Old Friend

I was referring to Romeo and Jake. No idea whether Cliff was part of the mess or not. Green and Smith are still around; and I know this is a dead horse from me, but Green just doesn't feel right to me in any way. I know he has some ability and I know he can get hot. He played great late last season. No question. But he makes bad decisions on and off the court, and I don't believe he's a great team mate. I would love to be proven wrong and will be first in line to say so if I am.

I skimmed the thread...didn't read all of it. This season, we had one senior who mattered much, one junior who is slow and still coming back from a torn achilles, and another who was inconsistent at best, and for 3/4 of the season was bad more than he was good. Is someone arguing with you that we're not young, or that our inexperience doesn't matter? Chemistry issues are real on every team. Only when these knuckleheads were flat told their petty garbage was affecting the entire program did it stop. This season and this team were exceptionally poor. Two of the major culprits are gone but two are back as far as I know. That scares me a bit because one bad apple can spoil the bunch. Year 2 for Archie is really coming up. In year 1, not a single of his recruits played a second. His system could not be more opposite than Crean's. This is also inarguable. We all want better results; but it's hardly time to begin negative judgement of Archie given what any objective eye saw on the floor this season. There was very obvious growth in the way the team played, in the way they came out after halftime, shot selection, assertion, and other things. Was it perfect? Hell no. Was there progress? Anyone who says no has zero clue what he/she's watching. We're a long way from "national contender," but we're a couple of pieces away from being top 15-20. Don't mean to jump on a battle I'm not fighting, but I wonder what the opposition is?

Laughable. No. Show me the comparisons.

Good riddance. Indiana doesn't need (as Dakich said today and worded it well) an attention seeking "me" guy. Give me winners. Give me people who can play the game and are tough as hell. Thicker skin than some dude addicted to the attention he gets on Twitter. Good Lord.

I get it and I'm with you. I'm talking about the history of this board. I've made the same argument for years...rankings mean nothing unless you get a few top 30-40 kids on the same roster. I'd rather have basketball players. Happy to see others beginning to agree.

It just has to be "improved." Franklin will help. Hunter will really help. Jackson-Davis is really solid. Phinisee will be healthy. Thompson will be healthy. Sounds like Green is working hard and I know Durham will. Davis will be another year healthier and a senior. One of the most experienced bigs in the conference. We'll already be deeper as far as talent is concerned. We have lost all dead weight save Anderson and really will only miss Morgan. Everyone else save Romeo we lost is just a body, and he played hurt and limited all year. I firmly believe Franklin can give us 10-12 of his points. I'll start with those 8 kids and feel like we're a better team than we were this past season....especially if Green can just get rid of the poor decisions. That by itself makes us 4-5 points better every single night.

People here would go crazy. Kid's a 2* recruit (we're talking Jalen Windham from Ben Davis, right?) who has offers from North Dakota State, Georgia State, IUPUI, and Ohio. People are saying we shouldn't offer Luke Brown. What will they say about Windham?

I would really hope so. Archie would be really dumb not to look at it hard.

Define "win?" Indiana needs to show significant progress next season, and they need to continue setting themselves up for longer term success; but what "has" to happen next season? I'm not sure I think next season is the end all, be all with his first recruiting class being sophomores.

** Carsen Edwards has declared for the NBA draft WITH an agent. ** His stock will never be higher. Probably the best move for him.

Yep. He was and is a strong guy mentally and he's tough minded. He is the epitome of "son of a coach." To me (and I do agree with the poster above who said this conversation should be about Michael Lewis who is actually available), Fife understands the culture and expectations of Indiana. Has been through the consistent fishbowl, has heard the fans and opposing fans, knows Indiana will always get the best shot from opponents, and wouldn't be intimidated by the scope or size of the job here. Nor would Lewis.

This is true. Discussion should probably be about Lewis rather than Fife.

Again....his record as a head coach has absolutely nothing to do...zero.....with why many want him on IU's bench. He was a kid then, too.. What was he, 27 years old?

Then I'll tell you the same thing because you clearly don't get it either. Fife's record has zero to do with it

I'm not telling you my diploma means anything at all. But my experience does. And again, if you think what I'm telling you is Indiana ties have something to do with "being a basketball coach," you still don't get it and still have no idea where you are or what the point is for having an Indiana guy as a primary person on the bench and in the program. It's WAY beyond "being a basketball coach." Brusier Flint was at best a mediocre coach at a small school. How does that qualify him to help Archie make decisions or recruit or succeed at a high level at Indiana (think outside the low beams)? Brusier Flint stands with his hands in his pockets during timeouts. He was hired because he's known Archie and the Millers for a long time. He was hired because he has east coast ties. I have answered all of that. You are a wonderful parrot.

He can certainly be selective at this point. I have zero clue who has talked with him or offered him a job, but I'm in and look forward to the payout regardless of whose pocket gets a bit lighter.

No offense to you my man, but after 20 seasons of staying away from coaches with ties to Indiana University and seeing the results, I don't think you understand this program. If you think for one second anyone here or anywhere wants Fife because of his "sterling record as a head coach," you are missing the boat badly. That really has absolutely nothing to do with it. Sorry, as I know that's not a kind post, but your words indicate you don't understand the perspective of those who want "Indiana Basketball" to be "Indiana Basketball." We've tried east coast. We've tried the south. We've tried flash in the pan one hit wonder successful coach. We've tried "first time coach who players like." We've hired former head coaches with no Indiana ties to be assistants. And....what's that accomplished? At unique programs you do unique things. You treat it like a special, unique place that not every coach understands or where every coach can succeed. You don't approach it like everyone else approaches their program. Why was Bruiser Flint "the best hire" over an Indiana guy? You really don't believe BEING "an Indiana guy" plays a role in a coach being "the best hire?" If you don't believe a qualified coach who's an "Indiana guy" is a better hire than an equally qualified coach who isn't, you don't understand what this program is. Again, I'm sorry, but it is what it is.

I would agree with you....but I just don't think Izzo's done! Or anytime soon! He's 64....I would bet he coaches until he's...70? 72? You think Fife waits that long?? Hell, the Indiana job might be open by then! =) So for the sake of it and because I don't care if I win or lose....in it for the reward either way. I'll betcha a cold beer. In?

If Archie makes this hire, he will be hiring someone else's replacement. That would be a very smart hire, even if it was only for a few years. I bet Dane is a head coach in the MAC within 3 seasons and a major conference within 6. Western Michigan (his home state) just finished 8-24, and their last 4 seasons have been awful (combined 44-74, even with a 1st place in MAC West in there). No crystal ball or anything, but if I were them........ And Eastern Michigan just finished 15-17. Three of last 4 seasons right at .500. I dunno.......

Thanks. Like I said...guesses. Somewhat educated, but still guesses.

You are missing the point. Badly. Nice condescending rant, though.

I just don't think Brusier brings enough to the table. Nice guy? Absolutely. But there are a lot of nice guys. Schilling is an enigma for me. His greatest successes around here have been running camps and building relationships...not coaching. So yeah, he has ties to the state and can help there; but that well will dry up soon, and he's not a great coach. Neither is Flint. So...who's helping Archie with his abysmally stagnant offense? Who's helping him with adjustments? Who's his sounding board at 2:17AM on a random Wednesday? Neither Flint nor Schilling have enough success as a college coach for me to believe in them; but at least Schilling has local relationships. I've not yet seen significant player development nor team development, so I'm skeptical of whether or not we have the right staff in place. I'm not a huge Tom Ostrom fan, either and just wonder why both he and Brusier are on the bench at Indiana? Seems they bring about the same skill set, albeit with one having more experience than the other.

I don't agree. Guess time will tell.

This is going to sound more harsh than I mean it.....it is NOT personal toward you. But.... How many coaches could Archie hire who "have experience?" Experience where? What kind of experience? Drexel has Z. E. R O. comparison to Indiana, and he barely won half his games as a head coach. In a bad conference he finished 6th or worse 7 times. He never made the NCAA tournament while there. He has no business on Indiana's bench. None. I could not care less....Not at all about east coast ties. That strategy has failed and kids from there couldn't care less about Indiana. There will never be a bigger "so the hell what???" from me than a coach who has "east coast ties." Other than Victor Oladipo, who from the east coast has Indiana ever recruited who became a true difference maker? I'll wait. His color also means nothing. ZERO. Not even on the radar. That doesn't matter one bit, but if we need a coach of color, hire Moye. I disagree with you about in game situations, too. Flint stands around with his hands in his pockets and doesn't even pay attention in huddles during timeouts. Any coach can be a good father figure. I know that first hand.

Why is Brusier Flint on our bench instead of an IU guy? There is a long list of guys since 2000 who have added nothing; while many young and talented former IU players have been ignored. As I said...this is a unique place. It's NOT like everywhere else; and "any coach" cannot succeed here. That's been proven. Crean "could recruit." That's debatable in my opinion, but he failed. Mike Davis was said to be a great recruiter. He failed. It does take someone who can recruit, coach, and win; but it also takes someone to understand where he is and how that affects the culture of the program.