Aaron

No doubt. However, as of this moment that would be their projected lineup.

The first two games of this series are a perfect example of why starting so slow each yr is such an issue. Losing a close low scoring game yesterday with a dominant victory today, is nothing to be ashamed of on the road against a decent Illini squad. However, with RPI stuck around 70, it places an unnecessary premium on tomorrow to stay in NCAA Tourney contention realistically.

Definitely a risk, but given (potentially improving but still behind) NIL situation, best IU could do at center likely. She was stuck behind Lauren Betts last year which is nothing to be ashamed of. However, needs to prove it at college level but talent clearly there given she was top-30 recruit and McDonalds All-American out of high school. Moren has never had a player that high straight out of high school (Makalusky is closest five spots behind her in current class). Only higher ranked transfers out of high school that eventually came to Bloomington were Patberg and Parrish who were hits and Danielle Patterson who busted. Projected starting lineup in general of Shay, Lenee, Stotijn, Socka, and either Spreen or one of the freshman carries a lot more risk than past. However, the talent potential and athleticism is higher then previous.

No one is safe from portal madness. Even South Carolina's star MiLaysia Fulwiley just entered portal: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2025/04/11/milaysia-fulwiley-transfer-portal-south-carolina-womens-basketball-dawn-staley/83045762007/ Granted they got FSU star Ta'Niya Latson who is best player in portal and plays same position but still shows best teams can't stack talent as easily now.

I mean I had a couple people now tell me NIL situation is improving in last couple of days while a couple of others telling me it is still not great. Until the last couple of days I had heard nothing but that NIL situation was not great.

Update: NIL situation may be improving although heard both ways on this from a couple different people. However, proof will be in pudding if IU can get visits and lure in some better prospects than we have seen so far.

Fair enough. My bad! I made a mistake.

I'd rather role with Faith. Her ceiling is much higher and Lily only has one year left. Bringing Lily back does little and with Faith's development, you are no worse off then what Lily brought you except Faith has the talent to be a great big down road and stunting her growth with Lily makes no sense. To be clear I'd rather find a portal big to start with Faith as backup. However, would rather throw Faith into fire and play big minutes then bringing Lily back which accomplishes nothing.

They still might if we are all patient. Its just not an overnight process.

Right now lineup would be: C Faith, Fenn F Makalsuky, Valentina G Sotijn, Spreen G Lenee, Caffey G Shay I actually think you can win at solid level with that guard rotation. Its that current frontcourt that scares me to death and could well hold team back. The lack of traction with any bigs implies NIL still not quite there yet although I have heard nothing new in last 3-4 weeks to indicate either way nor would I expect to hear anything again. Like I said, who they can visits with and commits from will indicate how quickly NIL situation is improving.

As quick as they can raise money. If they get it tomorrow they could be big players in portal going forward. Could be several months. Like any fundraising it depends on how much money you can raise how fast which is often out of your control. Its why it would have been good to start a few months ago like other programs and Moren seemingly understands now in retrospect but can't change past. I don't think I will get any more info on this going forward then what has already been whispered to me by a few people. However, evidence will be if they get start getting visits and/or commits with higher end prospects. So far the lack of visits suggests they have ways to go. As fans, best thing to do is be patient and have minimal expectations for this year. However, if things go well from NIL fundraising, could be big players for 2026-2027 as happened to Freese as they raised throughout 2023-2024. You would think donations would go up if IU struggles a bit this year and they can go back to people and say they need $$$ to keep program strong. My advice for this yr is expect less and and treat anything more as a surprise. Then reassess in 2026 when hopefully a lot more NIL should hopefully be there to swim with big fish.

That's part of it combined with Moren not realizing the increased prices until to late and needing to try to get additional $$$ like many others did earlier. Being worked on now, but takes time.

IU was not getting McMahon regardless of situation given player types Moren wants and system. You can complain, but if they had more NIL it would be more like Kneepkens and Merkle type players they could afford and fit Moren's system. McMahon was never an option nor would Moren want her. Hot headed alpha's don't fit and that describes McMahon. However, great kids who are both alpha's (ala Holmes, Berger, Scalia etc.) or role players (Parrish, Ciezki etc.) would fit and that describes players I mentioned above as well as several others. Moren has made it clear she won't compromise her standards but wants to get bigger and more athletic. McMahon would compromise Moren's system agree or disagree with pursuing her. However, plenty of portal players match what Moren wants beautifully such as players I mentioned above. However, don't have funds for that right now (see my above and below posts).

As I have said, it was not 'refusing' in in terms of outright refusing money as some have claimed and is beyond ridiculous. No coach would outright decline NIL money handed to her It was more being warned by Hysterics and several others she needed more NIL for building a stronger roster and asking Hoosiers Connect and other for donations specifically for women's basketball and fundraising. Instead of doing this, she thought her culture would be strong enough to maintain players and underestimated how much NIL was needed. The Yarden situation was a bit of a wake up call to her. They did blitz fundraise from what I understand for Yarden and had enough to match Maryland. However, she did not want to be part of a rebuild for a final year. Furthermore, these donors were only willing to pay the reported 300K for Yarden and not give another couple million to fill out roster. They also were unwilling to give any if Yarden was not on team. As a result, Yarden is gone and NIL fundraising had to start from scratch with smaller donations and it woke Moren up to reality. They will get there but with such a late start, this roster is unlikely to have talent of past for this year, unless a last minute donor step ups which would be evidence if IU were connected to bigger names. So far not seeing that which means fundraising efforts are slow as expected and can't swim in NIL waters for top players. Also, see above as I said that IU is in a particularly unique situation of having football just getting good and needing extra $$$ to stay there as well as extra $$$ to build a whole new men's basketball roster. Rightly or wrongly, given Moren's attitude towards NIL until very recently, all focus was on the big two sports as would be the case at any other school. Most coaches saw this on women's side and asked for women's NIL months ago. Moren didn't until last second. Sometimes when you are stuck in old school ways as Moren was, it takes being hit in the face with the real issue (Yarden situation) to realize you need to adjust. Those who still refuse such as Joe McKeown or Coquese Washington are no longer viable coaches. Those who adjust as Moren sounds like she wants to might have a down year similar to Freese a couple yrs ago and then be really good again. Also I think IU and Moren were caught off guard by asking price increase this yr. This goes for all sports but it is much easier to shake donors for extra cash in football and men's bball then women's bball. I am using imaginary numbers since I don't know amounts but lets say Strip and Shay cost 50k each this year, that level of players might cost 100k this year. With money program had, they could still get 50k players but that is now someone like Spreen who is a risk. Sort of like if I buy groceries for $200 and assume I can get same amount of food for that price indefinitely and then suddenly the same groceries cost $400 without warning (although someone mentioned to me job might not be sustainable with inflation at current salary which is kind of what Moren had happen) but I have only the funds to buy $200 worth of groceries. Mean's I have to cut back and get less food for same amount of money and try to make it work or find a better job for more money. For the interim, I would probably have to buy groceries for the same $200 and get lesser amounts or less fancy stuff and make it work (Spreen Type player) with maybe springing for a decent treat (Stotijn) instead of something else I really wanted. However, once I can find a better paying job finally (raising NIL funds) I can go back to buying the same groceries I always bought for $400 Instead but it takes time to do this. This is more or less where IU is at.

I talked about above how raising money will take more time than average situation due to amount of past success. Freese had more of a legendary to career to get money fast as Knight would have and Painter has. GIven Moren's level of success it will take time as I talked about.

Now that she has adjusted, it is quite possible Moren could still retire from IU. However, temporarily for this season, it could be a bit rougher waters while they fundraise for NIL. If she had refused to adjust, she would have been Coquese Washington at PSU and fallen completely apart and would have been fired in several yrs likely. However, now that she sees the light with NIL, she could well be Brenda Freese who had to adjust on fly a couple season ago and had a bit of a rough year thinking similar. Now it is perfect again for her. Most likely this is temporary as I have said, and for future seasons money should hopefully be there to be really good again. Moren being slow likely cost them one season in 25-26 from a very high ceiling just as it really cost Freese in 23-24. If Moren had not adjusted and embraced NIL no one would have hired her outside of a mid-major program but it appears she has. Moren will squeeze ever last bit of juice out of this roster because she is that good of a coach. However, talent will be behind past with lots of young players likely thrown in fire as described above.

Yes at any school in America she would start. See above.

100% she would start at any school in America. She was a star on a good Utah team who played IU. She is better and more sought after then any player on Hoosiers. Kneepkens is one of the top 5-10 players in entire portal and IU almost certainly does not have anywhere near NIL needed for her as described above.

I wanted her from beginning, but IU does not have anywhere near the NIL needed at the moment and probably won't for a while. As I have said several times on here through whispers I have heard and putting pieces together, IU is so behind in NIL thanks to Moren and thinking her culture overrode NIL. As I have said, Moren gets it now and they are fundraising to try to get there, but way behind. The players they are able to even have a chance with right now, show NIL situation is pretty poor. This is inferring on my part here, but Hysterics (who have their own issues) were raising alarm bells all year about NIL situation for program to try to get Moren to see the issue. However, her lack of clear understanding of how important NIL would be, has program in bad spot temporarily. Moren is a great coach. However, being old school and a bit stubborn similar to Knight, has team in a bit of a bind for the time being. Imagine if Knight were still IU's coach. He would likely think same thing and realize at last second to pivot. Difference is he may have been able to get money quickly with how legendary he is. Moren is in an interesting spot of having a few good years but far from legendary status. As a result, once she figured out late this yr NIL was a lot more important that she thought, raising to catch up is going to take time. Given who they are after, tells me they are going to have to take some chances on players who have not done much and hope to get them to overachieve a bit. Also, may have to throw players in fire a bit compared to what we are used to, with people like Faith and the new freshman seeing extended time. I would infer that if any big time visits are reported or a surprise get is announced by IU, it is a great sign that they finally found someone to give them bigger money towards building a roster. If the current trajectory continues, I would assume the NIL fundraising is taking time as expected and they are having to take chances on second and third tier players. Finally, IU is in a bit of a unique situation thanks to Mike Woodson and Curt Cignetti for different reasons. They have had to squeeze donors here more than most to get teams competitive and stay that way thanks to Cignetti making people care about football now and Woodson destroying program to point where they need whole new roster. Most schools are not in this unique situation and have to bleed best donors dry to keep football going and get men's basketball back up and running under Devries. This leaves Moren and women's bball in a tough spot given the two revenue producers in big situation to improve and/or stay there. If football had continued to suck or men's basketball were on solid footing, they could focus more on money for women's bball. However, the combination of football suddenly being good and needing huge $$$ to stay there and men's basketball needing huge $$$ to improve, has left women's bball in tough spot. Combine Moren's lack of understanding how important NIL was, with the focus on the big two and you get situation where are now. If she had asked for more money from beginning it probably would have been more of a focus as she has some pull despite all the $$$ being raised for big two. Unfortunately, a few negative factors all hit at once as described above, and as a result, Hoosiers are way behind in NIL fundraising for women's bball. As I have said should be much improved with time to fundraise. Especially, once men's roster is put together and Hoosiers Connect can focus on smaller donors earmarked for this women's program for future. They are doing it now but have to split attention till men's roster put together and $$$ fully there. You can make a solid argument women deserve better and to throw either football or men's ball aside. Unfortunately though, that is not how economics of college game work anywhere.

Don't look now but IU's RPI is suddenly in top-70. Still work to do to get into top 50 to really be in contention for at-large NCAA Bid but it is within reach now with a halfway decent finish. Pitching as it always does is coming together to be decent to close season. As I said Glant's pitching will figure it out halfway through season as it always does. The issue is this is a team that should be safely in tourney and borderline host last few seasons given talent and instead is having to make furious rallies to get into tourney contention. Glant's spin ball program is effective once grasped but way to hard for players to get the hang of and why it takes half a season for pitching to get going. Can't keep going through this each season.

You are not wrong. However, "pickup" is relative in this case given she was already on team. I do think Shay, Lenee, and Stotijn can all start in backcourt and feel good about it. However, still really need a starting level big and another wing to feel good about next year unless one of the two freshman is ready to be like Garzon was and contribute right away. That would fill a fourth spot, but neither is a big which no matter what is a must in portal, particularly in a Moren system. Faith is not ready yet to be featured big if team is going to be good again. However, love her development trajectory to be a starting level big in the league down the road in a couple of years. Would make a grad transfer starting level center ideal.

Agreed.

I would caution there may be a surprise and IU has a top player in fold they are chasing and we will have no idea about until athletic department press release about the commitment. This happened with Scalia and her name in the release amongst Parrish and Geary (who everyone knew team was going after) was a complete shock and like the ultimate Christmas present under the tree no one had even thought about or knew was there. Hoping for something similar here but have no insight or idea if this is case.

My guess is when you didn't finish until almost 6 pm last night and played three games in two days, IU was willing to trade playing in the cold tonight for a couple of extra hours of rest.

Moren trying to get bigger and more athletic as she said in final presser and the other players likely parted mutually to play at lower level for more playing time.