HoosierFan1994

Kind of glad it is. It's confusing knowing who can/can't come back.

This. With Ballo and at times Reneau at the 5, it's not too attractive for someone like Malone. The shooter role, seems to be Goode, we can get someone good. But the backup 5 is probably going to end up being like a Durr or someone similar. If this person ends up playing 20 plus minutes for us we are probably screwed.

I also think Arizona really likes their freshman center (I think his name is Krivas). He has more NBA potential I've read. Could be possible his minutes would decrease this year. I've seen a lot of guys that have the COVID year transfer (Gillis at Purdue is another example). Why some worried Galloway would transfer.

Both Miami and Alabama, like us, had some nice pieces (Wong, Sears, etc). IU has 3 guys I think that would be top 50 portal players if they had went into the portal (Reneau, Mgbako, Galloway). We will see. It's all about how they fit and how they improve shooting wise. On paper, the best IU team in over ten years.

I love the Field of 68 because of what they do for college hoops. They are like the NFL/NBA Network for the sport. However, you can tell if they really like a coach, they will hype them up. Ex: Dusty May and Pat Kelsey (who have done a good job this offseason). All they've talked about is Louisville and Michigan are killing the portal. They also think Mark Pope, a guy with 0 NCAA Tournament wins, is a good fit at UK. However, they crap all over IU still despite their haul in the portal. I've been critical of Woodson. I just find it odd that according to them if we need more shooting (Goode and Anderson) we are all of a sudden a legit threat. I think we already are. Odds are one or two of the sophomores make a jump. That's what it's going to come down to for us. If Rice, Carlyle and Mgbako become good three point shooters. If the answer is yes, IU has final four potential. If not, the ceiling is probably Sweet 16/2nd round. That is with/without adding Goode/Anderson.

I think this could belong on this thread...I went back and looked at '22 and '23 portal rankings. In 2022 Miami got two top 20 kids (Pack and Omier). In 2023 Alabama got Estrada and Nelson. Both those teams made the Final Four. Not saying IU is Final Four bound, but teams who have stacked up the talent in the portal (mainly top 20) have done really well that season. For the most part the rankings are spot on. You have a few (Timberlake) that didn't produce. Those were really the only two teams that had multiple guys in the top 20. Nobody had 3 so what IU is doing is kind of unheard of in the portal.

Right now: Fair Expectations: 1) Be a legit contender for the Big Ten Title. I won't list a place, but I think either be at the top or within 2 games of the top team. In 22-23, they finished 3 games Purdue. If I remember right there were a ton of 10-12 win teams in the Big Ten that year. 2) Two of Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, and Mackenzie Mgbako will all be at least 35% + 3 point shooters. 3) Win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. It is too early to tell the national landscape for next year. Also, we have no idea who they would be playing. Add in that this team has never played together before. I'll probabably get crushed for saying this. However, the highest I've seen IU in these "way too early" polls is 19. That's a second round team, 5 seed if you are going off expectations. Overall.. I think they will be a preseason top 20 team and top 4 in the Big Ten Preseason Polls. Wishes 1) Win a share of the Big Ten Regular Season or Big Ten Tournament. About time that happens. 2) This be the deepest IU team in over 30 years. With a few potential additions our top 10 could be looking nice. That being said...we said this in 2013, 2019, and 2023. I want to see it first. 3) Make AT least the Sweet 16. It is hard to project how they'll do in the NCAA Tournament. Look at this year. Several top ten teams got bounced (UNC, Arizona, Houston*, Iowa State, and Marquette). Make the Sweet 16 and anything can happen. That being said, 2002 was the last time IU made even the Elite 8, yet alone Final game. They are due. IMO it comes down to this...IU needs several guys to become legit threats from three point range. I think Rice, Carlyle, and Mgbako have potential. Malik and Trey are capable. Add in Goode and/or Anderson potentially. If this happens, I think they have the potential to make the Final Four. I can't say win it all yet because, we have never seen them play before. I'll say this portal season has been a home run. I wish one of our main additions was already a proven 3 point shooter. But I can't complain. They deserve credit for a much better showing in the portal this year. At minimum, it has me excited for next season.

Best part of this potential addition..he wants to be here it sounds like. He probably would get more minutes at Illinois this upcoming season.

OT here..went and looked at his predictions. He has Mason Gillis going to Duke. Didn't see that one coming.

Shows he committed to Illinois after his junior year. Probably thought IU was a mess (which, it was at the time). I've read where certain guys (maybe Kyle Guy) wanted to come to IU but the coach at the time wasn't a fit (Crean or Miller).

I liked that he's played on a high major. Illinois has had some good teams the last 3 years.

Awesome! I assume this is the shooter you were refering to earlier. Would be a good fit for what IU needs.

Not seeing the crystal ball pick.

Did IU recruit him out of high school? Believe it would have been towards then end of Archie. Edit: Would love to have him here. Hope we get him. Just find it hard to believe he would leave for 15 minutes a game. I feel his role at Illinois would be bigger.

I think shooter, center, and leave the open roster spot for development guy or someone unexpected.

No matter what, Trey is getting 20-25 minutes a game. I believe he is the perfect 6th man. I can see him being Sixth Man of the Year like Sheehey and Bielfeldt. Speaking of Bielfeldt...I wish we could have a clone of him and Zeisloft for this team. They would fit perfectly with what is left.

What a wild year it has been for roster construction. Last summer, I thought IU would go young with Boogie, Liam, and Queen. Instead they got Rice, Carlyle, and Ballo. Credit to the staff for pulling this off. Last season I begged for another high impact player (mainly a shooting guard). While I understand the concerns about shooting (they are still there) this roster is in much better shape for a few reasons 1) You have a point guard that led his team to the NCAA tournament as a freshman. As highly touted as X was, he wasn't the point guard Rice currently is. Rice I think will only get better. I see him as a very good point guard for at least the next two years. 2) The bench is going to be so much better. Galloway can play the 1-3 spots, Tucker the 2-3. Cupps and Walker on paper were the top two options off the bench last year. Major upgrade. 3) Legit, athletic guards. I really hope Newton can come on too. Imagine Rice, Carlyle and him on the court at once. I'd like to see the staff add a shooter and a center. Problem is only 10-15 minutes a game are probably left. That might be hard to address right now. Guys like Hickman, Essegian, and Malone probably want a chance to start somewhere. Assembly Call talked about this on Thursday night. Expectations will be high. It's going to be best to wait until the season is over to talk about it, but the spotlight is on Woodson right now. Probably the most talented IU team since 2012-2013. I think this team HAS to contend for a Big Ten Title next year (not talking about 2022-2023 where they finished 3 games behind Purdue) and make the second weekend. This program just got a MASSIVE momentum boost. Let's not blow it.

He also is a top ten portal prospect. 100% is not coming off the bench. This is the perfect role for Galloway which I'm sure he is fine with. At the end of the day, both are going to see plenty of playing time.

The thing the national guys don't understand... Rice was a 33% 3 point shooter before he missed 22 straight. Mgbako was horrible at the start of the year and got better. Ended up at 33%. 2nd half of the Big Ten season (last ten B1G games) he was shooting around 40% from 3. Was bad in the BTT. Carlyle 32% All 3 have the potential to be MUCH better. They'll put in the work and hopefully our staff puts them in the right spot.

Goodman will still say we need shooters.

Woodson will be so excited if Essegian, Malone, and Carlyle all pop by the end of this week. More time for him to golf! I kid of course..somewhat.

Yes. Also, the freshman (Rice, Carlyle, Mgbako) I think will get better as shooters. Plus, still spots open. I would bet they land a 40% three point shooter.

yes. Carlyle (guard), Shooter (Essegian or Humrichous), and big (Malone).

Was listening to Assembly Call last night. Assuming IU gets Carlyle, the rest of the roster might be a little hard to put together. All that will be left is reserve roles. A good problem to have but it still make time for it to play out.

I know I'm probably the only one on here but I do like the Field of 68. To be honest, they are kind of like the "NFL Network" of college basketball. While this is all wrong, they still do a lot of good for the game. I don't always agree with their takes, but I like how they are dedicated to College Hoops 24/7. We all love College Basketball. Feels like the media only cares during the preseason tournaments and March. I get why an outsider would think Malik would transfer. However, I think he was sold to play the 4 at IU so he is probably happy with this. And yes, someone needs to do their research there. This will be year 4 of the Mike Woodson era.