HoosierInParadise

I was the one being a smart @$$. They never entered the portal, but the last 20 pages of the thread are about them. There's nothing else to talk about though....so it's not a big deal to me. Just thought it was funny.

I can't find Goode or Leal in any of the portal listings....

I agree...it would make a huge difference in getting the most out of the team. Results should follow...

I am sure what is missing in most people's minds is the idea that we might have a coach that can actually coach his team up, improve the skills of his players, and make everyone better. IU hasn't had a coach who is capable of improving his team in quite some time. I am excited to see how these players come together and improve over the course of the season. It should be fun to watch.

I agree you've been pretty fair. Some people are glass half full, others are glass half empty. It's fine, however, to not know how much liquid is in the glass because it's just too freaking far away to see it.

Anyone who is confident that this team will be good is kidding themselves. Woodson proved to all of us that getting some of the "top talent" in the portal doesn't mean jack regarding winning results. Coach Cig showed us that a collection of decent players with a vision and energy around a program can make for a magical season. The transfer portal has only proven one thing....if you are going to rely heavily on the portal for your core group of players, you should be anything but confident that winning will necessarily follow. I am going to wait and see what happens....I do like who we have gotten in the portal if they work their tails off to play as a freaking team.

I don't disagree....however, even if everyone on the team next year was 6 foot or shorter, we'd still watch better coached basketball than the last 8 years...

I like the wait and see approach. With the collection of skill sets the players have it will be fun to see it come together when the season starts. If he got a bunch of guys that work their tails off, I believe we will see a vast improvement on the court from what we have seen the last 8 years. I'm excited to see how he puts it together.

Don't mind starting my day with a BANG either....I'm really not picky.

Lots of Newburgh/Castle representation on this board....that's awesome!

Only take this if you get the team's Adidas gear...you won't have access to good apparel otherwise...

It's what IU lives with when we didn't hire a big name. I like the coaching hire, but we'll have to be patient as a fanbase for him to establish himself. As many said during the coaching search, we dont need a big name....we just need to win. While this is true, it may not be a year 1 turn around like football.

Do I wish we were getting top portal talent? Yes. Do I feel like CDD will go after and get quality basketball players to play his system? Yes. Did Woodson and Archie's tenure at IU damage the reputation of the program? Yes. It could take a few years to get the top guys, but if CDD can put together a team that can get in the tournament next year, that would be a good year one to build off of. Get in the tourney and make strides to implement a better culture in the program.

Not only that, but as I mentioned earlier, after the coach and most players were at WV for only one year, there is not going to be any mutual loyalty from player to coach or coach to player.

The reason it doesn't give me pause is that he was only there a year and brought them on board before the season. It's not like he had years at WV to instill his culture and have any kind of loyalty with his players. They were 1 year rentals for him....