LamarCheeks

Why do we need Goode? Pretty simple ... We lost a No. 10. He's No. 10. He fits the shirt. LOL!

Jamal Mashburn Jr. -- one year at Minnesota, three at New Mexico, will take his COVID year at Temple.

Not sure if this is sorta known or if the topic has been broached -- I've been on vacation and visiting with out-of-town friends the past couple days, therefore mostly out of the loop -- but according to Tyme on Twitter, getting both Goode and Anderson isn't really an option. Guess it's one or the other.

Not sure how the portal will continue to shake out for us -- and others -- so I'm not exactly sure what my expectations are. But I hope at the very minium, we can finish in the upper half of the B1G and get into the NCAAs. At the maximum, I hope we can challenge for the B1G crown and get a top four seed. I'm just damn and sick and tired of finishing every season with double digit losses. Would be awesome to head into the NCAAs (if we indeed make it there) with fewer than 10 losses for a change.

His Instagram ...

Former Bears and Colts GM Bill Tobin dies at 83. Also was an exec with the Lions and later, a Bengals scout. Gave us one of the greatest sound bites in NFL history. 'WHO IN THE HELL IS MEL KIPER?"

After all the departures in Madison, some Bucky fans have been calling for a changing of the Gard (see what I did there?) Not gonna happen. At least not anytime soon.

Conwell to Xavier

FWIW ... According to our friend Tyme, Carlyle is a done deal. Assures us all to be patient with the final pieces -- says there's work to be done with new names popping up. Some even not in the portal yet. Sorta sounds like the Essegian ship has sailed. Tyme says it's not easy when you don't have a starting role to hand out. Not sure who would have a starting spot for him unless he goes mid-major.

When I look at Twitter every now and then, I see plenty of movement in the women's portal -- but nothing from Bloomington. We have a good core returning and some nice freshmen coming in, but IMO -- we could use a couple experienced players. Maybe a big and a shooter. Trying to replace Mack and Sara will be no easy task. It seems the IU staff likes to keep things close to the vest when it comes to recruiting, but jeez -- it's getting kinda disappointing to see player after player enter the portal, and player after player commit to a new school and none of it involves us (well, I'm glad the players entering the porta doesn't involve us -- LOL). I've really enjoyed seeing us become a player on the national scene in these past few years -- would love to see it continue. But you almost HAVE to add portal pieces to continue competing at that level. For the past couple years, it's mostly been us, Iowa and Ohio State as the B1G's top dogs. Maryland has dropped off a little from years of being a power. But other schools are catching up.

So, if Malone's visit has ended, does that mean we're discussing Post Malone? Sorry -- couldn't help myself ...

Terry Jones just picked off Tayvon Jackson. He's in his sixth year of college -- fourth playing. 2019 -- at Old Dominion: Reshirted 2020 -- at ODU: Did not play; season canceled by COVID 2021 -- played at ODU 2022 -- played at ODU 2023 -- played at ODU 2024 -- playing at IU Can he still take a COVID year? Guessing not, but since ODU canceled its entire season, it makes me wonder.

Been busy for the past couple hours and haven't kept up ... Are we out on Essegian, or still in a holding pattern? Seemed as if it were a done deal, but since nothing's still official yet, makes me wonder if it's a no-go ...

This made me chuckle. Goodman's source tells him that ODU has rounded out its coaching staff. But as someone pointed out, Mike Jones' staff has been in place for a while now. Guess Goodman's "source" was ODU's website! https://x.com/ODUMonarchists/status/1780599989624000897

BTW, as far as I know -- Essegian has NOT committed yet. But Badger Nation is getting restless -- and throwing a little shade at us and Kansas in the process. https://x.com/IKE_Badgers/status/1781029442292252771

Yeah -- Walker used his COVID year this past season. Hoggard still has his available if he wants.

Michigan State's A.J. Hoggard will continue to test the NBA waters, but if he doesn't like the temp -- he ain't going back to East Lansing, Izzo says. Would have his COVID year left if he returns to college. https://x.com/kylebaustin/status/1780989211694321678

Hailey van Lith commits to TCU for her COVID season. Will be her third school. First two stops were Louisville (for 3 years) and LSU (1).

Apparently, Trilly says Jerry Jones will double what any Kentucky commit has been offered to get them to flip to Arkansas. NIL -- sure is a hoot, ain't it.

That's just from a tweet saying Essegian is visiting today.

Scott Drew with a tweet from a Mexican restaurant, saying "respect my decision." How can we quibble with his decision when we don't know what he ordered! https://x.com/BUDREW/status/1780652474333802758

ESPN takes a deep dive into why Bill Belichick is unemployed this offseason. After interviewing with the Falcons, who showed the most interest, their hiring people compared notes -- he wasn't in their top 3. Arthur Blank wasn't necessarily looking for warm and fuzzy -- but he definitely didn't want cold and distant, and that's Belichick. Pretty interesting reading. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39955777/how-patriots-legend-bill-belichick-end-nfl-job

Kinda curious as to what irons in the fire we have in regards to the portal. That info isn't as readily available as on the men's side. We have a good core coming back with some nice pieces coming in, but could use some help. And we've got schollys to play with. Really want to see us continue to be a player on the national scene.

Ranking coaches in the new-look ACC. Not a lot of recency bias here. A Final Four and an Elite Eight coach are in the middie of the pack. I was once a big Tony Bennett fan, but have cooled on him a bit. That 2019 team was a ton of fun to watch, but he hasn't done much since. Seems as if I've read he doesn't get a whole lot of NIL funds to play with in Charlottesville, so I'm sure that doesn't help. Not sure I'd have Smith and Kelsey quite that high.

I have to admit, I was a tad worried when I saw the reports early today about the Arkansas visit. I didn't want him anywhere near Cal or that chicken money. LOL.