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It sucks watching other mediocre teams like FSU playing Duke tough and we couldn't even beat NW 1x to likely punch our ticket for the dance.

How has nobody figured this out yet?

There really isn't a single player I'd be torn up to lose. Not saying I want to kick them all to the curb, but none would be a terrible loss. I'm higher on Miles than most - I think he's good on defense and rebounds hard. Needs to shoot a ton of shots every day this offseason. Didn't get a chance to get into much of a rhythm this year. Has a lot of good physical tools. Dorn can't be counted on for much more than a catch and shoot guy IMO which there's definitely a role for that. Sisley nice hustle guy. Otherwise not fascinated by him at all. Harris was injured all year, maybe (?) he could be decent depth. Andrej apparently came cheap and he's a 7 footer, I have no issue retaining that depth. Ristic couldn't crack the rotation with this team, he's not going to help next year. Don't think Drake will be up to the task needed from an upper class bench guard next year.

For sure. 2 seems like the minimum? Maybe the best from a budget perspective. But boy, we can use all the help we can get.

Those are all the guys we can possibly return from this year haha. + the 3 freshmen, that's 10 spots. I think the roster limit is 13? So to get an entire new starting 5, you need 2 of those guys to transfer

I don't normally read too much into body language stuff on TV but that game couldn't end soon enough for DDV. He hasn't been a HC for 10 years total on any level in his entire life yet. That's still pretty green as far as being a HC imo. You could see it show up in the way we had 3 different starting lineups this year, let alone all the mismanagement of the portal process. Delegating tasks is a lot different from doing them hands on. You can be a great assistant, learn how to set up a program, and just not be able to run the show yourself. You've gotta cut your teeth for a while to form an identity and optimize around it. I hate comparing across sports, but maybe an optimistic path would be like Marcus Freeman. Certainly not apples to apples in that ND was already in good shape and he was an internal hire, but he was a flat out bad in game coach his first year. He has steadily improved year over year. DDV hasn't shown that from WVU to IU record wise, so hopefully we see it next year or his seat will be hot IMO. I do wonder if when it's all said and done, DDV won't think he made a bad career move leaving WVU after a year and upsetting his assistants and players. Hopefully we get wowed by the portal haul.

Bump the Archie experience odds down to 20% and the Hurley route up to 5% for me and I'll smile like a deluded idiot all offseason just how IU would like fans to lol. Kidding aside, I do think your odds are pretty spot on here. Maybe a little better odds for an Underwood arc than Hurley / Golden (championship success). I don't wanna bury the guy yet, but he's gonna have to wow me in the portal for me to pay attention to basketball at all before football season ends (hopefully again in mid/late January!)

I don't know anything so just speculating. I think Carr is connected within the IU world already and as a natural extension of that he probably has some relevant recruiting connections, but not a main focus. I think his role is much more about scouting the massive backlog of players in the portal using his skill set from Pacers. Which guys have pro traits? And for assigning financial value to targets to inform the staff's decision making. I think Rod Clark is regarded as our best assistant and he was hired too late for last portal to make a difference. I'm thinking of guys who previously played for him or AAU programs he is connected to. Drew Adams supposedly has connections to Flory? Delivering him would be huge but I can't imagine it happening. Don't know what KJ has for us via the DMV. I'd like to see us go after the kid who just decommitted from Wake Forest

Don't know about overpay, but I think you're spot on about it mattering that we lock up some "Dudes" early. Guys wanna know who they are going to play with. Looking at our current returners, nothing for prospective players to get excited about joining. This is why I really want to see us sign 2 studs early, shortly after the portal opens or the player enters. Want to see that the staff has done the necessary legwork to get two impact players on board at the right price. We have ample time, staffing, and money so I'd struggle to see why this can't get done.

I think we can find guys who are about winning at the right price. They will buy in to the system as long as they're 1) being paid a fair market rate 2) believe the system will help them get to the next level. On that criteria, I think between Wilkerson and Javon Small DDV can make the case for a top portal guard. I think the screaming obvious need for a C probably helps with the second point - a huge hole for someone to fill. A featured role and a big paycheck should be attractive. Staff just has to prioritize the right targets and do the scouting / due diligence behind that.

April 7

The worst case scenario on DDV in my book is he is a career assistant who became a winning coach on the back of his son in a mid major conference. Is he in over his head? Would hope Dolson's process screens for that in a way, but I guess you get a bogey or 2 after Cig. Maybe he does really change a lot going into year 2 and gets on the Golden track... we will just have to see.

When you consider how we likely could've had Dusty May at various points, as most Michigan fans will readily admit, it's easy to go kinda nuts. I can't get over that. I've really wanted DDV to show he can win too but there's just no reason to believe that coming out of this year. Hopefully he proves people wrong next year. Lot of work to do in the portal. Starting to think more than 5 spots may be flipped. Goodness gracious. We have plenty of time to get a jump on the portal now. No excuses...

I can also coach, in the sense that l am able to stand on the sideline and call timeout. Lol. Good grief tonight sucked.

Yeah, this one is gonna leave a bitter taste heading into the offseason. Please land a haul in the portal...