Old Friend

You wrote this : That is some people's fear. So...I asked. Nope....I responded to the word "fear." And asked "what's the fear?"

This should make you curmudgeons feel better. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2020/03/19/new-indiana-ad-scott-dolson-familiarity-iu-athletics-key-reason-appointment-fred-glass-indiana/2877101001/

Okay...help me. What are you afraid of? Seriously. Making a coaching change will not...I repeat will NOT magically make Indiana basketball a national champion. Any coach will need to build, just like Archie is building. Indiana has improved every year under Archie. He HAS had injury problems, and the roster he was left by Crean was garbage. Sorry, but it was. The kids he specifically recruited are nos sophomores. He even jettisoned one (Forrester) who wasn't going to fit. The caliber of player he's attracting is and has been solid. What are you afraid of? What's your fear? If all you're doing is judging the final results without looking at the true picture, it's going to look far different than what it is in reality. We have seen consistent material improvement on the basketball floor, even if the results we all want aren't there yet. The improvement and direction ARE there. I don't understand "fear."

I actually read a physical paper!!!!!.....In sports section today, though

Make no mistake, Archie was told who to keep. He did not choose who to keep. I agree next year is an important year, but nevertheless, Indiana made the tournament this season, and perhaps could have won a game or two. Next season, I don't think a top 3-4 finish in the Big Ten's unreasonable at all. NCAA Tournament success is pretty subjective, so I don't place my expectations there unless we dramatically under perform. If Indiana can become "in the conversation" on top of the Big Ten on a consistent basis, everything else will take care of itself. This season Indiana had no bad losses and a bunch of big wins. Indiana DID win. Just not yet to old standards. The curve is on the way up...

It is not an absolutely awful hire. Give it a rest.

God, if this is true, chalk another one up to McRobbie screwing one more thing up....about which he has no knowledge or interest. Dolson has a close friendship with lots of players, Chris included. Indiana did what Indiana does. I for one hope Scott tears up the student athlete book of softness or whatever that thing is. He does that, we're off to a good start. Scott isn't a bad hire. Chris just would have been better.

Indy Star

Have you read Dolson's comments and those of the hiring committee chair? You really should before you post this stuff

I'll say this again and keep saying it. Men's basketball is only "not doing well" if you look solely at results as they pertain to your own expectations and goals which were unreasonable for the last 3 teams to achieve. Archie's team year one was riddled with injury to the point where Zach McRoberts was 5th in total minutes played. The front court lost DDavis and Hartman, and there was no depth. Last season improved a bit, but you saw as well as I did the chaos created by Langford's being here. You also saw the injury problems; and reliance on youth. That matters. This season's team was better, but the most consistent problems on it were still the guys Crean recruited. Archie's guys are sophomores. Indiana made the tournament and had a legit shot to win a game or two. I don't like the finishing position in the Big Ten, but you saw how Indiana was playing late. They were better than that. And we won 20 games. That used to be a benchmark. It's not at all a finished product, but a long term solution isn't possible without a beginning phase. You said "to be fair," and I think it's wise to do that, but not selectively. Indiana was 26th this season in KenPom defensive efficiency. That's better than we've been since 2007 or something like that. Indiana has recruited three 5-star kids in 3 seasons. I think we're in a much better position moving forward than you do, and I'm not sure what 9,000 pound gorilla you're referring to, but I'll use a popular question : how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

I'm like everyone else with time on his hands, and lots of opinion, but I'll offer these simple points : 1) Scott was the easy hire. I'd personally have rather had Chris Reynolds, but Scott is a former basketball manager and he has relationships with dozens of former players. They will have his ear. I wish IU would have hired Chris, and I think it's a mistake they didn't; but that doesn't mean Scott's a mistake, and I happen to know him. Good guy and a Hoosier through and through 2) By most measures that really matter, Scott is set up for success. The direction of IU's two most visible entities is positive. Basketball is on a good trajectory, and to deny that is driven by something different than facts. Is it on a steep curve upward? No. But an unhealthy program does not attract three 5-star players in 3 years. Football is what it is, and I think solid if not spectacular. Indiana is doing okay and better than it was 3-4 years ago. 3) Baseball under Glass became big time. IU has hosted the Big Ten tournament and the program is becoming one of the top in the midwest. Glass gets credit for that and the corresponding facilities. Scott will be an advocate of this continuing. Women's basketball is similar. On a great trajectory IU remains one of the top sports properties in the country. Its athletic program operates in the black. Its top programs are on a positive trajectory. I don't really think Glass botched a hire, unless you think IU Basketball should have won bigger than it has...Archie's improved every year, and still has a bunch of big wins. Has a solid recruiting class coming, and depending on what Lander does, a solid start to 2021. I like Scott personally. I think he'll be fine. But I wish Indiana had hired Chris. Scott's a good, safe consolation prize.

That would be fun to do, just one time. There's a reason Oladipo has been in this kid's ear. Vic is a Hoosier and we'll all be very thankful for a long time, and I don't mean just through this kid's tenure at IU.

I say yes to all but one.

This may be the best and most popular thread on this site for a while. Couple of beauties for my aspiring angler/baseball player who'll be off for a while.

To clarify, your assumption or is that the common thought? He was all smiles on the bench....

Franklin Hunter Thompson Jackson-Davis Phinisee I think I like that young group a whole lot. That group w/Durham, Smith, Brunk, and the freshmen give IU significant versatility. Does anyone know why walk ons played and Anderson didn't? Is he (Anderson) getting red-shirted? Hurt? He hasn't played in a while.

Help me. Rob was 4-6 from the floor, had 7 assists, 3 rebounds, and just one TO. Struggled? How?

That's funny....and he sure did.

This is such a great point. The flu is deadlier than COVID-19; but the unknown of it is causing the reaction.

He did. Influenza A. Common cold. So....some good news.

88-56 Indiana

IU is getting 3 kids who can shoot it. If they get grad transfers, they need to be bigs.

That one's on the players. 100%. Many of the scoring problems Indiana has are directly related to shot selection and shot timing. How many quick shots without offense does it take before these kids learn that's not how you win basketball games? I mean, seriously...Green missed 9 straight shots or something, and only ONE of them was in the flow of the offense. Kid shoots 36% for his career and gets 17 shots? Why? No one else gets more than 8?? Are you kidding me? 17 shots taken without a single assist? Happy senior day, DeVonte. Guess it was your show....team and their season be damned. Don't let the door hit you. He wasn't alone, but he has cost Indiana enough basketball games. Good riddance. Team had 9 total assists and Phinisee had 7 of them. Lots of individual crap today and against Wisconsin? That can't happen. You're praying to make shots and the game lies solely on that single variable. No offense being run and hero ball trying to knock out a good team. That was an embarrassing second half, and if I were Archie, there would be some major changes, but I am very happy it's THIS senior day.

The mental midgetry of our shot selection is astounding. Trying to throw knock out punches in the first half with quick shot after quick shot after quick shot; all contested. And we do NOT have to shoot it just because we get it into the post. I don't need to see Brunk and Thompson taking contested shots in the paint. I don't need to see Green taking heat check shots..just take the good ones, and he's been terrific. This team is still SO mentally immature sometimes.

Which of the guys Archie hand picked are the problems on this team? His hand picked guys aren't even upper classmen yet, and in the Big Ten; especially with talent all over the place now (this ain't our daddys' college basketball), that matters, even if you don't like it. I disagree with you here, Fleek. Best players in the conference are mostly upper classmen. Luka Garza - Junior Geo Baker - Junior John Teske and Zavier Simpson - Seniors Xavier Tillman - Junior D'Mitrick Trice and Brad Davidson - Juniors Lamar Stevens Senior Kaleb Wesson - Junior Cassius Winston - Senior Anthony Cowan - Senior Why is it expected that Indiana, without an upper classman even close to this list should be better than the teams with players who DO have experienced and very talented upper classmen? This is the part I don't get. Indiana has awful seniors and at least one junior who's caused his share of problems. Who are Archie's hand picked guys who should be better than these guys and these teams? Indiana has no leadership and these guys ALL provide it.