HoosierFan1994

Really enjoying the NBA playoffs this year. Why? 1) New teams. Only 2nd time Raptors have been to the conference finals. Bucks last appearance was 2001 and the Blazers was 2000. 2) No LeBron.... Once Durant leaves Golden State the NBA will be wide open. I was so tired of seeing the Super Team in Oakland destroy Lebron.

I'm sure they will start the season as a top 5 team. No way do I see them in the Final Four. They play in a weaker conference too.

They are going to have a lot of talent. Will be curious to see what Penny does with it.

Most places yes-but at UK they are usually spot on.

Did you also see UK is now in the lead for Jaden McDaniels? That makes 4 recruits ranked higher than Keion. I'm not saying the kid should have went to IU, (personally thought he fit best at Michigan State) but my goodness who was giving that kid advice? He won't play more than 15 minutes next year...

I think every college player deserves two years. He could play a lot this upcoming year. Really wish Jake would have stuck around one more year.

I think Brass is right. Fans have been frustrated for finishing 2nd for many recruits. We will probably see frustration on Friday. My opinion is vague- I want guys that want to be at IU. I don't want guys who want the fastest way to the NBA. Take Victor Oladipo. Obviously Vic was really underrated coming out of high school. He should have been a top 50 recruit. However, he had to work and get better each year. In his recruitment I bet he never said anything about getting to the NBA as soon as possible. He got better every year and look what happened. I think Indiana has some good guys for next year. Al, Rob, TJD, Armaan, and Joey. You could list more as well. I just think so much of it is culture. Purdue had guys buy in and they have been making the second weekend of the tournament for many years now (that is the standard in their program). I think rankings are overrated as well. Yes, your top 25ish players are probably all studs. They stick out like a sore thumb at the high school level. But there are a ton of players out there who will be solid college players. I like to think of how the 2012-2013 team was built. You had two Burger Boys who we knew wouldn't be one and dones (Yogi and Cody), a top 50 recruit (Watford) and a few fringe top 100 guys (Vic, Will, and Jordan). That team needed more depth obviously but still. I think that is how you build a winning team. Looking at our current roster we have one burger boy (TJD, probably not a one and done), a top 50-80ish recruit (Jerome, Justin, also think De'Ron was as well), and some fringe guys (Rob, AL, Devonte, Joey, Race). I think this could be a top ten group in a few years with the right roster upgrades from the 2020 class. Bottom Line: Archie has to win now. Texas Tech and Virginia look a lot sexier to a recruit than they did two-three years ago. Keion Brooks chose a winning program over us. So did Anthony Harris. My hope- 2019-2020 team makes the tournament, returns key players, and is a top ten team in 2020-2021.

He is ranked similar to Thomas Bryant. Thomas wasn't our best player his freshman year but he was the #2/#3 option. I expect that kind of year from Trayce. I just hope Trayce makes a bigger jump as a sophomore than Thomas did. I have to put a 5 star McD All-American over Joey and De'Ron. Trayce will probably play both the 4/5 at times. More of a 5 his first year I'm guessing.

I'm an ESPN plus subscriber, I only have it because I love their NFL draft coverage. They did a write up about Romeo and other draft prospects. Here is what they had to say: The fourth all-time leading scorer in Indiana history, Langford stayed home to play at tiny New Albany high school before committing to Indiana. He was a USA Basketball staple who was a consensus top-six recruit. Langford started off his freshman season in impressive fashion but was slowed by a torn ligament in the thumb of his shooting hand in late November. He elected to play through it, which likely prevented scouts from seeing the full extent of his potential. Langford was still named second-team all-conference and a member of the Big Ten's all-freshman team, but he wasn't able to guide Indiana to the NCAA tournament. -- Givony Strengths Has prototypical physical tools for an NBA wing at over 6-foot-6 in shoes, with a strong frame and a 6-11 wingspan. Smooth and fluid athlete who is at his best with the ball in his hands and shows significant potential pushing ahead in transition and operating out of pick-and-roll. Has strong footwork and body control. Changes speeds naturally with the ball. Good vision and creativity finding teammates. Offensive instincts and overall upside suggests he can develop into a player capable of shouldering a significant load as a shot-creator, which is difficult to find in this draft class, especially at his size. Shows enough flashes as a defender, passer, rebounder, finisher and shot-maker to leave plenty of room for optimism regarding how his game will continue to round out over time. Has both a relatively high ceiling and floor. Improvement areas Shot only 27 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, partially due to the hand injury but wasn't known as a great shooter coming into college. Could stand to tweak his mechanics and release point. Had very little shooting around him at Indiana, which made it easy for opposing defenses to load up on him as the season moved on. Faced a significant learning curve on the defensive end in college. Has significant potential on that end with his length, quickness and solid instincts, but will have to improve his intensity level, particularly off the ball. Has a casual demeanor that works against him at times. Uneven, injury-plagued freshman season left scouts with more questions than answers. Projected role: Big playmaker

No doubt. I just would like to have seen Archie add one more freshman to the mix. I know we added Brunk but still. I do like what Archie is doing with the roster management. Balanced classes and not using all 13 scholarships. Keep 1-2 open because 1) Not everyone can play leading to transfers and 2) you never know what may happen. A kid could transfer to you or reclassify.

I think I misunderstood you. Yes, the the days leading up we knew many of those recruits were not going to IU. However, it sounded pro-IU in the months leading up to the decision. There was a time when I, and many others, thought Garland and Brooks were IU bound. I think the Crystal Ball is pretty accurate. If there isn't any movement on that by Friday he's going to Memphis, which is where I think he is going. It's all about the $$$. Which I don't understand. If you are a top 50 kid, yeah you can probably think about going to the NBA in 2-3 years. Anyone outside of that, like Lester-ranked 60-80, needs to work their butt off to get to the NBA in 2-3 years. I'm just afraid he would just show up and think he is good enough to go through the motions. We shall see. I agree but Crean just handed those out like candy (see: Priller, Tim). Archie isn't doing that. It's okay to go after some of these guys (Keion, Lester, Trendon) but make sure you are going after other guys too (Armann Franklin, Jerome Hunter, Rob Phinisee)

I think Newman is going to hurt us. Purdue thrives with kids like that. Not saying he is going to have the career Carsen had but I can easily see him averaging 15 points a game. I've said for months TJD is getting no respect nationally. I think he is going to be the Big Ten FOY and very well could be the conference MVP his sophomore year. I think he is a two year player at IU. I just really like his game. He has to get stronger and develop a shot. But if that happens he could be a special player. I don't think Indiana has had a big like him in a long time. Zeller and Jeffries are the only two that come to my mind. I still don't think Crean used Zeller properly as good as he was.

You are right-they do have something to sell, it all really sounds positive for IU. However, it all sounded really positive for IU with Darius Garland, DJ Carton, Isaiah Stewart, Keion Brooks, Matthew Hurt, Anthony Harris, Trendon Watford and now LQ. Even in the late Crean years we got stuck at the altar...I'm just not in a position to think a recruit is going to IU over one of these stupid programs that is all about flash and the NBA... They have to find the right players. I don't know if Lester is. Does he want the quickest path to the NBA or does he want to work hard and get better each year? I would say at least 4 of the names I listed did not choose IU because they felt they could go elsewhere to get to the NBA as soon as possible. Michigan, Virginia, Texas Tech, etc have no issues finding the right players. Rarely do they have McDonald's All-Americans. I know Lester isn't a Burger Boy but still. I'm not going to cry if Lester doesn't choose IU. I just hope Archie learned from this '19 class to find the right guys for IU. Don't waste too much time if these nasty programs are involved. You won't win in the end. Romeo is his only recruiting victory against these type of schools. Still plenty of fish out there.

Really want IU to offer Powell. I don't see him as a starter but I think he would be great off the bench in a 15-20 minute role. Also biased because I want Evansville natives on IU's roster. Let's get Powell and Lander!!!

I wonder if recruits just use IU to show they have clean schools recruiting them....

I don't think he is out of the woods yet.

I sadly think it will be Memphis too....he will get minutes there even with Boogie and RJ. Plus he may be one of the better players starting his sophomore year. I'm glad Archie is going after a variety of 2020 kids. I feel like he didn't do that last year with this class. He put a lot of eggs in TJD and Keion's basket. I agree with what someone said earlier..I stay away if a Memphis, Arizona, and LSU type of school is involved..$$$...a waste of time. I get doing it with Trendon and even here with Lester (he is the last '19 kid). I just think that mountain is hard to climb if you are wanting a squeaky clean program. Nothing against Lester (he is a #60-75 ranked kid, I think his game fits well with IU) but I'd rather have a fringe top 100 in-state kid (like Rob Phinisee and Anthony Leal) who wants to play at IU and will focus on getting better and understand the NBA/pro basketball will come if you do that. Lester's "as soon as possible" NBA comment, to me, is the one that stands out the most and that school is probably Memphis.

I'm biased and I think IU is his best choice. However, Memphis and Alabama are way better than LSU right now. LSU lost most of their key players last year, are in the middle of a scandal, and will probably fire their coach.

Sad...Trendon may be the more talented player but I think Christian ends up being the better player between the two. Huge mistake going to LSU if that is where he goes. They'll be an NIT team and he will have no exposure at all. Memphis and Alabama are way better choices.

I really think it is going to fail. I'd be really surprised if Memphis even makes the Sweet 16 next year.

To sum it up...good relationship with Penny and Mike. Coach Miller and staff have a good relationship with the family. Close with returning IU players. Sorry, Memphis isn't making the Sweet 16 next year let alone the National Championship game. That style doesn't win. Not saying IU is either but Lester is probably a 3-4 year player. I bet IU is more successful than Memphis over the next 3-4 years. I think this kids game fits well with what the program is looking for. Hope he puts in the work. However, if he chooses Memphis we know what he wants.

You said it best...right players who want to be at IU. Just like the right players who wanted to be at Virginia and Texas Tech.

I have to agree with you. On average 10-20 of the 60 are freshman. You may have a player come out of nowhere (Zhaire Smith) but most of the time it is your McDonald's All American players. I have no problem with LQ having NBA dreams..but right now is a bit of a stretch. I will be happy if Indiana gets him. Rob runs the point with upperclassmen Al and Devonte in the backcourt. I'm sure LQ is the first guard off the bench and will see 20 minutes a game. I also think that RJ Hampton reclassifying and possibly going to Memphis helps us, regardless of what the insiders are saying. Wasn't LSU the favorite and now Memphis is? LQ even said right now he is leaning towards Memphis and IU. RJ, Wiseman, Jeffries, and Precious (possibly) are all ahead of him at Memphis. They have a few returning players from the NIT team. I think he sees more time playing time at IU.

Very pleased IU offered Leal and Galloway. Need to get both. I think they both have solid senior years and their stock will rise. Personally, I'll take a fringe top 100 4 star from Indiana over a 4 star ranked 70ish from another state. Both these guys will play into their role. Sounds like Leal is a done deal. Galloway may take some time. Very good chance one of them wins Mr. Basketball in 2020. That makes Romeo ('18) and TJD ('19-well he should be). Fun fact-Mr. Basketball has been around since 1939. IU has had the most Mr. Basketball's. They have never had three in a row. Say what you want about Archie but he is killing in-state recruiting. Needs to translate to the court now....

I agree. It's sad that is what it has come to.