Honkyman

On the 2022-23 team, I would rather be IU'S 6th man behind TJD. For next year since I'm leaving Ball State, I would rather find a different team where I would start.

It's a nice thought but why would Sparks transfer to a school where he won't start?

Gunn has to fix his shot---8% from 3-point range isn't going to win him any meaningful floor time. Banks has energy and athletic ability but he doesn't (yet) shoot well enough to suggest he is anything but a sub off the bench. Of course, a good summer could change that. Some are predicting Bates and Geronimo will transfer but one of the podcast hosts claims Geronimo has already committed to Woodson he is staying. I'm not sure why Bates would leave. He averaged 20 minutes a game this past season. He had a couple of big games. He just needs consistency. Bates and Geronimo would play ahead of Banks and Gunn if they stay.

If you are into honest forecasting, it is as accurate as any. If you are looking for a quick "yes" or "no" the most optimistic anyone can say is a qualified "yes."

Cody Zeller was #10 nationally. Noah Vonleh was #11.

It means IU hit its (first) targets which obviously is good. On paper these 3 look pretty good, i.e., they all bring something that is needed. But there is no way of knowing for certain how these players will perform in a tougher schedule against (usually) better players. In any event, Sparks and Ledlum do not equal TJD and Race Thompson. Timberlake appears to have some of what has been missing but he doesn't equal Jalen Hood-Schifino. It is unlikely IU will be a Top 25 team next season, imo., without more.

There are five openings already with the four starters plus Duncomb. Casting the net wide doesn't suggest anything about additional openings. Competition for these players will be stiff. Contacting players, even having visits, doesn't mean IU will land any of them (though hopefully the best among them will choose IU). IU should be contacting a large number of players even if the number of openings is five. It is hard to imagine many players will transfer to another school and not be able to start.

Nobody scores 13 points a game from the bench. Jones may have started (some games) but Smart played at the key times and helped IU win games. It was not like today. Knight used the bench in creative ways. The adage that it doesn't matter who starts, only who finishes was applicable to that situation.

Keith Smart averaged 13.2 points a game his last year IU(1987-88), good enough for 3rd in team scoring behind Dean Garrett and Jay Edwards. Lyndon Jones averaged just 4.9 points per game. Lyndon was just OK and Smart was a lot better than Jones.

Spoken too soon.

Ridiculous statement.

Exactly my point. On a truly good team, Galloway would be coming off the bench (and would have had Xavier Johnson not been injured).

Actually the ratings are usually fairly accurate. There are exceptions, of course. Some top ranked players are overrated and some higher ranked players are underrated. But overall the top 25-30 ranked players are usually the best coming out of high school. Players 25-50 usually are pretty good in college. And players ranked 50 to just over 100 are generally decent in college.

Galloway should come off the bench and play either 2 or 3 depending upon who is coming out.

Bates was a 5-star for a reason. He has potential and has shown that potentials on occasion. College basketball is replete with examples of players that didn't reach their potential until after a couple of years of college--in fact, it is probably more the norm than the exception. I'm not sure why so many people are trashing Bates and Geronimo. Nobody on this board knows if they are staying or leaving.

Edey

Speaking of Brooks, doesn't he have a COVID year of eligibility left? (just joking)

Maybe they can. But will they? The players that IU has targeted so far appear to be more of a lateral move. But assuming they are an upgrade, there is no reason to believe IU will land them all or even any of them. The best players in the Transfer Portal are being targeted by many many programs. The Transfer Portal is an opportunity to upgrade, not a guarantee. We will see what happens.

Citing K-State like the norm when is an extremely rare exception is a risky way to try to build a program.

Easier said than done. With everyone leaving IU it will be more difficult to attract top talent. Players want to go to a program that looks like it will win.

Geronimo played pretty well when filling in for Race Thompson when Thompson was hurt. Then Geronimo got hurt and didn't seem to play at the same level when he was available (nor did Race Thompson when he returned after being out with his leg injury). Reneau became Thompson's backup and Geronimo didn't see the floor much.

Maybe you look at it that way, I don't. Highlighting a player's strength doesn't mean that qualities not mentioned are weaknesses.

Too bad. It is not a good look for the program. Bates was highly rated and Geronimo is recognized as very athletic. Both are likely to perform well given the opportunity provided by four starters leaving. We won't find enough in the Transfer Portal to make it up if both leave. It is beginning to look like Woodson got two years riding TJD and now the program is heading downward.

My first memory of an IU transfer: Ed Daniels, 6'4' guard & Parade High School All American from Georgia, transferred from IU to Marquette in 1971 after Bobby Knight was hired.

Why is that? IU brought in four players in 2022. One--a five star--was ready to start, one--a top 50 player--was ready to come off the bench, and the other two ready for cleanup at the end of a game. That's recruiting and you don't really know who is going to be ready until you see them playing against other college players. Five star players are usually ready, but not always. Cupps is ranked below 100 by some evaluators and above 100 by others. Typically players ranked in that range are not ready to start, but obviously some are while others start out of necessity. We won't know about Cupps until after he arrives at IU.