IU Prof

So the best case scenario is: Portal PG Portal SG McNeeley Mbgako Reneau Galloway (6th man) The problem with that scenario is that the front court defense will be...not good...barring huge leaps from Mbgako and Reneau. Those Portal guards not only need to bring about 25-30 PPG, but they'll also need to be world class on-ball defenders. Otherwise, with Reneau as the rim protector, he's likely to foul out after 15-20 MPG.

It does appear the deepest pocketed boosters are content with the status quo, which makes it hard to affect real change. Maybe coordinate a campaign to get everyone dissatisfied to wear a paper bag over their head to the game on Sunday?

I think that's the best case realistic scenario...

So. Many. Questions. What happened to the big meeting Tuesday? Why announce this now? Why do it through media sources instead of Dolson issuing a statement reaffirming his support of Woodson? None of this makes any sense. Talk about dysfunctional.

For those more clued in than I....if Dusty is the guy, are there any elite defensive scheme assistants out there with excellent Indiana recruiting connections? Guessing no, but pairing him with a guy like that would increase the odds of success.

Sorry, didn't intend that as a rebuttal to you, just kind of adding to the conversation.

Because McNeeley was coming here for NBA level training and a shot at winning big. Why would he place his career in the hands of an unproven entity (from his vantage point) like May when he could instead just go to Kansas to play for Bill Self?

I don't see how or why McNeeley would decide to come here to play for May. The guy is a projected lottery pick, it'd be way too risky for him. Pearl maybe, but even then I think it's a long shot. Liam suiting up in candy stripes may even be a long shot if we keep Woodson at this point, given everything he's said about wanting to win, potential departures, etc. And just to be clear I wouldn't base any decision on a single recruit, or even a single recruiting class ('25, for instance).

Not really. The Board would have to sign off on the hiring of a new coach. Even if spreading the buyout of Woodson avoided BoT approval for that step (which I doubt), they need Board approval ultimately. So any move will be made with BoT support, not by circumventing the Board.

There is no way that IU is going to hire a new basketball coach without BoT approval. The overall dollar values are too large, and the role is too central to the university. Dolson has to work through the BoT, not around it.

I was just thinking something similar. Given the time value of money, logic would dictate that it should be possible to reach an agreement with Woodson where he will amicably walk away in exchange for getting a larger chunk of the buyout upfront.

Fair, but in this case it would be specific...X number of days on the road recruiting or you don't get year 5. At which point, Woodson has to weigh how much he wants the job (for at least one more year).

I wonder if Dolson could put expectations in place for a year 4 for Woodson from a recruiting perspective that would effectively force him to walk away. X number of days on the road, etc.

I know LeBron is a big OSU fan...just not clear why he's pushing May.

What's LeBron's connection to Dusty May?

Better that than Pearl to UL...

Two thoughts: 1) It seems like May is the hot flavor of the month on the coaching carousel. Honest question: how often do those guys work out? My gut says they don't, more often than not. 2) If key decision makers aren't on board with a coaching change yet, I'm not sure what else they need to see. In which case, every win makes it less likely, IMO.

Makes one wonder if part of the reason the Pearl stuff is leaking is to subtly put pressure on any holdouts to make the change...

This is the part that worries me. A lot rudest on who the "everyone" is there.

That's not necessarily true. It's possible he would feel jilted or otherwise too settled to move 6 years from now, but if IU is truly his dream job, he'll likely move when the opportunity arises. Just as if Pearl is willing to make the jump now.

While I don't disagree, it wouldn't be hard for the administration to save face for Woodson on the way out by arguing that he did build a bridge. They could credibly argue that he not only got them back in the NCAAs two years in a row, but made the brand relevant again to high level recruits. And now, that that base has been established, its time to hand it off to someone else, as had always been the plan... Just need to get Woodson on board with an (in)voluntary retirement.

I think the ceiling of the IU program is considerably higher than that of Auburn's. So IU would increase his odds of winning a national championship IMO. The only mitigating factor is if he really does intend to retire after 5 or 6 years, and feels it would take 2 to 3 years to build IU up to where Auburn is presently. Otherwise, IU is clearly the better job by a considerable measure for a variety of reasons (fan support, recruiting base, media attention, shoe company, etc.).

I think this is reasonable. The next question then is what are the odds that Woodson can achieve that given the state of the roster? I think it's about 30% at best. But I think you'd need to be at least 60% certain (and possibly even higher) in order to being him back.

I'm saying, what would they say Woodson needs to do to earn a fifth year after 24-25? Not what they think the team will do (which, I agree, is unknowable at this point).

One thing I think would be interesting to hear from those who think Woodson should get another year is what the expectation should be for 24-25 if he returns? W/L, conference standing, NCAAs, etc. People may be talking past each other to some extent, with those advocating for another year simply having lesser standards for the program, thus the difference of opinion on Woodson's chances of "turning it around."