Old Friend

There is no reason for Cignetti to leave Indiana. He can make enough money to support his family for multiple generations, he has as much support and as solid a relationship with his administration as exists in college sports, he has a solid recruiting base, a huge budget for a stadium upgrade, more loyal and passionate support than any fanbase in America, he can win, he IS winning, he gets the transfers he wants, his wife loves Bloomington (and if anyone is dumb enough to believe that doesn't matter, just block them), and he's kind of the hill at a school where there's no pressure compared to Penn State, Florida, etc. NIL has evened things out. No program has the depth that for decades differentiated blue bloods from everybody else. Once? The 4th tailback at Alabama, who could start at 99% of other schools stayed at Alabama waiting on his chance. Now? He transfers to Texas Tech and plays. Indiana is getting those kids. They have 5* and 4* kids on their sidelines at every home game. Cignetti has exactly what he wants and if it comes down to money? IU has a $3.8 billion dollar endowment, 800,000 living alumni, and can pay he and his staff whatever he wants. Fear not, Hoosiers. He ain't going anywhere.

He's not better than Anthony Thompson was, but I struggle to find anyone else.

My thoughts exactly. My guess is a gambling problem.

Indiana 31 Ducks 20

The people discounting us wouldn't know if a football is blown up or stuffed. NONE of them ever played any sport at a level higher than high school JV.

Iowa doesn't throw it very well, needs to grind out long drives to score, they had 60 fewer yards than Rutgers, allowed 330 passing yards to Rutgers, were only 3/8 on third down, leading receiver had one catch for 42 yards, leading rusher had 68 yards and is out. Indiana held Illinois to 2 yards net rushing, didn't throw a pass after the middle of the 3rd quarter, and allowed only 1 touchdown on a broken coverage. Dropped 2 pick-6's and still won 63-10 in a game that could have been 85-3 against a top 10 (allegedly) opponent. Someone can help me understand how, if both teams play cleanly, Iowa stays within 3 touchdowns of Indiana.

IU 34 Iowa 13

IU 45 KSU 14

Footwork not good. Awkward and not overly athletic. But he makes shots. She does not. Was just trying to be funny...not literal.

Get him in the weight room. Teach him how to run. Explosion drills. He has the basketball acumen but right now he would have no chance in the Big Ten. In the post, he reminds me of Angel Reese except he makes shots. He needs time and coaching. 2-3 years....patience with this one.

We have everything a team truly needs to be successful. We have experience. We have ball handlers. We have willing defenders. We have speed. We have shooters. We don't yet know about culture, leadership, and we know we're not big, I'll take my chances with experienced kids who know how to play and who are tough. I believe we have THAT, too. What is an "unheralded roster?" That makes no sense to me. We have had plenty of "heralded" players and that hasn't worked out very well. DeVries has been our coach for...what, 4 months? And "the fit" is already being discussed? The brand of IU basketball is top 3 in the country. What are you talking about? In terms of revenue it is behind only Kentucky and Louisville. Indiana is a sleeping giant and I have gone over time and again how the University intentionally made it dormant and is responsible for self-inflicted wounds. Culture is not built or re-built in 4 months and referring to our brand as "bad," with all due respect is grossly out of touch. We do not need and I am not interested in building a "heralded" roster because we spent the most money on players who are HERE for the money, don't care about Indiana, and have no idea how to play the game or play together. You HAVE been watching for the last several years, right?? You want MORE of that bullsh*t?? We finally have a coach doing things right.....pragmatically and with a plan, and you're envious of others?? This makes no sense to me. What higher hopes did you have? You want Mbako back? Reneau? Ballo? Guys who come for "their bag?" You're envious of Purdue's roster? That's a 20+ year culture and a coach who recruits SPECIFICLALLY to be "unheralded" for the most part. You think our football roster a year ago was "heralded?" No. But the pieces fit and everybody pulled in the same direction. There were no individuals. That's how you build a winner and that's what's happening. DeVries is recruiting to HIS "fit" Not to win an off season popularity contest. I LOVE what he's doing and it's about damned time. I promise..our brand is and will be just fine.

11-1 Will be better than expected.

I hope not

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.