever getting serious about hiring a good coach is a recipe for failure. I've heard the comments that no high profile coach would come to IU, and I get that. I also understand that the longer we wallow in sub-mediocrity it becomes even more unlikely. But, we've gone after guys that had no record of accomplishment - both inexperienced and veteran. Bill Mallory was the best we had and we fired him. Hoepner looked to be on track to potentially being an great coach, but he was tragically taken. I just can't accept the notion that we can't find a very good coach while almost every other school has done it at one period or another over the last 30 years. The hiring of Tom Allen was, IMO, the epitome of feeble, lazy, and uninspired program management. Nothing against the coach, but good Lord at least FG could have made an effort to upgrade the head coach position by conducting a thorough search. It's this ongoing lack of seriousness from the AD office (what 3 or 4 who've held that office) that results in me being only a very casual fan of IU football.

An all time Hoosier great. I remember driving back to Indy after a game at AH back in the late 1980's and we were passed by Joby. He was driving a small, compact car and it was comical how he looked shoe-horned into the thing.

Hearing his coach make multiple references to Jordan being a "high IQ player" is music to my ears.

That's how I suspect it play out as well. Hunter will get more PT as the doctors and trainers allow (info we may never be privy to).

As a fan of both teams I've thought about the similarities to the secrecy about the two players. The main thing to me is that JH is not a professional athlete, he's a minor, and his is a medical (i. e. non-injury) issue. Still, I wish we knew more.

Sam Story has some tweet alluding to Hunter, but nothing specific nor any hints. You'd think something would have come out by now, but nothing one way or the other.

I'm trying to think of any time we either had a new head coach hiring assistants or had to replace one that fans were really excited about who we hired. Probably the most enthusiasm was when CAM hired Schilling. Ed was thought to "check all the boxes" and fit the description of being a home run hire and look how that worked out. Bottom line is that most of us don't have a whiff of a clue how well a coach (particularly an assistant) will pan out. It's nice to have someone with an IU background or name recognition, but this is totally about CAM getting guys that will share his philosophy and work well with/for him.

Gotta figure the chances of healing the rift will be greater than before, too.

I had to edit my post to add the word "indirectly". lol.

If I'm correct, poster Lamar Cheeks mentioned this person in a recent posting....indirectly.