Hoosierinbham

I’m from Fort Wayne, went to IU, and have lived in Birmingham for almost 25 years now. Even with recent basketball success, basketball is still a distant second to football down here. Auburn has a better basketball following than Alabama. (Alabama won’t even sell out a home game during the week when they’re ranked #1!) I think part of that is Auburn has been struggling in football, and that gives them something to talk smack to Bama fans about. Basketball is very popular in our area because our former coach is Bucky McMillan. (Congrats on the A&M job) Most fans here still equate Indiana with basketball. The notion that the national perception of Indiana basketball doesn’t exist is false. Maybe it’s because dads have taught their sons based on the Knight years. If either Auburn or Alabama struggle for a couple years, their gyms would be empty. That being said, both schools have terrific coaches, and their fans own bragging rights for now. Just my thoughts as a long tormented Hoosier fan in SEC country.

Interesting. That could bring someone like Pearl into the discussion.

I gotta say, his honesty is very refreshing. That interview definitely shifts how I would think about him as an option. Love his view on the 1 day turnaround games being prep for the NCAA tournament. It’s also great that he views the season as prep for the NCAA tournament. The B1G needs more coaches that think and recruit that way, rather than building rugby teams and counting on terrible home court refereeing advantages.

I gotta say, his honesty is very refreshing. That interview definitely shifts how I would think about him as an option. Love his view on the 1 day turnaround games being prep for the NCAA tournament. It’s also great that he views the season as prep for the NCAA tournament. The B1G needs more coaches that think and recruit that way, rather than building rugby teams and counting on terrible home court refereeing advantages.

I would hope so. If we had to put out that ego-saving statement for him, Woodson better have a zero tolerance policy on running his mouth. He’s harmed this program enough!

I’ve had the same thoughts. Let the people that forced Woodson to be retained own it to the point they are never again allowed to have influence over basketball decisions at IU.

That would be amazing if it was Fife with Moye assisting. There would be absolutely zero tolerance for lack of effort.

And we have a winner!

He was our high school coach at Mountain Brook and turned a stagnant, affluent school into a juggernaut. He had offers last season, but won't go somewhere that doesn't have competitive NIL. He's a math savant, and takes advantage of analytics. Plays a 4 out offense, and attacking defense. I'm admittedly biased, but I would LOVE to have him at IU.

Give me a young, aggressive coach that plays modern college offense. If you haven't watched Bucky McMillan at Samford, he puts a great product on the floor. Follow the coach Cig recruiting model, production over potential.

While I'm on a Birmingham roll, I'll be interested to see who finally gives Bucky McMillan at Samford a shot at a major job. We've watched "Buckyball" for years, and he has a great chance to be successful with the right opportunity. He's already turned down some jobs that lack administrative support and NIL resources. I don't think he's quite ready for a job like Kentucky, but I also think he would win big there.

Living in Birmingham, I'm friends with several former Bama players, and some other VERY connected people. Oats was contacted at least twice. There was an initial "no", and a follow-up attempt as they were rebuffed by their other targets.

I wonder what his buyout will be after next year?

I honestly knew nothing about him until a couple months ago. The more I learn, the more he sounds like a younger Oats in style and competitiveness. I haven't seen them play more than highlights, so how would his defensive philosophy be described? I love the aggressiveness of Bucky McMillan at Samford, so I hope he likes to pressure the ball and 3 point shooters.

His style seems similar to Nate Oats. I really like their offense and spacing.