HoosierFan1994

IU Really needs the last part...I'm not sure they've had many gym rats over the last decade. I'm excited for Payton. I know he will have an impact the next few years! That being said, staff still has unfinished business in the portal.

Wish Tamar the best but this was best for both sides involved. IF he stayed I'm afraid Woody would feel obligated to play him.

If Geronimo transfers and JHS goes pro-5. Need at least two guards (2 or 3's) and two bigs (4 or 5's) IMO.

This won't happen but my "dream" scenario is: Reeves-would take Jalen's spot Knecht - our 3 Battle-our 4 Sparks- big man off the bench: Starters: X, Reeves, Knecht, Battle, Malik Bench: Trey, Sparks, Cupps, Banks, Gunn Sounds like they could very well get Sparks. Battle I know they've visited with. Saw Reeves too in the future. I think Knecht is my #1 on the list of guys they want. Would probably be the best player on IU.

I'm now just relaxing in Gatlinburg on vacation. Lot of catching up to do! Stupid question by me...is it a done deal JHS is gone? I remember in 2012 Zeller was around a top 20 NBA draft prospect and he came back. Is there a chance Jalen could come back. With NIL who knows.

Gotta think IU has a good chance. Someone else said this, but look at how Trayce improved from when Woodson got here. Good chance he's a first round pick. Oscar meanwhile isn't even on any mock drafts. He was a mid second rounder last year. Flory is probably a one and done so a lot of it is going to come down to which program gets him most ready for the NBA. We will see. Imagine a a few really good guards to go with him. Probably a title contender.

Bingo. Maybe X and Malik (IF he develops). That's why I won't be overly excited if they land Furst and Essegian. Maybe good enough for the B1G but not nationally.

Sorry if this has been asked, but can he reclass? Saw he didn't say yes or no back in the fall but he's exploded even more since. I'm normally not a fan of this unless they're a big.

Mike Woodson is our coach and deserves the benefit of the doubt to build this roster for next season and into the future. I believe in him. However, if this program takes a major step back next year (misses the tournament) and Woodson's energy just isn't into it, (recruiting is flat) IU HAS to look into May. Don't let another university get him. Sounds like he's really happy at FAU despite terrible facilities. He won't leave unless the right job comes along.

Eh. That worries me if he's already thinking about it. Should be fine to recruit the portal but it's going to be tough to land these top high schoolers.

Totally think his goal is to land '24 and '25 guys and have a few good years with them and then ride off into the sunset leaving IU better than when he found it. Is that wrong to think?

This tournament has been awesome. Just great games and I feel like each round keeps delivering. Last night only one of the favorites won. Not sure this happens in any other sport. I'm a huge NFL guy and that is always #1 but college hoops this time of the year is awesome. Should be some good basketball the rest of the way.

For sure. I just hope he wouldn't be the best one. If he hits 3's I think he could be a solid addition.

He and Malik would be interesting...He'd have to get much better IMO. I just want, as the cool kids say, dudes. I'd welcome him, but gotta get more than him.

This ^^^ It's almost like the NFL draft. I feel the '12 and '13 classes (outside of Yogi, Troy, and Collin) did CTC in. Too many misses in those large classes. The '18 class I think did CAM in. Romeo was the only one to really hit at IU.

Any chance on Moses Abraham?

Which would be huge for a certain kid from Kokomo.

Looking back to last year, it was impossible for IU to land transfers. You had X and Jalen as your backcourt with Trey and Tamar providing depth. Miller and Race were returning starters with IU recruiting Malik. The question mark of Trayce coming back too. This year it should be easier for the staff to recruit guys.

Things that I really liked about this season: 1) Felt like the pride of IU basketball is back. I've only been a fan for around 20 years and this was probably the 5th most enjoyable season I can remember ('02, '12, '13, and '16). Was so nice on Saturday's to wake up and know IU had a huge game that day. Also, as a teacher I'm stunned to see so many young fans for IU. This season was their first positive IU season yet. 2) This team didn't quit in mid-January when things got tough. I feel teams under Crean and Miller would have. 3) Not sure where he ranks but Trayce is an IU legend. He went from being a really good layer to an elite one in a matter of months. Also Jalen went from being undrafted to being a top 20ish pick. Trayce too will be around a 1st rounder. This bodes well for IU recruiting. 4) Sweeping Purdue twice. Even without X, I felt IU was the better team. I know they got beat by a 16 seed but this was huge for Coach Woodson. I know the grass isn't always greener and you need to be careful what you wish for, but I'm excited to see Woodson pick guys in the portal. There is NO REASON Indiana can't get the best possible players they want. It's going to be a huge disappointment if he can't get the dudes Indiana needs to compete Nationally. Anyone who watched the game Sunday saw it, there was a huge talent gap. To heck with the NIT, this team needs to make the NCAA Tournament next year. If it was 2018 I'd understand but it's basically open season with free agency now. Add in NIL, which I understand IU is doing very well in.

Sweet 16 to NCAA Picks South: Alabama over Creighton. I'll be stunned if Alabama doesn't make the final four in this region. I don't see anyone stopping them. Midwest: Houston over Texas. Should be some really good games in this region. I think Houston had their scare against Northern Kentucky and Auburn in the first half. That'll wake them up. West: UConn over Gonzaga. Gonzaga-UCLA will be a shootout. I just think the injury situation hurts UCLA. UConn is pretty deep and I like them a lot. East: Michigan State over Tennessee. I think winner of Michigan State-Kansas State goes to the Final 4. I don't see Tennessee beating either one without Zeigler. Final Four: Alabama over Michigan State. Sparty won't have the dudes to matchup with Alabama. Houston over UConn. Would be a great, great game. Houston is a little more athletic. NCAA: Houston over Alabama. Experience wins.

What's with the random Gonzaga players/fans in the AT&T commcercials?

Zero chance but this kind of reminds me of Dallas/Jason Garrett (I'm a Cowboys fan). Garrett had some good teams, but it was clear he could not get them by the divisional round. Painter is similar. He's had some VERY good teams/players. Think I saw where ten times he has been a top 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Has only made the Elite 8 once and he can thank Cline for that. Purdue has only been to 2 FF's..1980 was their last..IU has been to 4 since their last. Purdue has also been to 5 E8..before 2019 the last one came in 2000. At Purdue they are just fine with winning Big Ten titles and making the Sweet 16. That's Painter's bread and butter. Nothing against them, but that is their standard.

Trying to keep track of guys IU has reached out to so far...Ledlum from Harvard, Timberlake from Towson, and Reeves from Florida.

Way I look at it is this..two years ago when Woodson was hired he probably needed to keep the majority of the guys around to avoid a rebuild and to develop a culture. The arrow has gone up since he got here. IU was a bottom 4 Big Ten Team in 2021. Last year in 2022 they were about a mid level team. 9 of the 13 scholarship players were players he inherited. That talent ranged from your best player to bench warmers. This year the expectations were higher. Unfortunately the Xavier Johnson injury, in my opinion, kept this team from reaching it's potential. Still, they finished tied for 2nd in the Big Ten with a TOUGH conference schedule and were a top 15 team in the eyes of the Selection Committee. Miami was just the better team. They wanted it more. Since about mid-February this is who this team has been. Can't put back to back games together. What happens in the next month is going to be similar to what Woodson had to do in 2021. This time he needs to be more picky. I said last night I think IU has 4 guys on scholarship who are not contributers on a team that wants to win a National Championship (Bates, Geronimo, Duncomb, and Leal). Jury is still out on Banks/Gunn and I hope both are back next year. I'm sure the 4 players I mentioned are great kids. However, this team lacks the athletes to compete with the Miami's, Houston's, Alabama's, etc.. Keeping these guys around prevents Woodson from getting athletes I think he would be able to land. Woodson can point to the success of JHS and Trayce this year. I'm actually very excited to see where this program can go. This team HAS to get: 1) A legit upper 30% three point shooter. Hopefully he is an athlete much like the guys we saw on Miami 2) A 6'10 guy that can play inside/out 3) I'd like for them to get a reserve guard that is a decent shooter as well as another big man that can come off the bench. A big is a must. I think Cupps could be the first guard off the bench. I think Xavier, Trey, and Malik are your building blocks. However, If X and Malik are the two best players I think IU is in trouble. Our portal guys have to be two of the best players on the team. X is coming off a serious injury and Malik, while I like him, I'm not sure he is ready to be the man. I see him as a 10 points 6 rebounds per game kind of player next year. Still solid but not All-Big Ten yet.

Unfortunately in this era I worry about all the players. It's open season with free agency. I could totally see it but I think he sticks around.