Honkyman

JSHoosier said: 'Kentucky listed twice, are they pulling a Tom Crean telling him they're thinking about him a lot lately?" ____________ Kentucky has twice the chance of landing Harmon as anyone else.

Fife's comments about Rob Phinisee suggest Phinisee will be a key player next season. Whether he starts at point and Xavier Johnson plays at the 2 guard remains to be seen. But Fife is clearly high on Phinisee. As for Parker Stewart, we don't exactly what he will do. But we do know from his body of work that he is a capable outside shooter in a system that values outside shooting. And, he is one of the few proven capable outside shooters currently on this squad. Again, whether Stewart starts or not remains to be seen. But he will be a key player. It is too bad that Galloway and Leal aren't one player with the best qualities of each. Leal can shoot but lacks Galloway's athleticism. Galloway hasn't shown he can shoot anything but a layup and unless that changes, his role will be substantially reduced next season.

Brunk will wind up at a school where he knows he will start. That's why he came to IU in the first place--Archie Miller assured him he would start at center and TJD would start at the 4. And, that's why he is leaving IU--because Mike Woodson told him TJD is starting at the 5 and Brunk would be coming off the bench to relieve him.

Woodson sounds a lot like Bobby Knight did. He uses many of the same phrases and when answering a question speaks in a monotone like Knight did when answering questions.

mookied39 said: We have actually added 2 players if you are going on our record. Parker had nothing to do with our record. So we have 2 new players. Both seem like they will help. ____ I agree. I was talking perception outside of Indiana.

bigrod said: I think you may have some valid points here. Hopefully, I’m correct in my opinion that this team is capable of so much more than they have shown. If that is the case and the coaching staff is able to take this team and make it a tournament team, the recruits will come. ________ I agree. There is every reason to be optimistic. The potential on this team was mostly unrealized under Archie. I believe the talent, including at least one likely NBA player, will blossom under Woodson. TJD will be All American 1st or 2nd team. Johnson will be the alpha player on the floor the team has been missing (Phinisee is too passive; Lander too green). Jerome Hunter is poised to be the offensive player everyone thought he would be when he arrived. Stewart will be a steady 3-point shooter. And, the depth will allow the team to remain fresh in games and throughout the season.

I would be surprised if IU lands any additional top tier talent from the transfer portal. IU's hiring of Woodson looks good now to Hoosier Nation. But to the rest of basketball world all we've done is add one good player to a team that went 12-15 this past season while losing the 2nd best player. The main reason Xavier Johnson picked IU is the assistant coach, Kenya Hunter. Without Hunter it is doubtful IU would have even been in the running. IU's problem is Hunter doesn't have the same close relationship with any of the other targets. It also seems unlikely that Keon Brooks will transfer to IU. This rumor seems to be driven by wishful thinking.

I live in Virginia and watch a lot of UVA ball. Bennett is obviously a very good coach. The style of play is just as boring as Archie Miller's, just more effective. I doubt the move has much impact on Armaan's NBA chances. He is a good college player but to me calling him a future NBA player is a stretch. Anyway, with the addition of Xavier Johnson, IU has enough guards. Parker Stewart will play the position and Stewart is a better shooter. Good luck to Armaan. He seems like a good guy.

Brooks doesn't have to enter the transfer portal to transfer. All the transfer portal does is allow players to speak with coaching staff from other schools. If a player knows where he wants to transfer, he can just transfer without entering the transfer portal.

Armaan Franklin is going to do what he is going to do. Coach Woodson and his teammates have urged him to return. There is nothing anyone can do at this point. The decision is his. If he returns, great. If he doesn't come back, the team will find a way to succeed.

If Armaan Franklin and Race Thompson do not return, the team is losing the 2, 3 & 4 scorers from the past season (including Al Durham). Among the returning players, Jerome Hunter seems to have the most potential to step up as a reliable scorer. Joey Brunk will score making up some of the deficit. Parker Stewart can score but can he make up for the loss of Armaan? Probably not. Perhaps, Rob Phinisee and Kristian Lander will improve their scoring numbers. If those two guys leave, there will be a big hole in scoring to make up just to get back to where the IU team was in 2020-21. So I agree that it is much too early to project instant success for the Hoosiers next year. If Woodson is able to land some top transfers, that will obviously help. But when getting beyond the big names (most of whom will not consider IU), there are mostly roll players in the transfer portal. We shall see.

The more IU players in the transfer portal return next season, the less likely we will land transfers from outside the program. If Race and Armaan return, we might get one transfer. If everyone comes back plus Joey and Logan, it will be tough to get playing time. Most transfers want to go where they will get maximum playing time.

My guess is that Lander wants to and will return if he is getting assurance of player development. Geronimo will transfer to either Rutgers or Seaton Hall to be closer to home. Armaan Franklin is getting the hard sell from several schools and will likely transfer, probably to Illinois. Race Thompson may return or may transfer to Minnesota or even Wisconsin (Madison isn't far from Minneapolis). When people have a bad experience, they sometimes want to just get away from it all. These players have a chance to experience something else other than Indiana University and for Geronimo and Race Thompson play closer to home. Race haas been here for four years so it is understandable he might want to leave.

Chris 007: Fife has turned down mid-major roles he said in a podcast on Peegs.  ______ The right head coach job may not have been offered to Fife. I very much hope Woodson brings on Fife or Lewis. But I really don't know why either one would leave Michigan State or UCLA to make a lateral move as an assistant coach. Lewis must be feeling especially satisfied by the work he has done at UCLA. And, Fife may be waiting out Izzo's retirement. We'll see.

Michael Lewis may be more interested in head coaching job than a lateral move to another assistant job. Same with Fife.

The Boston Celtics could not legally have prevented Brad Stevens from taking the IU job. They could have required him to pay the Celtics a termination of contract fee, however, depending upon what the contract may require.

Larry Brown would be great. He has one of the smartest minds in all of basketball.

Hunter, Lewis, and someone to develop the bigs.

Good pick, imo.

Moser knows Chicago which produces some really good players. Yes, most college basketball coaches need at least one really good recruiter.

IU could be waiting on coach with a team still playing--Arkansas or Loyola. If it was going to be one of the former IU players--Fife, Lewis, Cheaney or Woodson--they should have wrapped it up by now.

It sounds like Jordan's parents are putting their foot down. I live on the East Coast. Most people here who follow college basketball think the IU basketball program is a total mess. Jordan's parents will likely push him to transfer to Rutgers.

It looks like IU will be relying on some walk-ons next year.

Cat Stevens will be IU's basketball coach before Brad Stevens.

I liked Stuhoo's posts.