IU Prof

Realistically, what would it take to get an NCAA bid at this point (short of winning the B1G Tournament, of course). Given the lack of quality non-conference wins, does 10-10 get it done? 11-9? 9-11? Obviously it depends somewhat on what those wins and losses are, and the B1G tourney results. But how much margin for error do people think Woodson has to make the dance sitting at 2-1 in conference?

I think McCollum has even more question marks than Dusty. There's no guarantee his small school success levels up at a place like IU. This program desperately needs an established winner at the highest level like Pearl. Or Brad. Anything less, and there's a 50-50 chance you're firing up the FlightTracker again in 4 or 5 years.

Setting aside the identity of the messenger, Dusty is a lot riskier than many here are assuming. He's no slam dunk. Plenty of teams have wilted over the course of a full B1G season after a hot start, so let's see where he's at in March. The late game issues recently have to be concerning, regardless of any comparative assessments between May and Woodson. Sure, Dusty is better than Woody, but that's a real low bar at this point. The question is how much better is he, and does he have what it takes to hang a banner. The jury is still out on that.

The only reason IU is "on the bubble" is due to pre-season rankings. If this were, say, Eastern Michigan with the same resume, they wouldn't even be on the radar. In another month or so, IU won't still be getting the benefit of the doubt based on being overrated in the preseason.

Yeah, I don't think that's how most (competently run) universities would handle a negotiation of that sort.

What do you think the odds are that the outcome is different this time around?

I'm not sure how you can claim to both be a long-time IU Insider and also an expert on the interworkings of other major universities. IU is an unusually insular and incompetently run institution, based on my experience at a variety of universities, in ways that most IU lifers fail to appreciate or understand. So if you have the longitudinal perspective of IU decision-making processes that you've suggested, then I don't think you are in a particularly strong position to discuss how similar or dissimilar IU's processes are to other, more competently run institutions.

Agreed. But for someone who claims to be here simply to share insight into how institutional decision-making happens, you seem to be posting with incredible frequency and defensiveness. The simple answer to that resulting quandary is that you are really here for a very different reason than the one you profess.

Like I said...

Props to @KathywithaC, this was some world class trolling today...

Considering we're playing Providence, I'd say it'd be mighty impressive if Woodson beat Davidson today...

https://x.com/TheFieldOf68/status/1844426344286793762

Personally I'd be surprised if IU made a mid-season move, aside from possibly announcing his retirement at year's end. That would be very much not on brand. Could be wrong, though. Setting that aside, though, I'm struggling to decide whether the slim chance of salvaging something out of this season with, say Calbert as HC is worth the risk that he pulls a Diebler and then we don't get the clean house we need to move the program forward.

Brad Stevens

I don't think Dolson will follow the Cignetti hire for the next BB coach. He'll want a proven winner at the high major level. Or Brad Stevens.

I wonder if the boosters who decided to buy Woodson a team are satisfied with their RoI at this point...

If?!? I think he already has.

IU would not be favored against Gonzaga or Arizona in Atlantis, should they get to play them.

I will say, kudos to the staff for scheduling this game. It's a great tune up before things start for real.

2 Ts in one half of an exhibition game?!?

The new offense looks a lot like last year's offense to me, just with a more dynamic PG.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't think that this roster is *that* talented. And I don't think the talent that has been assembled is particularly well-tailored to play with one another. Undoubtedly the roster has more dynamic guards than last year, but Rice and Carlyle largely feature overlapping skillsets, so they aren't really complementary pieces in my mind. And then it appears that Mgbako is going to be penciled in at the 3, even though it seems clear he's better at the 4, in order to once again allow Reneau to play out of position at the 4. Sure, Rice and Carlyle will be able to take more guys off the dribble than the backcourt last year. But whenever Reneau and Ballo are on the court together, the guards are going to run into a lot of congestion once they get to the paint. Aside from Goode, we haven't while added any lockdown shooters for the new guards to dish to when they do break the defense down. I know people are hopeful Rice and Carlyle's 3 pt. shooting % will improve significantly from last year, that is hardly a guarantee. And we haven't even gotten to Woodson's shortcomings coaching on the defensive end. So while I'd be happy to be wrong, I just don't see the high ceiling many of you do for this roster, especially with this coaching staff. I think that a top 30-40 finish and a 12-8 B1G record are much more likely than a B1G Championship or Final Four run. And while that would certainly be an improvement over last year, I don't think that would be anyone's idea of a successful season. Again, hope I'm wrong, though!

I'm not confident that Stevens will ever come to IU, but if he did, I'm highly confident he'd win big. I don't think there is a better.coach out there, Hurley included.