HoosierHuddle

Despite being a "done deal to IU" according to several posters with "strong connections" on various message boards...Alex Hemenway has committed to Vanderbilt. I don't think there is really any need to add a guy just to add a guy so I would probably bank on adding Hatton and then keeping the 13th scholarship open. Of course, if the coaches can find a player that upgrades the roster and is willing to come in for a limited role, great.

It appears quite likely that the final frontcourt piece is going to be Langdon Hatton from Bellarmine (and North Harrison High School). I have never seen him play but he's 6'10" and understands the role he is going to have (backup 4 occasionally, backup 5 occasionally) and is at least a minor threat to knock down a three every now and then. That would leave the last scholarship for Alex Hemenway, if he wants it. Terrific job by all involved (NIL, Mike Woodson, coaching staff, support staff, returning players as recruiters) this spring to build a roster that is way better on paper than I thought it would be.

The Hoosier Huddle podcast had the terrific Matt Weaver from peegs.com (247) on to discuss recruiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrmqjGu6tWg I hope everyone enjoys, thanks!

Assuming Luke Goode commits on Thursday or Friday on his visit, Indiana is left with two scholarships. We know Humrichous is out of the equation and we can safely say that the backcourt is full. Elijah Malone is considering IU, Notre Dame and Colorado and most things that I have read indicate Notre Dame has the closest proximity for him plus the clearest path to consistent playing time and the Fighting Irish are the leader. Who knows if that is accurate but it at least makes sense. If Elijah Malone commits to somewhere besides Indiana...that leaves Anderson from FGCU as the only remaining player on the target board and he seems unlikely once Goode commits. That will bring up the last hurdle for the coaching staff in terms of roster construction. Ballo is the only true center on the roster and he's has not shown that he can play more than like 28 minutes per game maximum. If we play uptempo with the additions of Rice and Carlyle, that Ballo number probably is more realistically 26 minutes per game to keep him at maximum effectiveness. I really hope the Hoosiers target a player that could give us minutes as a forward or a small-ball center and ideally you'd find a guy that could at least be a threat from three. Obviously, the issue is going to be finding a player comfortable with that kind of role. I'd prefer that to finding a guy that is limited to just center. If that means we go "small" for 10-15 minutes per game, so be it. I think it's nearly inevitable we'll have lineups with guys like Mgbako or Tucker or Goode at "4" with Malik or a guy we have not added yet as the 5. Given our acquired depth at guard, that's a good thing.

Take it for whatever you want but according to Jeff Rabjohns: IU was unable to gain traction with Ryan Conwell because Conwell felt Kanaan Carlyle was coming and Conwell would not have a chance to start. I know Ryan Conwell was desired and I get that completely. I do think there is a very real chance that Kanaan Carlyle, moved off the ball thanks to Myles Rice, is a better player in the Big Ten than Ryan Conwell would have been. At least some portion of Conwell's success/numbers have to be attributed to the very friendly system of Josh Schertz. Conwell is a really good player, I think Carlyle is as well. Rice and Carlyle (just waiting for it to become official) clearly like each other and wanted to play together. If getting Rice meant Carlyle was a bigger priority because of their desire to play together, I think it makes total sense.

I have read that "it went well" and he's a take for Indiana. He's planning on taking a visit to Colorado (who has a shell of a roster) and that things "could take a bit to play out". I'd say it's another hurry up and wait situation.

Zach Anderson is an interesting one...IU is at least gauging his interest I guess. He was above the 70th percentile in catch and shoot field goals and in the 99% nationally for catch and shoot three-point attempts. He's 6'7" and listed as a forward. I looked up his games against teams with a pulse (IU included): 7-13 from the field and 5-7 from 3 for 19 points against IU -Pitt: 39 minutes and ten points on eight shots with six rebounds -Cincy: 31 minutes, 4-9 from the field and 8 points -Minnesota: 34 minutes, 4-12/1-1 from 3 with 14 points and 7 rebounds -FAU (a win for FGCU): 37 minutes, 8-12 with 3-5 from 3, 10 rebounds and 21 points -Stetson: 28 minutes, 28 minutes, 9-12 from the field with 3-4 from three and 23 points -EKU: 35 minutes, 5-9 from the field, 5 rebounds and 16 points If we put him in catch and shoot situations...he would be an interesting addition. I would certainly prefer TJ Power and Ben Humrichous but he might make more sense than someone like Leland Walker who would function as an emergency point guard.

He's definitely not. Nor should he. What I think is plausible and would be my preference would be something like the following hypothetical: -Malik Reneau is not in constant foul trouble and plays roughly 30 minutes per game. Oumar Ballo plays roughly 28 minutes per game (I think we likely play a bit slower than Arizona and Ballo could handle a bit more than 25 minutes per game if the pace is slightly slower). Reneau plays around 20 minutes with Ballo out there and roughly ten minutes with Ballo on the bench. During those ten minutes, he partners with TJ Power or Ben Humrichous plus a lineup of like: Rice/Carlyle/Galloway or Rice/Galloway/Tucker or Rice/Carlyle/Mgbako plus Power/Humrichous and then Malik at the "5". Ballo plays roughly eight minutes per game with those same lineups. That would give Power/Humrichous something like 15-20 minutes per game. I think that would be preferable to just locking into a rigid standard of Malik playing 30 minutes and paired with a "center" (ala what we did with Sparks). It certainly appears to me that Ballo will be the only big guy we have that is just incapable of at least making a three-pointer. Elijah Malone shoots it at about 38%, Power and Humrichous can shoot it, etc.

Free game wrap from Hoosier Huddle for those interested: Offense Beats Defense in 2024 Spring Game — Hoosier Huddle I was pretty pleased with what I saw. -I think the offensive line did a nice job throughout the night. It's not easy going against a defensive unit when all they have to do is touch the quarterback to end the play but the QBs had pretty clean pockets. -There is such a big upgrade at wide receiver. Omar Cooper and Cross both had drops and Andison Coby had a dangerous one that went right through his hands but overall, the speed/quickness and ability to do something after the catch is so much higher than what IU has had recently. -I really love what Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton (and even Justice Ellison and Elijah Green) bring. Particularly, Black and Lawton ran hard, showed good balance and vision and then punished defenders that tried to bring them down. They were fun to watch. -Aiden Fisher is the real deal. He oozes leadership (sounds like a medical issue but I'm told it's a good thing!) and he is a tackling machine. I saw Jared Kelly from Peegs posted that he unofficially had 15 tackles. His movement, instincts and then ability to finish the play is impressive. -Encouraging play from the secondary. -Defensive line, unsurprisingly, needs some additions and needs to get healthy.

I will not pretend to be an expert but I have seen two full games of Malone while he was at Grace College. He's quite skilled. 6'10" and big-bodied. Best comparison I can think of in terms of body-type would be like a 6'10" version of Race Thompson. Doesn't appear to have a plus wingspan (but that's my uneducated eye seeing that). He's not a great athlete and I don't think he'd have much success defending in space. To me, he appears to have pretty high basketball IQ and a good sense of making the right play. He was 37% from three and 81% from the foul line at Grace and is now the school's all-time leader in blocked shots and I think in rebounds. I believe he can help IU and play a role (similar minutes to maybe an Anthony Walker last season...maybe a little more if Ballo is gassed?) but banking on him to play a huge role would be a mistake just in case his game doesn't translate up. There are a lot of examples of good NAIA players carving out really good careers in major college basketball, Malone could be another one. I'd hope his addition does not remove Humrichous from consideration though.

After we think we landed Ballo but he's visiting Louisville so we'll see then no Louisville and we got him then well, still feel good but he's visiting Arkansas to....we think we have him but just waiting for the commitment video to post...I didn't look at the board all morning as I was working and took my daughter on a field trip to a horse farm (no Billy Donovan sightings). Fun to catch up to it at speed ha. So it certainly seems Conwell will not be coming to IU and we know Hickman is not. Focusing on what we do have: -Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo (very likely), Kanaan Carlyle (very likely) Obviously, perimeter shooting is still the major concern. Elijah Malone is an interesting wildcard and coming off the bench could be something he would be open to given the rise in level from NAIA to the Big Ten. Does he solve the perimeter shooting issue at all? Eh...a little bit. He is 6'10" but is willing to step out and shoot it and would at least be a change of pace when he came in. A bit of lineup versatility. IF he committed, that would be eleven scholarships used. I think Ben Humrichous would be the most realistic candidate remaining that could help. He's a very good shooter (and played at the NAIA level himself so maybe a bit of a Malone connection?) and could play next to Ballo quite well. Again, lineup versatility. I know Leland Walker wants to go to IU but outside of spot duty, I don't know what role he fills. If we take any guards beyond Rice and Carlyle, they have to be proven three-point shooters. Love what IU appears to be adding but we are again going to rely on players making a jump in three-point percentage in order to have anything close to adequate spacing. I am confident Myles Rice makes a jump up. I am confident Mackenzie Mgbako makes a jump up (I think he's going to have a monster year). I am confident Malik could make more threes if he increases his volume, not sure on percentage increase though. It's still a lot of just hoping though. Humrichous would at least provide a proven perimeter shooter.

I am going to do a dangerous thing and assume a few things (working off of posts by Chris007 and knowledge from others): Carlyle will commit to IU, likely on his visit, Oumar Ballo will commit to IU sometime in the next day or two. That leaves IU with a roster of: Returning: Cupps, Newton, Galloway, Leal, Reneau, Mgbako Arriving: Bryson Tucker, Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Oumar Ballo That would be ten scholarships filled with three remaining. I have heard, as have others, IU did not enter the portal season with intentions to fill all 13 scholarships. That could change but I would be surprised if we had more than 12 players on scholarship. The Connor Hickman versus Ryan Conwell "debate" is somewhat interesting but largely a moot point. It's not a draft and IU has a lot of traction with Hickman while Conwell (who I am 100% sure has been made very aware of IU's very strong interest, plan and offer) is confirmed to be visiting four schools that are not IU. I think very rational arguments can be made that Hickman is way more than just a consolation prize. He is a very good three-point shooter and I think his percentage actually is underappreciated. Bradley was not a shooter friendly system and they played with a ball dominant point guard that didn't set Hickman up. There were not a whole lot of catch and shoot opportunities. I think he could thrive IF (major IF) put into position to succeed as a spot-up shooter in addition to his ability to play as a secondary ball-handler in pick and roll situations with Ballo. I don't have a bunch of inside information but I am told things occasionally, particularly when there are players with strong connections to Indiana high school basketball due to my involvement in it (which feels like a lifetime and a lot of lost athleticism ago)...Connor Hickman has never asked for a promise that he will start. He wants a chance to start, a chance to compete and earn playing time. He wants to know that other guys will not be ahead of them just because the other guys might be promised things. IU has offered him that chance along with, I am sure, a hefty NIL number. Will he choose IU? I hope so. I don't think IU could have done anything differently than what they did to land him. If he joins, you have two scholarships left. I am very surprised by this but I do believe there is a somewhat realistic chance IU lands Payne, in addition to Oumar Ballo. I don't know if that's going to happen and I don't know if that is a great thing. Payne is very intriguing and I like watching him and he'd be a REALLY good backup center that could maybe give us a few minutes as a four in a pinch if he was surrounded by like Rice/Hickman/Mgbako as shooters. I would certainly prefer Humrichous but I don't know if he actually is interested in joining IU in a rotation role. If Payne would do that...I think you take him and then hope we stagger the bigs appropriately.

All of the Payne/Ballo talk might be moot...Travis Branham just crystal balled Ballo to Indiana. Interesting for sure. If Payne would agree to come to Indiana along with Ballo? You absolutely take both but I imagine he'll have opportunities elsewhere to start (if the CB from Branham ends up being correct).

That is perhaps true...there is also a very real possibility IU lands Rice, Carlyle, Hickman and Ballo or Rice, Carlyle, Conwell and Ballo...it'll probably fall somewhere between those multiple scenarios and any of those would be pretty good outcomes for IU, in my opinion. Obviously, there are levels of success and I'd prefer one or two of those scenarios to the Rice/Payne/Hickman outcome but I really don't think IU takes Payne on Saturday if they have a really strong chance to get Ballo a day or two later.

Absolutely...there is essentially no world where Payne agrees to come to IU with the intention of being a backup. Ballo's visit starts on the 14th but you know IU has a very good idea of where they stand with him. Hypothetically, if Payne wants to commit on Saturday, do you take his commitment and then try to sell Ballo that he'll still get his 25 minutes per game? We know Ballo is visiting so you know that Payne is aware of it as well. That would be a very interesting tight rope to try and walk. I think Payne's ability to defend a bit in space would be nice and he does have a nice block rate but Ballo is the much better rebounder, particularly on the offensive end. Ballo is also one of the best pick and roll lob guys as a diver to the rim...something that would work REALLY well with Myles Rice (and could work well with Carlyle and Galloway as well). Ballo is an elite finisher in the post and I think he raises the floor for IU. If that means you slow-play Payne for a couple of days and risk losing him but you have a great shot at Ballo, I kinda think you have to play it that way.