Honkyman

The odds are IU would land nobody better than Michael Durr. Trading Race Thompson for another Michael Durr isn't a very good outcome. If Race wants to get on with his life, maybe play ball overseas, fine. He should be encouraged to do so. But if he is thinking about transferring, Woodson should persuade him to stay.

The problem with losing Race Thompson is IU is already down one big with Michael Durr leaving. Nobody knows if Sparks will truly be available. Michael Lewis may persuade him to stay at Ball State. Then if TJD leaves there is nobody to play the middle. Even if TJD goes to the combine with the option of coming back, IU won't know one way or another if he will return.

It is entirely possible that no more IU players will be transferring. Trayce Jackson Davis may or may not leave for the NBA or some other level of professional basketball. Race Thompson may or may not decide to move on. But both TJD and Race might remain for another year along with the rest of the team which would mean there is just one scholarship available for a transfer.

Leal made the team better every time he played. He doesn't provide Galloway's energy but he's just so steady and plays so smart. He has a decent 3-point shot that with a little more work could become reliable. And, a reliable 3-point shot would move Leal ahead of Galloway in the rotation.

Rob is a good guy who worked hard but suffered too many injuries. Too bad he couldn't shoot all the time like he did against Purdue. I doubt Archie wants him. Archie was always trying to recruit a higher rated point guard.

Why I called it a fantasy.

I bet he wasn't stupid enough to tell that to a top recruit's parents.

This is fantasy. We won't get better shooting from the transfer portal than we got a year ago. That means we will get someone at the level of Miller Kopp, i.e., an even trade. There are very few truly talented players in the transfer portal and IU is competing against every other school. I hope IU can attract a player who "can score at all three levels" from the transfer portal. But I would be amazed if it happens. IU just isn't a good destination for transfers of that caliber unless one of our coaches has a previous relationship with that player. We stand a better chance at upgrading our talent the old fashioned way--recruiting from the high schools.

"An influx of better talent"--easier said than done. The coaches seem to be interested in Payton Sparks who may be an upgrade over Michael Durr but certainly not TJD or Race Thompson. Maybe IU is able to find a shooter better than Parker Stewart (39% from 3-point range) or Miller Kopp (36%) but I wouldn't hold my breath. An influx of better talent will more likely come from recruiting which means at least another year.

If Galloway hasn't developed a reliable outside shot by next season, he shouldn't start.

AK Hoosier: "Purdue...gets by UCLA/UNC." Could be but UNC is playing really well right now. Could go either way.

I wouldn't count on Kopp leaving. Woodson seems to like him. He's not going to find a better place to play than at IU. Phinisee might leave if Xavier commits to staying. We'll see.

Durr is transferring because he knows he will continue to be a backup at IU.

I don't think Geronimo necessarily leaves if Race stays. Geronimo's form on his 3-point shot is good. If he becomes a 36%-40% shooter from 3-point range instead of 31% as he was this year, Geronio, TJD and Race Thompson can play together.

It sounds more like Fife refused to accept that he was an assistant to Woodson. Plus he failed to recruit anyone which is the assistant's more important job.

And it constitutes fact because somebody else says it on the radio? And you believe everything you hear on the radio? If that is what he actually said. Based on the rest of your comments, you are not a particularly reliable source.

Bates and Geronimo were on the floor with Xavier, TJD and Race quite a bit. Earlier in the season Bates and Geronimo weren't playing particularly well and hardly deserved to start. Bates took too many bad shots right up to the end of the season. Geronimo came into his own at the end of the season. The good news is next season we'll see a lot more of both of them.

jimsorgi: "The fact that he isn't using Mata for his knowledge is a concern." When was this "fact" established and by whom? This post is specious speculation.

Assistant Coaches come and go all the time. Considering Fife's recruiting successes are non-existent, its hard to describe it as a loss.

I liked Fife as a player. But what has he done as an assistant coach? Fife was hired at least partially to recruit. But he has not been responsible for bringing any of the players who have come in since Mike Woodson was hired. Maybe it was lack of production?

Alford Bailey said, "Watched him a bunch in HS. May be wrong but I don’t see BIG level here." My concern is that IU may be rushing out to grab the first player who is 6'7'', 6'8'' whether or not he is a player who is truly capable to play at Big Ten level. Sparks was not highly rated. Ball State competition is not Big Ten competition. Yes, we need more bigs but is he the right one?

OK. Maybe there will be no big men available who can shoot outside. But if Sparks comes to IU, I don't want to hear people whining about how we don't have enough players who can take it outside. Sparks was not highly rated coming out of high school. Outside shooting obviously is not a strength. The level of competition Ball State plays is not comparable to what Big Ten teams play. Maybe he was a diamond in the rough and still developing. If he comes, I hope so.

I'm not sure Sparks brings what we need. He only attempted seven 3-point shots and missed them all. I guess you could say he would fit right in with IU's outside shooting abilities.

Trish said "I suppose Bates could start for Hood but I don't know if Bates comes back." Bates already tweeted that he is coming back. If Trey Galloway doesn't develop a reliable 3-point shot, IU is in trouble if he starts assuming TJD is no longer around to score 18 points a game. Small ball requires that every player be able to shoot and Galloway has yet to demonstrated he can shoot from outside.

Race will be back.