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I mean, if selling program success is the angle Woody and staff are taking, that explains the miss... IU in the current landscape of NCAA basketball has, IMO, 3 very compelling selling points for recruits: NIL NBA connection/relationships via Woody The campus/student body Point #3 can be matched by a lot of places, so very geography/personal preference specific. There are minutes to be had here. Play on national television plenty and in front of some of the best fans in basketball. If program prestige is a major part of our pitch, that seems like a miscalculation. Being able to win a lot of basketball games is a different pitch, but I suppose someone could argue they're one and the same. Or that prestige is a byproduct of winning a lot of games. We don't exactly have a great track record the past few decades, but Woody made progress from year 1 to year 2. Not being able to sell that to top recruits, suggests to me, we're either casting too small of a net or focusing on the wrong things. That said - we'll see where things stand at the end of portal season. Sucks to miss on Ledlum, but good luck to him. We'll be okay. Hope Banks and Gunn are living in Cook Hall!

Not to start drama (not sure if this has already become a debated saga on the board) but... With Ledlum and Knecht both visiting UT, and UT's scholly situation, the odds they get/take both seems kind of improbable? I'd take a 50/50 split in this situation, but I'd rather have both.

Loyer as their lead scorer, lol. Sign me up for that please. They'd be lucky to win 10 games

Never too early for media to push clickbait for views lol

I wouldn't go that far just yet, but I do think when its all said and done, we will have that kind of roster. The backcourt is still pretty thin and wings still unproven. We will be in great shape if Banks and/or Gunn take a big leap forward. Add Ledlum and I'd say yes we can compete with anyone on any given night. Add Knecht or a similar quality guard/wing, and I'd say we could be consistently competitive. If we have mental toughness too, could be pretty scary for our opponents!

I am just making a projection

I'm ecstatic about adding Ware. This height and length is something I haven't seen on an Indiana team in my time following the program, I don't think (loosely in the DJ White era and more closely in the Zeller/Dipo era). XJ - 6'3 TG - 6'4 Ledlum - 6'6 Reneau - 6'9 Ware - 7' Could add Knecht and Banks and CJ Gunn, three more 6'6 guys. If we play the perimeter-centric offense many anticipate Woody prefers next season, I wouldn't be surprised if our rebounding is actually improved a bit. More threes/perimeter shots could lead to longer rebounds and if we're active without the ball could see us getting our fair share of second chance opportunities. I think/hope Reneau takes a big jump next year on his rebounding numbers.

Xavier Johnson to Kel'el Ware lobs are going to have Assembly Hall rocking next season.

We can't replace TJD. But adding Ware to the frontcourt is about as good as you could ask for. This is another huge get for Woody!

Amazing! Game changer for next year. Let's lock up Ledlum and Knecht or another guard/wing and call it a roster. Welcome aboard Kel'el - you've made a great choice!

I guess as long as we bring in ~2 HS kids a year who will stick around a while so we have some form of a core from year to year, I don't hate it... Gotta adapt to survive in the modern era of college basketball. Going to be pretty tough to build a program/culture with any real continuity taking a portal first approach though, I'd think. Hope we can make it work each season

Would be a hell of a replacement for Miss Berger...

I generally agree - the only reason I have a little bit more of a "wait and see" approach here is because of Ware's alleged significant introversion. If he thinks he will be more supported/closely guided/provided with structure/developed by an NBA guy in Woody, he may choose us. Comparing that to the chaotic season Bama just had (potentially very draining for an introvert living that news cycle day in and day out) along with the fact it could be tougher for him to stay on the court there compared to IU, make me think he will take his time to assess and make a non-emotional decision. We will find out soon enough! Okay, maybe not as soon as we'd like...

Helpful to remember that on the spot commitments are exceedingly rare at this high of a level. If your son were in the position these players are and you were advising him - 99.9% of the time you'd tell them to make sure they've explored all their choices thoroughly before making a decision as big as this one. Yes, the odds are less likely he lands here if he leaves campus without committing, but it doesn't mean we're eliminated from consideration by any means. These are very fluid situations. Many hard and soft factors in consideration and we're not privvy to the vast majority of it. A little disappointing? Yeah, for now... but we'll see what happens

Rumor has it they took Ware to Runcible Spoon yesterday, and he (allegedly) committed later in the day. Rumor has it they took Ledlum to Uptown on Kirkwood today, and he has yet to commit (to our knowledge). That settles it. Runcible Spoon is the best breakfast spot in Bloomington and The Official Indiana Basketball Transfer Portal Player's Favorite Way to Start the Day.

Hey... if he can rebound and defend the perimeter well, that is a big impact for us. Hope the visit goes well!

Agree - 1 and 2 may be more like 1A and 1B for me. Ledlum - think he would be a great addition to the team and program, of course. In terms of how much it elevates our potential/influences our style of play, I'm unsure. He is a very, very good player... like his tape a lot, but shooting is obviously a concern. Sort of see him as a better/more mature version of CJ Gunn (maybe I'm off base with that comparison) but would rather Gunn get some run since he has 3 more years here. The 1 year of eligibility is a damper to me. Somewhat preferred Battle since he did, what he did, vs B10 and could really stretch the floor. Since Ledlum is on an OV right now, the staff clearly wants him. And they know better than me, so I'll welcome him with open arms and trust they know what they want to do next year. At the same time, if Ledlum ends up having a prolonged recruitment... I'd be curious if we see any other compelling guards/wings hit the portal. Not sure when the deadline to enter is. Just hoping that Banks/Gunn are able to contribute meaningful minutes at the 3 spot

We may not/barely be able to play 5 on 5 with scholarship players during spring workouts, but at least we can run with more than 1 on 1...

100% true story I sat next to Jeremiah April and Tim Priller on the first day of Psych 101. We introduced ourselves. Jeremiah asked me if I could share my notes with him. Tim told him to take his own. I said "You guys are on the basketball team right?" Jeremiah said "Yeah, but if basketball doesn't work out I'm going to move to Colorado and become a Rastafarian." Colorado had just started legal recreational marijuana sales. Tim looked mortified, we all awkwardly laughed, and I only sat near them again once all semester.

I don't disagree some aspects of their path being favorable (a few matchups, scouting intel on SDSU from Bobby Hurley who played them a lot). But seeds don't tell the whole story - and in a single game elimination tournament - neither do conference standings, necessarily. In a win or go home scenario - where anything can happen - the roster and coaching staff are what IMO you truly need to look at. In terms of measuring how good of a season any given team had, absolutely agree conference standings and player stats are the main inputs. But in the tournament, those "glimpses" of player potential and coaching abilities of a staff can't be discounted. It doesn't show up on paper all the time but when it makes an impact in any given tournament game, it can end your season. Iona: Coached by Pitino, a legend, was a common upset pick. St. Mary's: We've seen what this program is capable of. Just because they're WCC doesn't make them any less of a threat. Arkansas: This was one of the most talented rosters in the nation. Yes they underperformed during the regular season. They did beat the #1 seed Kansas - they were clearly a capable team Gonzaga: Few is a future HOF coach, Timme was a 3 time all-American. 31-6 team. Arguably elite program in the modern era. If not Elite, firmly in the "very, very, very good" category. Miami: Ended our season. We saw what their backcourt is capable of when they get hot. San Diego State: 32-7 team. Yes, clearly less talented/capable but a very tough squad. They won their conference and made it all the way to the NCAA championship. I acknowledge this could be considered an "easy" game, but SDSU clearly knows how to win. I am a huge Hurley fan - grew up going to St. Anthony's and St. Benedict's games. Those are the experiences that made me love basketball. Danny Hurley built a squad this year and they kicked @$$ in the tournament. Nobody outside of the Big East beat them this year. When they were focused, they were the best team in CBB and many said as much before their January slump. Not saying you are spreading this view - but the narrative this was an "easy" path for UConn - is 110% going to motivate their team next year and depending on their roster turnover this offseason, could easily fuel another run. Dan Hurley famously said after a loss to Villanova that teams better get them now, because they were coming. Fast forward a bit and they are there. If you know anything about the Hurley coaching legacy, you won't be surprised at all if they stay here for a long, long time.

If it's Shedrick or no big man, I'd obviously want Shedrick. Do I think there are likely better players at his position for us to pursue? Yes. The difference between him and a guy like Ware would be astronomical IMO

Would be nice if Bates did us a solid and transferred to Mizzou, maybe that makes Love a little more likely? Lol

Dang. Suppose in that case, I'd like to see us add 2 guards, 1 wing, and 1 shot blocking big. If we get the right portal players, then have Banks, Galloway, and Reneau take big steps forward in the offseason, who knows what can happen. Also wouldn't be shocked if Jakai plays himself into 10-15 mins a game by the end of the year.

And 5 scholarships left, correct? 2 more guards who can shoot/penetrate and handle the ball 2 more wings who can defend the perimeter and slash or shoot 1 rim protecting big What else should we wish/pray for? Lol Maybe 3 guards and 1 wing?

No offense taken IRL I agree, good time to start fresh for all parties