Aaron

To anyone who wants Woodson fired midseason for interim see OSU. Want no part of a dead cat bounce from an interim who then gets job full time completely screwing program as has happened to Buckeyes. Woodson needs to go but after season. An interim now could do way more damage to program long term if they do well and are kept which could absolutely happen. Want no part of Jake Diebler Ohio St situation.

I would agree Striplin is probably the better player but neither her or Lily is really a starting level center in this league as you said. Based on her comments, I think Moren's patience with Lily is wearing thin and we will see if a change is made.

Shea and Lex still have eligibility left. Its only Chloe's that expires

The issues are not about stars or talent but Lily Meister not taking the leap everyone hoped and assumed. Moren's system relies on a good post player with shooters. I was all in favor of giving Lily the chance to be the featured big, but she has not been what was hoped and Moren knows it and has been particularly hard on her in post game presser. Moren is doing a great job working around what is essentially two back up bigs. However, there is a ceiling of about a 7 seed and second round NCAA exit at the moment. Finding a player like Mackenzie Holmes is very unlikely, but I fully expect Moren to go portal hunting for a solid starting level big ten center in offseason similar to Bostic last night. The post problems are no ones fault but just a reality of Lily not taking the step up everyone had hoped. However, certain matchups like this one with a good center and athleticism are going to be a really tough putt the rest of the year.

One note. Makira Cook who has been a designated IU killer is out for the year as is fellow starter Gretchen Dolan. Their rotation is very shallow but still has top players in Indiana's own Kendall Bostic along with Genesis Bryant, Adalia Mackenzie, and Jasmine Brown-Hagger. This still won't be easy, but the fact that the designated killer Cook is out is a huge help (not that you wish injury on anyone).

This doesn't sound like someone who needs more NIL money or doesn't have the resources to get the players she wants as some on here seem to think. This strikes me more as getting players that fit her system by design. This is kind of what I suspected but to me this kind of confirms it. As many coaches previously have taught us, going against your system just for top talent is more detrimental then helpful (see Steve Pikiell this year). I would like to see them get a starting level big ten center (and I had zero issues giving Lily that chance this season but she has shown she is better suited for back up role which is no ones fault). You don't need someone on Mackenzie Holmes' level. However, an upgrade in talent here is needed unless Faith Wiseman is the answer once she develops which is possible. Guards are presumably fine for now and with Lenee back next year that is three backcourt players in Yarden, Shay, and Lenee who are all starting level big ten guards. Just a small upgrade in the frontcourt should be sufficient moving forward.

This is women's soccer. Not volleyball:).

Based on a contradictory statement from the Hysterics in the last podcast I still am not sure if NIL is an issue or if Moren is carefully selecting less talented players who fit her system. Hysterics said in last podcast that Moren did not have enough NIL. However, in next thought they said a current top player in the women's game would cost Moren 40% of her NIL budget. If that is the case, that seems perfectly reasonable and could definitely use that 40% on someone great with the other 60 divided amongst the other players. In any league the top player gets about 40% of the salary cap or budget. After all an NBA max deal is 40% of cap and Oumar Ballo's 1.8 mil NIL package is nearly 40% of the men's roughly 5 mil NIL budget. That statement by Hysterics saying Moren needs more NIL and then saying she could get a top player for roughly 40% of her current NIL budget left me really confused. First part indicates she needs more money. Second part indicates while an increase would not hurt, there is certainly enough there for an elite player at the amount of money currently available without totally hamstringing the roster.

Love the clutch 3's and responses every time Iowa made a run. Hawkeye bigs are better than Indiana's, while Hoosiers have the better guards. Today the IU back court was superior to the Hawks front court which was difference. Def not a game I had them winning and best result of season. Iowa is not as good without Caitlin Clark but still solid and a definite postseason squad, so key win at their place. Still not sure they can beat the top 4 (UCLA, USC, OSU, Maryland) teams in league even at home which is where they play all of them. However, outside of that, everything else is in play from fifth place down. Still would take a miracle to be in top 4 and host again but if they can get to the six line in NCAA Tournament they could def advance with an upset of the 3 seed. I had them closer to an 8 or 9 seed and 10-8 in league. However, if they play like today, 12-6 and that 5 or 6 seed in March Madness which is far more advantageous for advancing out of first weekend is def in play. Also this was just the second win in Iowa City since 1994 with the only other one being during COVID year with no fans in 2021.

While Woodson is a disaster the one thing I think we need to realize is neither Thad Matta or Dane Fife being here still would change anything. For everyone who thinks those guys leaving spelled doom we need to face the facts that they were not solutions and their presence on the staff made zero difference. Game has clearly passed Matta by and his hiring at Butler was same sentimental thing IU did and his tenure there has gone about as badly as Woodson's. Bulldogs working on seven year NCAA drought after two bad hires in a row with Jordan and Matta. They have become irrelevant locally. Tonight they were leading by 14 with 5 minutes left before a very mediocre Villanova squad scored final 22 points at Hinkle Fieldhouse for win. This sounds really familiar to Indiana's issues. Matta was a great coach in his day but end of OSU tenure was poor and he has been worse at Butler and don't think his knowledge in today's game was any great help to Woodson. As for Fife, he blasted NIL and talked politics at work and I know for a fact those reports were 100% true. While his heart is in the right place, his philosophy does not match today's college basketball and there is a reason no one has hired him since. To anyone who thinks Woodson letting these guys leave was a problem, that is just not the case. This basketball program has major issues that are the same with or without them and those who think them being around changes things are severely misguided.

They have been trying to avoid it and rehab it enough so she could play this season and have surgery when year ends as Moren made clear in pressers. Worked for Mackenzie Holmes multiple times until she finally had the surgery after last season. Clearly didn't work this time with Beaumont unfortunately. My guess is she wouldn't play this season regardless of when surgery was or they would have just done it immediately and brought her back later on.

Agreed she would be a starter if healthy. But she hasn't been healthy or playing all season. My point is expectations should not change based on this news since we have not seen her this season and won't.

She has not played yet this season as an FYI to everyone.

Just an FYI. Beaumont has not played yet this year so wins and expectations should stay the same with this announcement.

I don't disagree IU's recruiting has to pick up (and it should be noted Makalusky is highest ranked program recruit in program history next year as high 4* and first ranked in 30's [Berger and Holmes were 40's and 50's nationally]). However, lets be clear on how Iowa is thriving this year and it has zero to do with high school recruiting from the offseason. They have a three headed monster in Lucy Olson, Hannah Stuelke, and Addison O'Grady with little else from rest of team. Olson was top ranked player in portal who has lived up to hype. Stuelke is a holdover as only starter returning and taken a huge leap forward after solid 23-24. Finally O'Grady was a complete bust and struggled every time she took the court till this year and is now suddenly and unexpectedly elite. In other words most of Iowa's thriving this year has to do with the development of two role players turned into super stars. Not awesome recruiting. Also, Iowa has been the best and most consistent conference team for about 25-30 years now under several coaches so not sure why anyone would expect a fall off. The argument for awesome recruiting should be Michigan who is thriving with three 5* recruits being amazing right away. This is the squad IU needs to be asking itself why they can turn around a terrible program at same time as them and now recruit elite while Hoosiers settle for the next level of player (which it should be noted is far better than anything before now). You are right Indiana's recruiting needs to get somewhat better despite being at its best in program history. However, you used the wrong team to make your comparison.

They are not in terrible shape and have decent resume and at 41 NET even with number differences. Big Ten will have plenty of great opportunities with multiple top teams. 10-8 should get IU in with current resume, albeit as 10-12 seed as Charlie Creme projects now. This is close to what I expected preseason although more like a 6-8 seed travelling rather than 10-12.

Just an FYI. 41-80 is Quad Two so borderline Quad Two/Three as discussed in other thread and will remain that way all season.

Your using the men's numbers for Quads. For women it is slightly different. Home its 1-25 Quad One, 26-55 Quad Two, 56-90 Quad Three, 91+ Quad Four. Neutral Its 1-35 Quad One, 36-65 Quad Two, 66-105 Quad Three, 106+ Quad Four. Road its 1-40 Quad One, 41-80 Quad Two, 81-130 Quad Three, 131+ Quad Four. Harvard will be hard to become Quad One, Butler Is Quad Three and would need to move to top 80 to even be Quad Two, Columbia is well in Quad Two and not likely to become top 35, USI is borderline Quad Three/Four and will not sniff Quad Two. I don't agree with NCAA's reasoning that it is easier to win on road in women's game, hence the difference. However, that is what we are dealing with. Here is the full resume with current NET of 41 as of today (Dec 11): https://www.warrennolan.com/basketballw/2025/team-net-sheet?team=Indiana

FYI Moren said in post game presser Jules isn't hurt but was sick with stomach issues and basically implied she was running to restroom in locker room during game. Sorry to hear that but glad she isn't hurt. Don't need more injuries.

Bottom line is Dolson needs to be able to find his man and Buckner get out of way. Also do NOT want a midseason firing as do not want any chance an interim is considered for permanent role like happened with OSU last year or Mike Davis. For those who want this done now consider this and be careful what you wish for. After season, 100% get Woodson out of here and let Dolson find his man.

The fact Pitt is their likeliest opponent if they make it back to the College Cup in N.C. may be a good omen that Indiana is likely to get there. That Panthers team has been IU's semi-final opponent each of their last two trips to the Final Four which happened to be in the same stadium it is in now and the Hoosiers won both times.

Something to note is Denver employs only two international players regularly in their rotation and neither scores much. IU often struggles with squads that are heavy on non-US guys but that won't be a factor here. Impressive Denver has built a mid-major power for a decade now with so few foreigners. Many lower level teams have built top programs in soccer but its normally done by getting a ton of players from overseas. Not the case here.

I just said. New contract NCAA gave to ESPN exclusively a couple of years ago for postseason events to make more money for both. Before that indeed games were free as each school handled them individually and wanted people to be able to watch as simple as possible. Never doubt organizations will find ways to make more money when given a chance.

Before anyone complains about ESPN+, ESPN bought a contract from NCAA to televise all non-football and men's basketball postseason games as they please a couple of years ago and made it so individual schools have no say in matter. Until then each team hosting was in charge of how they televised a postseason event and games would often be on BTN. IU had no say in matter. Blame NCAA and not IU who was not pleased about this change either from what I hear.

I think the lack of post play is fatal at this point and not going to improve much. However, if the guards play like they did today and the D keeps up, the team can somewhat work around that. Pre-Mack they won on guard play and not much from bigs. They won't win at an elite level this year, but they could win at the level they did under Tyra Buss and that crew and compete for a tourney spot with this version of guards. Offseason project is get a serviceable big. if Wiseman or Makalusky isn't ready, team needs to find someone in the portal that is at least decent to have any chance to be close to what they were the last five seasons. Lily deserved a chance to play a bigger role and I wrongly thought she was capable. However, she has shown that like Trey Galloway she is better as an energy player and backup for a few minutes a game. Armed with that knowledge, now go get someone for the main role in the post just as the men had to do this year with Myles Rice at PG to put Galloway back where he belongs. That is the key for the future. No knock on Lily and players like that are important. However, thrusting them into the spotlight as a primary player makes them a lesser version of themselves. As for Striplin she was a bit player at Tennessee and not surprised it is similar here and that is what I expected. Essentially team has two back up level bigs and is forced to start one of them.