Old Friend

Saw him twice this past season. Even talked to his coach (Jeff Teague) about him. My take away was very simple : He's raw, but this kid will play in the NBA He has a LOT of work to do, but compared to kids like Xavier Booker, as an example, this kid is a FAR better prospect. He's far tougher, far more athletic, and I would LOVE IU to land him. Guys like Rabjohns who describe kids as he did above don't give the full picture. This kid needs work and has things to develop - positioning, rebounding with something other than athletic ability, etc. But....he's going to be REALLY good eventually.

Crazy that recruits know it's "Indiana University," but Malik Reneau didn't.

Never...EVER in the history of "pundits" or media has there been better proof that these idiots are nothing but knowledgeless blowhards who know absolutely nothing. Why does ANYONE listen to these nacho cheese eating, parents' basement living, "never competed in anything" morons?

I care solely about the modern ear and since 2000, this is the first of 6 men's basketball hires made without restriction or influence from people and things who/which had no business influencing it. We can agree, with a "but..."

Equally entertaining the number of people who either don't know or won't apply the "why" to anything. IU hasn't hired a good fit for its men's basketball coach since 1971. That's true, but it doesn't stop there. There are reasons for that and without applying them, making the blanket statements I've seen here are comical.

I'm GLAD we only have 3 players right now. (DeVries, Sisley, Enright...right?) We have proven we're not very good with those other bums. I don't want kids only at IU for their money.

Perceived is the key word. Fans don't know a damned thing and the sexy picks aren't generally what coaches want. Coaches (good ones) want kids who can play together...not mercenaries.

You need to go do some digging on why this is. It's not at all this face value simple. I detailed it a month ago and we have hired the wrong guy - most times on purpose - time and again, and this is the first true unobstructed hire since 1971. Mike Davis just finished a 1-31 season. A horrible coach. Crean recruited with a shotgun and wore everybody around him out. Sampson set IU back a decade. Archie was terrible at Rhode Island. Mike Woodson was arrogant, entitled, and lazy. Had no experience or interest in coaching college basketball. There is a "why" to your last statement; and it's valid.

They do a whole lot more than hand out money. They also coach and develop. Every single one of the losers and quitters who just left were at IU solely for the money. You saw what that "bought." Money cannot be the only reason or we might as well hire a 7 year old girl to coach the team.

Agree. Had we had a discussion 2 months ago and I'd told you we would be hiring a midwestern guy who comes from a middle class athletic family, played basketball at the D2 level and was a team captain, focuses on defense and efficiency, has won everywhere he's been and has experience turning teams around, and whose brother is a former walk on defensive tackle who still leads the University of Iowa in tackles for loss.....and followed that up by saying we're going to support him with as many resources as he needs......what else does anybody need? I don't care if we win the press conference and I'm thrilled the trash has been taken out. Handing out money can't be what IU basketball's about.

The negativity here surprises me. If for no other reason, Scott Dolson has earned a "trust me" and it sounds like this "search" began a long time ago. He has hit the ground running getting to know Indiana high school coaches; he has ringing endorsements from several coaches we've heard of; he focuses on defense, efficiency, spacing, movement, and shot selection (I'm pretty sure that formula worked here at one time); and he understands he has to recruit to his system. With resources and support, unless the guy's a fraud and Dolson whiffed it (with his career on the line if he did....which I don't believe for one second), I think he'll be really good at IU. He wasn't the sexy hire and won't ever win the press conference, but I don't understand the high level of skepticism and doubt.

It's only a risk if you're looking to make it a risk. Tom Izzo had never been a head coach at all, for example. I understand different time now, but I also know a great coach can load his staff with people who can do things on his behalf. The guy has won > 81% of his games as a head coach and just went 30-3 in D1. I'll gladly take my chances.

Because you know more than he does and you've got all the information he does, right? How about we don't act like children who don't get what they want, and trust the guy that just a year ago hit a bases empty grand slam?

Scott Dolson should be fired if he doesn't hire who I want him to hire! I know he's done his diligence and knows how important this is. I know he's more invested than me or anyone I know and I know he's a former manager, absolutely understands where he is, and just hit a home run across the parking lot. I know he knows WAY more than I do and I know he's been in it for months. I know he's vetted candidates and I know he understands his career will be defined by THIS hire. But dammit, I manage TWO Jersey Mike's sub shoppes, and if he hires a guy I don't like because I assume I know more than I do....and because I know more than Scott Dolson....he should be fired!! How incredibly ridiculous.

Brownell gets a bad rap, I think. He's not my first choice, but Clemson doesn't exactly support basketball down there. His NIL budget is about the same as Northwestern's, so I'm told. Goins is a complete clown. How he was given that gig is an indication to anyone paying attention that just because someone has the ability to hire doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of how smart they are. Someone decided to give him that gig.

I have and he's the best I've heard. So many of these guys pretend they know and just LOVE having their press credential. Tom Brew knows nothing, doesn't understand sports, has no idea that people are on to him and know more than he does; and he's an arrogant jack*ss. Jacob Goins is another absolute disaster with his fake voice and uneducated opinions based on whoever he decides to parrot on a given day. Talk about a guy who doesn't know anything. Just bblleechhh.

No sh*t. That dude is a clown. So is every podcaster I've seen. It's like literally none of them understand anything and don't actually dig past the very easy first layer. Tom Brew is painfully obtuse and un- necessarily arrogant

He "won" what? His last 3 seasons there with his own team were 21-10, 19-10, 22-11. He's made it past the round of 32 once in his career. Won what?? Where are the standards?? I'm seeing people in huge support of some very mediocre coaches who haven't ever done a damned thing. Why do we want another guy who, save a single season, had records similar to Woodson in what was then an either equal or inferior league? Cignett's not an a$$hole. Watch the documentary. And you don't think fans here would be unhappy with similar results????? Come on.

Watch the documentary. Not at all the same. Cignetti's arrogant. Wade's an a$$hole.

That would be catastrophic. Will Wade would be the antithesis of Curt Cignetti. Unlikable and just not a good guy. Watch "The Scheme." He comes across as a complete a$$hole and not a guy IU would support....at all. No thank you.

How does anyone know who Scott Dolson's top targets are beyond Stevens? I'm sorry, but I just don't think Dusty May was a clear #2. He had 6 seasons at Florida Atlantic, only one anything special and his first 4 were.....not very good at all. This season his team completely pee'd down their proverbial legs late and lost a championship which was theirs to lose. Yet somehow he's a better candidate than McCollium who has by far the best resume of any coach in college basketball save Danny Hurley or maybe Tom Izzo? I don't buy that for a second. I don't think guys like Buzz Williams or Mick Cronin fit Indiana at all, but I'm not about to believe we settled regardless of who we get unless it DOES happen to be a retread like that who's never won anything. Hell....I'd take Dane Fife with a great staff over Cronin or Williams.

IU 68' OU 63

Unless he has a perfect roster, this will have to be adjusted for in the Big Ten. Every player at every position is bigger, faster, and more athletic than he deals with now. I think he would acknowledge that. His current style at Drake with that kind of player would likely have a record similar to Northwestern in the Big Ten. You're spot on re: recruits and as I said above, unless he wins big, the slow style would drive people crazy very quickly.

I guess we won't know until we know but McCollum has won everywhere and at a high level for many years. I'm not as inclined to compare him to Wes Miller. Miller was at UNC Greensboro for 10 seasons, and won just 58% of his games and his first 5 years were dog sh*t (60-82 in a bad league). My concern about McCollum is whether or not he can adapt to and recruit to a bigger, more athletic league. His deliberate style and slow pace would drive people crazy VERY quickly if he didn't win, and I don't mean win like Woodson. I mean win 23-25+ games and be in the conversation for conference title every season.

He just went 30-3 and won both conference and conf tournament with 4 D2 kids on his roster, won 12 straight conference titles and 4 national championships at the D2 level. But you'd rather hire a far less successful guy because he has more experience at a given level? Why? Personally? I want Greg McDermott. But I think McCollum would win. I'd take 30-3. I don't know about anyone else.