bigrod

Looking at the remaining schedule and how they are currently playing, I can't see this team finishing much over .500.

I didn't want to believe you, Wayne, but you more or less called this. I was hopeful we had a coach that was somehow smart enough to make it work. I know the season isn't over yet, and I know they aren't firing DeVries after one season, but it has been disappointing, to say the least. You're right, there is no momentum going into next season. I'm willing to somewhat give the staff a pass on this season, even though many others made it work with the same time restrictions. But if next season isn't head and shoulders above this one, we'll probably be forever duking it out with the bottom half of the conference, hoping to get a break to make it into the tournament. I haven't been high on the administrative decisions over the past years, but if they are going to invest in the future, they are right to do it in football. Much higher revenue sport. I'll forever blame them for not being proactive and going hard after Dusty, but it is what it is now. There's no reason we can't be at least respectable in basketball with our resources.

The only thing that makes this better is May and Michigan rubbing our noses in what could have been if we hadn't sat on our hands for that bonus Woodson season.

When you put it like that, they'll probably keep him another year. No 1st round this year or next year. They can't even tank.

Ballard has to be gone, right? Right??

I agree. Its getting harder for me to watch NFL. When I do, I'm not as into it as college games.

Which makes Steichen's ultra conservative approach on the last drive even more confounding. Luckily, he got bailed out by an iffy call (in a poorly called game).

Did he say what happened at Georgia?

Just curious how you know for a fact we have top 10 money.

Glass Richardson got hurt and had to leave the game?! What a shocker! I know it's just preseason, but sure Looks like another Ballard patented mediocre year.

10-2

There's actually more than one around Fort Wayne.

To be fair - part II: That's probably what he told them. I wonder if he got confused when they asked if he want to be a member of the Kings.

My take is that he is looking for certain types of players, and isn't willing to sacrifice building the culture he wants to establish for a year of success. I think he is looking for long term success, and it's what we as fans should be looking for as well. It's easy to look at purely physical ability, but mental fortitude and culture is what will fuel long term success. It's what we see Cignetti building with football. I think we had a pretty good look at what talent alone gets us this past season. The good coaches are looking for mentality as much as physical ability. Just my opinion...

I love it! We must be on the right track. Last year at this time, most on this board were ready to hand us the conference title. This year, we're doomed. I think what you described is his intent: Make opponents pay for playing too many bigs. Will it work? Who knows, but it should be fun.

Maybe he didn't do it intentionally. We know that he was living in a delusional world where he thought the fans should embrace his mediocrity. But he and his players were blaming the fans for his inability to consistently win.

What is he, 32 now?

Right. I'm optimistic because we at least have a coach with a plan. The question is, how good is the plan. He seems to know what he's looking for and I think he's looking for guys who want to win and play with an edge. I hope his vision translates. Personally, I'm excited about IU basketball for the first time in quite a while.

But... Why? I appreciate everything he did last season, but he doesn't seem to fit with the type of team they are building.

IU coming in at 23 on this early top 25. Unfortunately, PUke is no. 1.

Sorry, I meant I don't disagree that we should make the tournament. I was disagreeing that we should look for a new coach if we didn't.

So we're looking for another coach next year if we don't make the tournament? I don't disagree that we should, but I think we should all be looking for a sound foundation building season before all else. This program is broken. Let's crawl, walk, and then run. We've had more resources than most for the past 25 years, and it's gotten us here.

Manifest destiny... I like it! Do another one!

This is nonsensical and makes no sense.

Woody really did that whole roster a disservice. Not only do they all have to take a pay cut, but the lack of development screwed them for the future. Now they have to try to go out and prove themselves again. I sincerely wish them all the best. This is what happens when administrations take the easy road instead of the correct one. You end up screwing over the very people you supposedly are trying to help.