HoosierFan1994

I always like to compare teams to what they were the following year. I look at this year's team and I think there is a huge advantage at the 2-4 spots. I expect Galloway to be better this year. I also expect Mackenzie and Malik to be well above the play of Miller and Race. Last year's team had an advantage with Jalen at the 1 and Trayce at the 5. That being said, there isn't a big drop off with Xavier and Kel'el. I think Payton Sparks will be like Malik and be a decent big off the bench. The addition of Anthony Walker will help. IU didn't really have a reliable 2nd forward off the bench. It will be nice to have a true point guard in Cupps off the bench. The biggest question will be IMO what can CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks provide for this team. If they can be very solid role players I think this could really be a top 20 team. Thoughts? I'm probably drinking the preseason Kool-Aid with a game on Sunday but I don't think it is laughable to think IU will be better this year. November and December I think might be a little rough. I don't see us beating UConn or Kansas (sorry). What's insane is last year IU was #13 in the preseason poll. This year it would be #40 if you count receiving votes. On offense last year they really counted on Trayce and Jalen with an occasional big game from Trey, Miller, or Race. I think all 5 starters have the potential to score double figures any game.

I think Galloway, Leal, Sparks, and Cupps.

Sucks. Was wanting to see Kaleb. Wonder who will have more of an impact this year. Banks or Walker

I think I am on the Trey Galloway breakout season train now. I've just heard way too much from various people from Woodson to the media/people who have been at practice. If he becomes a 10 point a game kind of scorer...Can't wait for Sunday.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic but I think this is an emergency visit by the Maryland staff today. Dude was just on their campus 72 hours ago. He very well may go to Maryland but it's not a done deal. IU is a real threat. And as somebody else mentioned first, Liam gets the last visit.

I know Sweet 16's aren't and shouldn't be the standard around here, but that is exactly what this program needs right now. There is something about winning two games in the NCAA Tournament and making it to another weekend of play. I'm a believer this would have happened last year with a healthy Xavier Johnson. However, the national media is weird on who they choose to respect. Illinois has ZERO business being ranked. They have Shannon and that is it. No legit PG. Hawkins is IMO one of the most overrated players in college basketball. Bottom line: IU has to start advancing deeper in the tournament. Many feel they underachieved the last two tournaments even though Woodson won a game each year. I love Mike Woodson and what he is doing. He's made this program respectable. He just needs a deep tournament run.

I am with you on this. I think he's going to be the 4th best player on this team and possibly be the best NBA prospect of the bunch. I think he is in line for a 9 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 blocks a game kind of year. I hope we get more but I think Malik is in for such a breakout year. I think Mackenzie is going to be a pure scorer as well.

Just a guess...I think this staff is going to land a top talent PG for next year and then as a jr. Cupps will take over. He is going to have a huge impact this year and next year regardless of his role. But if this program wants to win a National Championship, they need to go after a transfer Portal PG next offseason. This year is so important for the future. How big of a jump do Trey and Malik show? Is Mackenzie really a one and done? Can Cupps and Sparks be great additions to bring off the bench? Can CJ and Kaleb contribute? I am hoping the answer is positive for a lot of those. If not, that is where we might be in trouble.

I said yesterday that it would be disappointing to only land Liam in 2024. They need to do everything they can to land Derik Queen. I believe this staff did everything they could for Fland. I'm just wondering about not having a backup option. I am high on Gabe Cupps and Newton if he can stay healthy. It's just upsetting to have thoughts of a Top 5 freshman class and end up with maybe just one player. That being said... 1) I said this over the summer. As much as I wanted all 3 guys, I didn't want a starting lineup of 3-4 freshmen next year. I think two is enough. I no longer think you can win a National Title with one and dones. Next year is the last Covid year. There will still be some 24/25 year olds playing college basketball. 2) I HAVE to think that IU is going to be a prime location for a Point Guard in the transfer portal. Here were some of the top PG's in the portal this spring: Max Abmas, Ryan Nembhard, Ace Baldwin, RayJ Dennis, Kerr Kiirsa. There are going to be some options for this staff this spring. Woodson was capable of landing Xavier Johnson. Remember, X chose IU have the the Champs (Baylor) and Final Four Team (Houston) in 2021. That was before he even coached a game here. He can point to JHS development. A big year from X will only help... 3) I think right now IU has three starters on the roster for next year...Trey at the 2, Liam at the 3, Malik at the 4, maybe 5 spot. Maybe Mackenzie comes back but that is TBD. Point Guard is going to be the #1 option. I like Sparks, but I have no idea if he can be a starting level big man at this level. I do think he can be a solid rotational piece. I also like Gabe Cupps. Add in a healthy Jakai Newton those aren't bad options. Let's see what CJ and Kaleb bring this year. EDIT 4) Last but not least, this program has to win. Period. They won't get too many more 5 star level players if they can't go any further in the NCAA Tournament. Woodson has done an incredible job of not making us a joke anymore. Next step, is to start winning B1G Championships and some deep March runs. Fland was the player I wanted most for this class. This miss flat out sucks because I know how bad this program and the fans wanted him.

Me too. He's been by #1 all along. This one sucks.

This is a kick in the gut for sure. As I said earlier, I am happy the staff went all in. However, I do think there should have been back up plans they prioritized. Queen isn't a must get by any means, but it's a major disappointment to land just 1 of these 3. They're capable of hitting the portal but this one stings.

I assume one of the media stations will stream this correct?

hahaha I saw someone say there is one from Bloomington to White Plains.

I hope it's Tiger Woodson or Cigar Mike

As I have posted before, my wife is a UK fan. I've been telling her about Boogie. She says she doesn't care until they start playing for them. Her dad is also a huge UK fan. He is the type where if Boogie doesn't go to UK, they didn't want him. There haven't been many IU-UK recruiting battles since we have been together. Maybe Keion Brooks?

haha this made me laugh. Yes I am.

I'll share this fun fact or tidbit..2.5 years around April 21st my 1st daughter was born. There was a ton of commitments to IU around that time (Trayce coming back for year 3, X commiting over Houston/Baylor, Tamar Bates, and Miller Kopp). I remember being at the hospital for some of those and being excited.. I think especially Tamar and Miller. Well fast forward 2.5 years later...we are going in tomorrow as our due date is Monday. We got Liam on Sunday, could be Boogie's turn. Just a fun fact that I was thinking about.

Sorry it's been a busy day I wasn't able to respond earlier...Let me reword must get to disappointed if IU doesn't land one of their remaining targets. Some have used the word "failure". I wouldn't go that far as LIam is a fantastic addition to this program for so many reasons. I do trust the staff in the portal and if history tells us, some high school senior will decommit and IU will be all over them.

Because you can't spend all this time on 3 recruits and only get one. They chose not to prioritize Mustaf, Betsey, Swartz, and others because they narrowed it down to these 3. Also...I don't want this to be negative at all! I applaud what they are doing. But I think in this approach you need to get at least 2. We have one so far.

I think Eric from the Hyserics podcast has said that rarely a recruitment changes at the last minute because of NIL. Boogie is comfortable with both UK's and IU's NIL package to be his final two. I am pretty sure he has his mind made up. We just have to wait another day. Obviously, we know the impact this commitment would have on this program. If he goes to UK, it'll sting. The staff put all their eggs in his basket. It would make Derik Queen a must get IMO. Would have to work hard in April to land a transfer PG. I do trust this staff though. My take: Nobody really knows. I think both sides feel good and they should. I think IU would be a great fit and personally that would be my prediction. But UK wouldn't surprise me.

Wow really? With two top 20 recruits?

Liam and Boogie gives IU a top 5 class right now correct? I know UNC and Duke would probably be ahead. Maybe Kansas.

Outside of the Nationals around the Final 4, will Montverde be on TV or a streaming site again? They are fun to watch. I'll want to tune in, especially if IU lands Queen.

It is insane...five top 15 prospects if you include the sophomore.

Kind of off topic...will this Montverde team even lose a game this year? They are just dominating these teams. That is with Liam/Derik being their 3rd/4th best player.