Dontshootthemessenger

I’m discussing a scenario where he fails here and then succeeds elsewhere. I don’t think that will happen. But if it does, it could work against us. I think it’s pretty straightforward to see how that could be the case.

You’re not paying attention. I’m obviously not arguing they’re going to lose recruits because he transferred. I’m arguing that it will be a potent argument if someone can legitimately say “remember when IU got 5 star PG like you - that Kristian Lander - he was awful at IU and didn’t develop at all in two years there. He left and went elsewhere and was a whole lot better. Must be an IU problem.” That’s a powerful argument if it looks legitimate from the outside. (to be clear: I don’t think it’s an IU problem with Lander. I think he’s just bad. But I worry about what it looks like and the implications of that if he does get significantly better elsewhere.)

Butler’s strength of schedule was 22 spots higher than IU’s this season in KenPom’s metrics. The new Big East has been roughly equal with the Big Ten since its inception. Current Big East members account for 4 of the last 9 NCAA titles. This is a silly argument. If they play better, it’s either because they randomly got better after the move or they got better because they had better coaching. It will not be related to the level of their competition. It will look bad.

Whatever does it for you, man. Don’t shoot the messenger. The fact is the last couple of weeks, starting with the St Mary’s abomination, have been a dumpster fire for us. Having players follow a departing coach (maybe following two departing coaches?) doesn’t help the image. And if either or both of them go there and play materially better, you better believe every big ten coach is going to be pointing that out on the recruiting trail.

Do you really not see how the calculus is different when you’re 34 and have made little money versus 54 and have made a ton of money?

If you don’t think KL’s upside is worth one of 13 scholarships, or that Phin is worth having as a handler, even off the bench, I don’t know what to tell you. No one is suggesting you can win big with these guys as your featured players, but are they worth 1 of 13 scholarships, yes.

Think about it from Thad’s perspective. If you’d made a *ton* of money in your life, and someone offered you the Louisville job for 3.5 mil, but you thought there was a good chance the IU job would be open and pay you 2.5 mil at some point soon, would you think for a second about taking the Louisville job? No. Outside of money, it’s not clear to me why anyone would think Thad would ever *want* IU over Butler, and money is not as important at this point for someone like him.

Look for news of Lander and Phin visiting Butler in the next couple of days.

Don’t blame the administration. They tried.

No, the physical thing was never real. IU wanted TM to be HC. TM did not want to be HC at IU. His health is fine. He’s got a bad foot. That’s it. He doesn’t have to dunk to be a head coach. It’s blown way out of proportion. He wanted the Butler job. It’s as simple as that. don’t shoot the messenger.