str8baller

Want to add it would explain why IU thought he was coming... because Stevens did too. He probably never thought they’d offer him Ainges job

Yep. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went to them to say he was unhappy and going to IU. They probably entered into negotiations and settled on this role. Amazing.

I haven’t really followed recruiting much since the early Crean years, but this kid seems like a huge pull for Woodson and possibly the guy that helps round out an increasingly solid rotation next year.

This is going to sound really stupid, so just disregard, but I’m going to write it anyways: After the last twenty years, if we’re going to be bad we might as well get a few good interviews and Knight stories out of it. I’m not saying Woody won’t succeed, but if he doesn’t his “floor” has a little charm to it at least. Each new coach brings the optimism out and the promise of glory. But this is a little different. I haven’t so much enjoyed the dreams of the future as I have the reconnection to the past. It’ll wear off. Nostalgia is short lived and hardly a recipe for success. I hope it works out, but for about half my life it hasn’t so what the hay... btw, did everyone catch coaches latest podcast with AJ Guyton??? Fun stuff.

IU loss to cuse was so bad Bohiem (of all people) was mocking Crean post game.

I didn’t really watch NW last year, so I was looking at his stats. First thing that came to mind when I saw them was that he had a shift in his role. If I had to guess he was getting a lot less catch and shoot opportunities and being asked to attack the basket a little more. Maybe lost a ball handler on the team that looked for him a lot. If he can catch and shoot 3’s at 40% clip at IU, like his soph year, he’ll see good minutes.

I agree with a lot of what was said about intangibles: effort, use the bench, better movement on offense, etc... But looking at the roster, I think it’s fair to say I’m expecting: - compete for a top 5 finish in conf. - be competitive in BTT - make the NCAA tourney with 8 seed or better I’d consider realistic, but not expected goals of making the weekend of the BTT or getting out of the first round of the NCAA on the table. (Sampson won his first tourney game and Davis made the BTT final in their first years). I think unlikely, but any one of the following would have even the National media raving about Woody: sweep Purdue, win BTT or make S16

Voice of those legendary 90’s teams.

Probably closer to the truth than the optimism that springs eternal this time of year. But.., The upside lays with coaching and more specifically accountability. Durham is my least favorite player since the Crean years. He’s the definition of “score 2, give up 3. “ Except he didn’t just give up points on the defensive end so much as he just completely let mental mistakes derail things at both ends. Archie hardly ever held him accountable. This team isn’t exactly under talented of the goal is competing in the B1G and making the tourney. It is a wreck in terms of identity and accountability. It’s biggest missing piece is high level coaching. I think we see what Franklin does at uva and regret losing him; Brunk not so much.

That’s not the type of player I’m usually excited about. With that said, we probably can use the talent infusion and we’ll have to trust the staff to integrate everyone. Sad to lose Franklin especially to a good program like UVA.

I mean if you’re gonna let Suggs drive all the way to the 3pt line without one guy challenging him, then I’m leaving and you guys can run ‘till you can’t even f****** suffer. -Mick Cronin, probably

This type of stuff gets me more hyped than I have any reason to be.

I’ve wondered this myself. He showed a lot of promise as a freshman and has just stagnated since then. If the issue was coaching—and In not exactly convinced it is—he has the talent to play to an all-B1G 3rd team type of level. If he were to turn it around, TJD flourishes and maybe one other guy can step up, I think the pieces are there to be a top five team in the conference and obviously a tourney team. Maybe even 5-7 seed. We’re obviously in the honeymoon phase here and this is all contingent on Woodson working out. But it’s looking like the player situation is going to work itself out to where we have decent talent.

Exactly where I’m at. Love to keep him for many reasons including his awareness and hustle. But he’s replaceable.

I didn’t think much of him as a coach, but he can recruit like crazy. If anything he showed how high a ceiling a place like UT has. If Beard can coach and recruit 75% as good as Barnes, they’ll challenge KU for the conference almost every year.