Old Friend

Reading all of the theories and panics on here is entertaining stuff. I said when he changed the announcement I thought it was a good sign for IU because he's announcing the decision in front of people who almost universally want him to go to IU; and I still think that's right. Just me reading tea leaves. So many on here (a month or so ago) were dead set guaranteed that he was going to Vanderbilt and a couple have guaranteed Kansas along the way. I hope he goes to IU, but the reality is if he is a one and done, he will not play with a single new recruit who's not already in the fold. He'll be gone when the class of 2019 gets here. It'll be nice to have him and I love that he's another Indiana kid we're strong with. But I'm not convinced his coming to IU would change anything except we'd get to watch him for a year. We're in with lots of good players with or without him.

Some of us have been in Phinisee's corner all along.

Because he is inaccurate, short, slow for a "mobile QB" and can't throw the ball down the field with anything on it (for a Big Ten QB). And because we've brought in 2 QB's in this recruiting class, one a grad transfer. If he were the guy, we may have brought in Penix, but I doubt a mobile grad transfer from a Pac Ten school. I compared him a year ago to Zander Diamont, only Diamont was faster. Once defenses were able to game plan for him and knew his tendencies, he was grossly ineffective a year ago,

I don't think a grad transfer would come if he weren't. Ramsey is simply not the guy, and others are too young or too inexperienced. IU can win 7-8 games next season, but needs a QB to do it. I think a lot of the DeBord haters will eat crow if he stays healthy.

Oh, absolutely. And I think we'll get there whether Romeo comes or not. There are a lot of really good players on IU's radar right now, and as we saw in the NCAA Tournament, it takes experience and depth,along with talent in order to win. I think Indiana will get there by the 2019-2020 season.

We will be fine with or without any grad transfer or with or without Romeo. Lots of very good players are interested in Indiana. I'm optimistic.

Have been gone a few days and I read THIS. Seriously?? I don't know if it's possible to disagree more. Indiana will be fine with or without Romeo.

Maybe I am just hopeful, but the fact that he pushed back his announcement date and is now making it within his community in southern Indiana gives me some confidence. He's seen and heard the IU faithful for a long time, and he will announce among them. Maybe I'm reading the wrong tea leaves; but...maybe not.

I have absolutely no idea about the kid from the neck up. If you know more than I do (which is very likely), I'll defer to you because I have no clue.

I think the absolution of your "nope" statement is difficult to argue against given we'll never know; but Roth was a great spot up shooter. So was Gelon given the right circumstances; and I think he could have done what Roth did had he hung around and had talent around him. Neither would have done much on their own. That I agree with.

Still think he could have had a Matt Roth kind of role in Crean's system as a junior/senior. Hope he finds a good spot.

Was declared academically ineligible by IU and never granted entry. Went to Syracuse and never found the fit. Transferred to IUPUI and averaged ~ 10 PPG as a senior.

I'll disagree with Patterson. Coached against him and scouted him a lot. He was exceptional. I saw him go for 30+ multiple times and make it look easy. Long arms, good defender, good rebounder. Not having him was a blow. Hollowell? I knew he'd be a problem. No heart and no work ethic. Waste of a scholarship. But Patterson was the real deal in high school.

If Calbert wants any part of coaching, I would LOVE to see him back on Indiana's bench.

How is Ohio State different that we were this season? Because Chris Holtmann took over for Thad Matta. Both products of the system at Butler; and not very different. Indiana's was a polar opposite from what they were used to. Then, take into account what they had coming back and what we had coming back. Losses to FW and ISU were almost identical. Pack line is sometimes vulnerable to teams getting hot from behind the line, and both did. Defense improved immeasurably; especially late. Miller spending a lot more time recruiting locally, and has had some success. Turnovers were way down. Morgan made a monumental leap. Durham improved throughout the season. Finished 6th in the Big Ten despite having Davis and Hartman (two players we were counting on) out or a non factor for most of the Big Ten season. I thought our overall effort was better. I saw enough to let everything play out.

He stands around a lot. Whether it's by design or not, I don't know; but he's not yet anywhere near active enough to be effective at the college level.

I wasn't speaking of Natty or Jaybob. And I don't think I'm talking about their website? I might be. I don't think they went to the same place (the one I'm referring to), did they? Maybe they did. I truthfully don't know. What I said was not intended as some factual post. If it was interpreted as such, yes..I am sorry about that. I was making a flip comment. Nothing more. And I don't mean that in retrospect. I was taking a shot at old news. I am not acting like I was joking. I was being flip. Not the same thing; and I do understand what you're saying. I am not "claiming fact," either. You may be interpreting it that way; but it was not my intent. I won't post about it again. Not helping anyone.

Seems every team is an iso team anymore. I hate it because a blind goat can coach isolation; and these guys are basically getting paid millions of dollars to recruit. Coaching is no longer x and o's...it's salesmanship. I've been in sales 25 years. I am not making millions. Yet.

Wasn't a criticism. Just a statement and a small red flag. Time will definitely tell; and Archie's a smart guy.

Seriously.....take a breath. I was not wrong because I was not presenting anything as fact. It was not a debate, and there was no opposing viewpoint. I was being flip. If someone "believes me," I would question their choices for where they go for information. It was a throw away comment intended for nothing more than a shot at some guys who were staunchly in Crean's corner, took plenty of un necessary pot shots at me, and one guy who gave out my personal information to anyone who asked for it. There is far more to that story, but I was being flip. Period. Stick to what I know? Maybe that's advice you could follow as well. I was being flip. End of discussion from my end. If you need to take it further than that, it's on you.

I was being flip. Take a breath. Those jokers took shots at me on that noard literally for years and I never posted a thing there. I can take a little shot at them once in a while. Just breathe and relax.

It was (offense) on occasion. Other times, it stagnated. Could be a function of personnel...time will tell; but I watched both Arizona and Virginia get spread out and flat out punished this week by teams very comparable to the likes of Ft. Wayne and Indiana State

The words are written, not spoken; so "tone" is inferred; not implied, which makes this a "you" problem, not a me problem. As I have told you repeatedly, I couldn't care less what you think, and your point is noted. Again.

I'm laughing. "Maybe I took some heat." Yes, my friend....I did. (Those who know me are smiling, too) I would disagree that "everybody" was in agreement about Crean's flaws for the first 6-7 seasons. I got very tired of the "you have to erase his first 3 years" argument.

I think this line of thinking is premature because the simple fact is the system the kids who played this season were used to and recruited to was vastly different than the one they were asked to play in. They got exposed as having no idea what their defense was supposed to look like early on; and one of your examples was their first game trying; AND their first game having no offensive leader. IU didn't get run off the floor by Rutgers. Come on, now. I'll say this. If Archie didn't learn by watching how teams were able to defend Indiana and how teams are playing against the pack line defense now? He's got a problem. I thought he slowed tempo too much. I think he could have used more ball pressure and full court pressure to generate more offense. I'm giving him another year or two before I truly formulate a judgement on whether or not I think he's "the guy," and I sure as heck won't hold his first game against him. I saw plenty of progress this season, especially from a defensive numbers and ball security perspective.