Southside

The bar rises every year. IMO, a new contract for a true top 10 program is going to start in the top 5 knowing the bar will be raised. Not start barely inside the top 10 knowing it will fall outside the top 20 in a few years.

To me, and I stress "to me", a top 10 destination is a place where a guy like Mussleman, Drew, or Beard doesn't even need time to think.

I agree with most of this. I'd just stress that when you go with a 2nd tier guy, and he doesn't pan out, it simply hurts your rank. I think it was a top 10ish or 15ish job when Crean left. but I simply think we've fallen due to performance, and the dynamics of college BB are just changing. Can't miss this time. Another miss will result in more apathy, and perhaps another generation of kids who forget (kids outside IN).

Doesn't work like that. Some teams seem to always stay in the top 10, regardless of when they are signed. We popped into the top 10, just like Auburn did. Auburn...

As of 3-9-21, IU's pay was ranked 21st. That's likely one factor. https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/mens-basketball/coach/

Just to get the conversation out of the coaching news and prospect threads. If you're going to debate, please consider things outside of the 5 banner reason, and weight things like fan expectation (reasonable/unreasonable), arena, facilities, weather, conference, city (Bloom), recruiting fertility (in state), administration, pay, etc.

I went to IU in the late 80s, and grew up a huge IU fan... so I'm fully aware of the history. That said, honest question.... What makes IU such a great job right now? Key word, right now. Or at least stay in the last 20 years. I'd really like to hear your reasoning. Heck, the B10 hasn't even won a title in the last 20 years.

Yup. IMO he was a personality fit though. Regardless, winning will make folks overlook almost anything. He'll always be my favorite, that's for sure.

IDK. "Fit" is a deep topic. A guy that wins, will typically be a fit wherever he is lol. I didn't really see Crean as a bad fit. I did think AM was a bad fit, but that is mostly due to his scheme.

The topic is, what school is more attractive. Recruiting is somewhat a product of attractiveness, so that's the point.

Welp, those silly kids that chose TX should be reminded about Crean's success in 2016 lol... Probably helps them that they hand out flip flops, while we hand out down parkas.

She's hot. She's been a reporter/show-host on both ESPN and FOX Sports.

But they've made the tournament at least 3 times in the last 5 years, vs our 1. And they won their conf tournament this year. We've never won a conf tourney. Like I said, it's not crazy to debate things. We're living off history at IU. If we're simply comparing the last 5 years, TX has been better. And they've easily out recruited us since 2016, so we at minimum know the kids are buying TX over IU. Things can turnaround quickly though. Let's just hope we land the right coach.

It's not really about the last 20, or even 10 years. It's more about the last 5. We have long term memories. Kids don't.

It's not that crazy. They have a sheet ton of big bawling boosters. Great facilities. Huge name brand. They've recruited very well. Their home state if very fertile. Smart just didn't go far with his good classes. The only downside is that TX will always be a football first school. And don't get me wrong, I went to IU and love it, but Austin > Bloomington.

https://www.bestofarkansassports.com/eric-musselman-danyelle-musselman-indiana-basketball-coach/

We weren't good the year before either lol.. Times have changed. As much as coaches/teams preach about committing to the school, and not the coach, it's just not reality. And even if they did commit with the school in mind, a major change, especially to the HC, will cause each and every player to rethink things. And IMO any kid that doesn't look at all his options is pretty silly. Each kid will need to look at his options and see if he fits here, or somewhere else. And if the new coach is a more modern O coach, a kid that chooses to come back amidst all the turnover can still steal the spotlight, even on a losing team. And I'm not even ready to say we're automatically going to be worse next year. If there was ever a great year to rebuild through the portal, it's this year.

Every one of the players, if they are smart, should be in the portal IMO. Doesn't mean they are gone. Just means they are opening up options. The new coach will re-recruit each kid, and that's fine.

IMO, every single player who is looking out for their best interest, should be in the portal. With the tournament maturing, more and more kids will be added every day. It's best to get in as soon as possible, even if you don't want to return, or are at least willing to be re-recruited by the new coach.

Nah. Nobody is "gone" yet. And the situation was very different with players leaving or given their walking papers when Crean came. And if it does become a complete rebuild, it's probably the best year ever to rebuild via the portal.

Point is, there is no silver bullet right now. Stevens ain't coming unless Boston wants to drop him. There are holes in almost every candidates resume below. Mike Woodson 4/1 Thad Matta 9/2 Chris Beard 5/1 Dane Fife 6/1 John Beilein 6/1 Porter Moser 15/2 Eric Musselman 8/1 Dana Altman 9/1 Scott Drew 10/1 Joe Pasternack 12/1 Chris Mack 14/1 Mick Cronin 14/1 Andy Enfield 16/1 Mike Young 16/1 Bobby Hurley 25/1 Calbert Cheaney 33/1 Billy Donovan 50/1

IDK. Sometimes risks work out.

Yup, first job will be to re-recruit existing players. IMO, TJD would actually benefit a lot from a coach with a different scheme. And all of them would benefit from a coach that would make them shoot better FTs... or any shots for that matters.

Lawrence Funderburke doesn't really qualify, but he's who comes to mind of one of the biggest clusters.