Old Friend

I still think Gelon, in Crean's transition could have been okay as an upper classman. We'll never know, but I don't think it's fair to judge what he might have been in a 5 year career parked in the corner or on the wing in a transition system. Priller didn't fit Crean at all. I will never understand that. Okay, state of the program : 1) I saw Archie learning and progressing last year. I saw the defense improve. I saw the team run more. I saw better shots later in the season than early. I saw more consistent effort. And I saw better offensive sets and better movement. I saw players improve (Green in particular). Archie, unlike Crean, does not seem to be a finished product, and I don't equate his Dayton results with anything he'll do at Indiana. I think he's a different coach and has figured out he needs different players. He can't win at Indiana with Jake Forrester and Clifton Moore. He could at Dayton if he had pieces to go with them, but here? He needs a significant upgrade, and I think he had to learn that. To me, he seems adaptable and like HE can learn as well. It's only year 2 for his players, and this season and next will tell us a lot. I am a "soft buy" on him right now...with optimism. But...he will not be given 9 seasons as Crean was. One sign to me the administration DOES care is Crean won two Big Ten titles, but had no consistency. And he was terminated. Consistent success is the expectation, I believe and I also believe Miller was given a period of transition that has either closed or is closing. 2) The one person nobody talks about who I promise you has some clout is Cindy Simon-Skjodt. There is no way she or her family want their name on a building with a mediocre product inside. And I promise you, their ongoing funding of things is in some way tied to the on-court product or at least progress. Fred Glass and Micheal McRobbie answer to her/the Simon's on some level. They HAVE to care. Michael McRobbie could not be a worse president for high level college athletics. He sees athletics as nothing more than either a cash cow, a money drain, or school pride; which he seemingly applies equally to all sports. IU wins in field hockey? To him, that's just as good as a win in men's basketball; and of course, that's a fool's mindset. But....he is who he is. A research-oriented, east coast focused, .edu fundraiser academe who doesn't truly understand the culture of the school he runs. 3) Recruiting will tell a lot. I loved the Joey Brunk addition and I think he'll really help. If Hunter can play at something close to full strength, he'll really help. Jackson-Davis will really help. And...I am very high on Franklin, having seen him play a few times. In my mind, there's nothing Romeo did a year ago Franklin can't do, and I think Franklin is a more consistent shooter...and "longer." But what's next? Who commits for 2020? Beyond? Where does Indiana stand in the minds of recruits? Can we get shooters to spread the floor? Can we get a ball handler to back up Phinsee when Green graduates? Bigs to replace Davis and eventually Brunk? Who will be our scorers? Our leaders? 4) I am disappointed Michael Lewis isn't on our bench. I am disappointed Indiana hasn't spent more time developing the culture that expects to win and win big; and plays every game like we're getting other teams' best shot. I'm in the camp that says this season will be telling, but I also think it'll be a success. I think top 4 in the Big Ten, I think a NCAA appearance and perhaps a second weekend showing. Much less than that is not acceptable in my opinion. And if that isn't achieved, he gets one more season.

Um....no. It doesn't say that unless you're uber sensitive and thin skinned. If that's you......Okey doke. Wow. What this DOES say is I know the guy. I've known the guy for a while, and many here paint him as something he's not. You can like him or not as a commentator. That's up to you. I suppose it's also up to you whether you like his radio show, but as a part of that, there have been other criticisms. Many have said he hates IU. Wrong. WAY wrong. 180* wrong. Completely missing his point wrong, as a matter of fact. Many have said he goes out of his way to be critical of IU because he's bitter about not getting the head coaching job. Also wrong. Many have been pretty hard on him because they don't like him on air. Unfairly so in my opinion. But...if you want to take that to an extreme and post what you did? As you said....Okey doke.

Just so we are clear, the two guys know each other...I know them both. And they are not "best friends." This sort of makes my point. Your information is fabricated to fit the narrative, and it's inaccurate.

Lot of you guys are pretty hard on a guy whose job it is to get ratings. He's been courted by at least 2 much larger entities to host a show, yet he remains in Indiana. Lot of you guys also think DD hates Indiana or is angry he wasn't kept as the head basketball coach. Funny how much some think they "know." Opinions are what they are, but I was happy to see this because it's accurate.

Runs a training academy for basketball players, everything from youth to college players; has an AAU team that does well, and is the head coach (newly hired) at Bishop Chatard in Indianapolis.

Remember where you heard this. The next great "IU Guy" college coach will be Taylor Wayer....if that's a direction he wants to go. And there is zero doubt in my mind about that.

If Ostrom can't do this, why is he on the staff? Indiana needs a guy who understands and can sell what Indiana is. Don't care if it's an IU guy or not, but it cannot be a Dayton retread or some guy the Miller's have known for a while. This needs to be a smart hire...and if it were ME, I'd do everything I could to pry Michael Lewis back to Indiana, but that's one man's opinion.

Visited this weekend. Long, smart combo guard (6'6" I think) from SB St. Joseph. Seen him once and was impressed. Good range, good position defender, sees the floor well and very long. Interesting to see how this goes. Reminds me very much of Brian Evans.

I just don't see a downside to offering a kid who has real shooting range to 27', led Indiana in scoring at 35 PPG as a sophomore; and who wants to come to IU. I would love to know what Archie is waiting on.

Thanks very much. Been on the road and just perusing. Appreciate that.

What am I missing? His Twitter account earlier today said he is "blessed to have an offer from Indiana University."

Ed Schilling may have ties to the state, but they're waning the further away he gets from his camps, and I have not been sold on ANY of the assistant coaches from a basketball standpoint. Can he take Bruiser with him? Surely an IU guy can stand with his hands in his pockets and look away from the huddle.

Interesting take.....

Thanks! For perspective - Jordan Hulls was no bigger than Brown is. Michael Lewis was no bigger than Brown is. Yogi is shorter. I don't know why size statistics matter as much as they do. Position defense is more important to me than on-ball; and he's a smart enough player to avoid hurting his team. Romeo got beat defending on the ball plenty a year ago, and he's 6'6". Brown is a basketball player. He is a fantastic passer. He knows the game. He can MAKE shots. As MikeRoberts basically said above, what do we lose?? I've seen enough bad players with better "measurables" come through Indiana to know I'd rather have a basketball player 100 times out of 100.

It may be only me in this camp, but I have recently seen tape on this kid, and he's a legit 30 PPG guy who's NOT small/slight anymore. His legs are thick, and he's got range to 28' with no problem. Kid may break Bailey's scoring record, and I think he's better by far than a 12th or 13 scholarship guy. I think people here sell the kid way short because of Blackford's schedule. I want Archie to offer this kid and secure him. Kid's a great passer and had 55 in a game last season. Being looked at by several high D1 schools now, including Purdue and Butler. That's better than a 13th scholarship player in my mind. I differ with you on this one.

I didn't see an offense designed otherwise....

No disrespect, but are we afraid of in state opponents, now? This mentality makes me want to throw a brick through my computer. WHAT????? So what if we've seen losses time and again?!?! What good did beating Jacksonville do us a year ago? You think Duke won't play UNC Greensboro and instead play Montana State....because they're afraid of an in state loss????? That's absurd! SO WHAT if there's a higher chance of a loss?? It would also be a far better win! WOW, Moye.

Lots of wins against the Portland State's of the world would land us in the NIT. The Big Ten will win us some and lose us some. Portland State is a no-win situation. It's a bad win, and would probably lower our RPI

It's not about win totals anymore and I believe Portland State does nothing to help make the NCAA field . It's about quality wins, quality opponents, and - one man's opinion - I believe Indiana's bar should be far higher than just making it. Indiana should shoot to be a top 4 seed more often than not. To be in the conversation for Big Ten champions every season. Portland State is nothing but a cupcake game and a check for the visitors. I know "every team plays these games," and I understand why. But why not Valpo? Why not Evansville? Why not Indiana State? Portland State makes no sense to me.

I need help. Live hockey to me is cool. I like it. I was spoiled and my first live hockey game as an adult was the Frozen Four in Cincinnati. Seats on the glass. Have learned to like other seats in live arenas, but I can't get into it on TV. Is there a trick to it? Something I should be watching in particular?

Very well done. I know nothing of Austin Van Zyl except the one video I've seen and another poster on another site mentioning he shot very poorly for his season. I DO know you're 100% correct on Green and I'm stoked someone other than me said so. That said, he WILL play at the "1," and we'll see if he learned anything and the late season improvement was meaningful..or...not. Durham can give minutes at the "1," and I think Franklin can as well. But...we do need another pure PG. What I don't know is whether or not our fans (who have become painfully impatient) will get upset if he's not able to contribute significantly in year 1. I feel the same way about Luke Brown. I think that kid (who I DO know about) will be a solid player by the time he's a junior in college, but doubt he'd "wow" anyone as a freshman. Phinisee will be counted on heavily, and anyone here knows that's my horse. I'm happy for that fact, but he ain't Superman. He needs help. I'd use the word "intrigued."

Most people on chat boards know exactly nothing. Their opinions are what they are, and they have this Norman Rockwell vision of what a Big Ten basketball player looks like. If Luke Brown wants to go to Indiana, I hope he calls Archie and tells him what Peyton Manning told Bill Polian. "Take me, or I'll kick your a$$ for 4 years." I have no idea what Archie's waiting on. It baffles me.

Okay, so I have THIS too. I have 3 sons and this is my youngest (13). Not his best angle, but he is a huge Indy 500 fan. He can name all 103 winners in order. Yes...he has met Donald Davidson and listens to his show. He pulled Pagenaud in a pre-race pool and won $200. So THIS is what raw genuine-ness looks like. THIS is passion for something. THIS is a kid in his element. I spent the last mile or so watching HIM...not the cars, with this result. Funny. He probably thinks that will be one of the best memories of HIS life.

I SO agree with that. Here it is.....not my film, but I sit in Turn 4, and it was absolutely awesome. I'm so glad someone else thought it was as cool as I did.

Right now, I want to see 2 things in Archie's recruiting. I want to see toughness. This kid seems to have it. I want kids (unless we're going to get a roster full of legit 1-2 year guys) who will stay 3-4 years and I think he would. Is he the prototype "Indiana kid?" Maybe not. But a kid who carries himself like he seems to can be successful in the Big Ten and doesn't have to set the world on fire year 1. Better said, I'm not really interested in a team full of kids everyone expects to make immediate highly successful contributions. Sometimes, kids need to develop, and I think he does. But I also think he's a tough SOB who can become pretty solid.