HoosierHoopster

Definitely good news with Ya and Hunter back, and sounds like Walsh earned his stripes — Also I like continuity of the staff, for the current players and recruits, and yes, for peace of mind for us fans

No one has really been talking much about IU — beating UCONN (major challenge) would be a big time step for Moren’s program and would vault IU up in the women’s team limelight — great opportunity

Is Oprah giving away cars? I need one, put me on her list!

Just ask A Franklin. Transferred to UVA, playing in NIT while IU made the tourney

Houston is an excellent team, all they’re doing now they’re doing despite injuries including key players. I’m here in Houston, have seen not only their level of talent- as good as anyone- but their bond, these guys are a really, really tight group, they talk about each other as brothers, they talk about not letting each other down and fighting for each other. This team can beat anyone, and Sampson, of course, is a hell of a coach

Yeah I remember his post-game interview after the PU W and being carried on shoulders in the court rush crowd: “I love IU” Great kid, great heart, dealt with multiple injuries and concussions, always came back bringing his best, wish him all the best

Yeah, X - JHS backcourt

Yeah I’d personally prefer a Drew etc but 2 NBA - pedigreed coaches can have clout from a recruiting standpoint. Hope Ya stays regardless

Well that’s too bad, but will wish him well and success

And guess what he’s working on. Kid is a gym rat. Want to lay some dinero on how much his handle improves by the fall?

So, first re how this conversation began, I've of course never said I wanted to move on from TJD and Race, it would be great if both came back -- but (imo) that's highly unlikely. The conversation is really about who can step up and how we'll be if both (or one of them) do leave. I have a maybe unrealistic hope that Race stays while TJD takes a shot at the pros. As to whether Geronimo is better, I think it's pretty clear his upside is much higher than Race's, fwiw, he's a better shooter, and I'd bet on him having a big time junior year. On positions and Kopp, again, JG did not play the wing spot, and Woodson, having brought in Kopp for his outside shooting, played Kopp (and Stew) for his outside shooting threat, to create space, and regardless how poorly he was shooting or playing. No one was 'beating out' Kopp, no matter who, and in any event he was never in competition with JG. Kopp was brought in for spacing, The comparison to J Smith is off too, though. Smith was never, in any way shape or form except in his own mind, a wing. He was a pure 4 who had no outside shot at all. Unlike him, Geronimo can play different positions, and I agree his future is at the wing -- buthe can shoot, his outside shot is smooth. I'm not concerned about his percentages because he hasn't shot it enough, I just see his form, the release, and his confidence in knocking down outside shots, including coming in cold off the bench, and in the NCAA tourney. He needs to continue to work on his handle, and grow his outside game including shooting off the bounce, but the form is very much there -- unlike Smith, who was just not a wing. . I'd bank on Geronimo moving to the wing (where I'd like to see him), but the handle growth has to be there. Regardless, he's clearly one of our best players, and will only be better next season.

So what? So - Geronimo wasn't competing with Kopp for minutes. Different positions, completely different players, completely irrelevant. And that's of course disregarding, as you are (if you even watched the games) that Woodson started and played Kopp and Stew in almost every game regardless of how well or poorly they were playing, because Woodson wanted shooting on the floor for spacing, and veterans . That's beyond obvious but apparently either lost on you, or disregarded, so you can bring yet another hypocritical argument here. And so -- Geronimo was clearly one of the best players on the team by year end, and that's why he played 19-21 MPG in the closing stretch and NCAA tourney. About 13 mpg coming into the UM game, then UM (19 min), Wyoming (19 min, and basically won us the game, 7-11, 7 boards, block and assist, key D), St Mary's (21 min). He's coming into next season as a likely 20-mpg plus player, not a 10 mpg player. And so -- ignoring his advanced stats, with comparison to the full team, is just silly. Even just going with totals, disregarding his more limited minutes, he was 3rd in blocks, 3rd in FG%, 4th in boards, and 6th in overall scoring. Per 40 min and per 100 poss he was 2nd in blocks, 3d in boards, 3rd in FG%, and 4th in scoring. And those numbers are lower than the closing the stretch, when Woodson finally recognized his impact (and that's on Woodson). If you actually watched the games, you should have seen his "actual production" down the stretch and just how important he was to the team.

He was on both a per minute basis and per 40 basis one of our best players in several stats, and his minutes were clearly growing significantly by end of season, along with his all around game

I’d like to see what Race and Geronimo can do with steady minutes, but also with an actual strong shooter plus X andj JHS

This is where i am popular or not. Fife apparently did something(s) wrong, but Woodson has what to me is a kind of troubling stubborn i know better than you streak. Put down the ego a bit and hire experience on your college bench — and i’m one who believes Woodson is on the right path for IU, but that’s an area he’d be better off recognizing

JG plays the 4 but i’d love to see him at the 3, he has the defensive ability to guard wings, he has a smooth stroke which should result in better percentages on more shots next season, he doesn’t hesitate to shoot when the look is there, he has the explosiveness to the rim and above the rim game. He needs to improve the handle, that’s a key area for his off season, but if he has a next level opportunity that’s where it is

That would never be the case. Not saying he was likely to be the next coach (never thought so) but his asst coach contract wouldn’t say anything about that

Then he throws a punch :)

Best of luck to you KL -- Hope you find a great fit and thrive!

New assistant seen standing in corner, not moving, kind of wondering what he's doing... :)

Without going into whether it's for the best or not, this just isn't the normal coaching situation. This is Fife coming back to IU from MSU, the whole bring back the IU guys thing, with Fife as a key piece, and his being (apparently) unhappy with his role and leaving within a year. I'll be interested to hear how this comes out, but at this point I have to agree it's just not a good look.

Fair point - but then bring in new assistants he will listen to

Honestly Woodson needs to listen to his college-experienced assistants on the bench. The whole consultant thing is kind of odd, it creates unnecessary division with the staff, who you brought in for their experience. I remember a game where Woodson acknowledged in the post-game presser that he finally put Geronimo in because his assistants were yelling at him to do so, and then Geronimo had a great game. He needs to be giving his experienced staff more of his ear, or bring in a new assistant who he can rely on without looking outside.

All while recruiting the top HS prospects

Not sure if posted but like this simple tweet from JG - @JordanGeronimo2 Season ended a little too early but nonetheless it was a great season. So proud of my team and happy to break barriers with my brothers. Now the real work starts!! #GBG #Offseason