TTT

Speculation: were some IU Ladies disgruntled by the amount of NIL money dumped into the men’s program….one thing that men get more but was the discrepancy just to outlandish for some IU Lady players to accept including the ones who just finished their careers.

Yeah, IU Ladies got another player.

In the current climate of college sports if someone legitimately offered me like a 25% to 50% to even double the salary I would consider changing jobs…..if intangibles checked out (which possibly could be a deal breaker). Is the grass always greener on the other side???

Indiana University is one of the best situations she could have been in from many at the university. Along with her coach and staff.

5 including incoming freshman. Money? It will be interesting to see how the IU Ladies transfer portal players workout….downside, lateral, upside. Out of six players there are going to be winners and losers. Also wondering about who was coach driven to transfer vs those who were player driven and neutral departure.

Musical Chairs So, is next year’s team called the PennArkStJoeUTahetcetcetcLionsRazorbacksHawksetcetcetc??? Indiana Hoosiers Unconnected

Yes, that would be a requirement for any team one would think.

1..Additional thought (better players) and put herself on the market and get with established team. 2. Most of the most successful top teams have excellent players on the bench and are having much less turnover. 3. Shay? 4. Wonder what incoming freshman are thinking? 5. What are the 3 active players thinking? 6. Looking at some of the IU Ladies transfer portal players…they thanked and appreciated the fans. No mention of coaching staff. 7. Possibility (unlikely) of a couple players in transfer portal and IU Ladies program kiss and make up and return????

So what does Shay do?

Sign Gracie Merkle (commitment and run the floor)up and let’s go. That has a great making story. Gazon, Merkle, Ciezki, Beaumont, incoming freshman, and their are a couple wings out there and another guard…..and IU are back. It is an upgrade.

Do you mean she returned to playing better?

My additional thoughts last 2 paragraphs. Plus maybe Faith will do a little something next year when she quits being scared….Faith did play volleyball in high school as well I think. Conditioning and strength training can help both players.

TTT 1,294 Posted March 19 FEATURED Column | Gracie Merkle has become a liability for Penn State Noah Aberegg | The Daily Collegian Jan 27, 2025 2 min to read Center Gracie Merkle (44) shoots the ball during the Penn State women's basketball game against Rutgers at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Scarlet Knights beat the Nittany Lions 73-77. Samantha DiCamillo Coming into the 2024-25 campaign, 6-foot-6 center Gracie Merkle was hailed as the biggest acquisition for Penn State. "We are thrilled to welcome Gracie to our Penn State family," coach Carolyn Kieger told Penn State Athletics. "Her dominance in the post is unparalleled.” Merkle led Bellarmine in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage last season – the latter of which she led the nation, draining 70.2% of her shots. Through 12 games, Merkle displayed that success at Penn State, leading the team with 20.3 points per game. Her scoring ranked in the top five in the Big Ten, and Merkle’s play was unstoppable. That was, until the final game of 2024, when she was shut out against Minnesota. With only one field goal attempt in 21 minutes, Merkle was empty for the first time. While she’s found the net in each game since, the Bellarmine transfer hasn’t returned to her early-season level of productivity. Arguably, she’s been worse, and her play has been a liability for the blue and white. Physically, Merkle has all the attributes of a successful center. She’s 6-foot-6 and has the height to out-rebound opponents. She also has a large frame, giving her the ability to work in the paint. However, Merkle doesn’t often out-rebound opponents and her paint play is minimal. When the Mount Washington, Kentucky, native is on the court, she simply stands under the basket waiting for a pass and an opportunity to score. This worked through the first two months as she put up double-digit field goal attempts in nine games. However, teams began scouting how she scored and planned against that, which was highlighted against Minnesota. Double-teamed and denied down low, Merkle hasn’t found another way to score. With her big frame, Merkle has the size to work from the high post and back down defenders to the basket. She has the body to be physical and fight for points – but she doesn’t. Instead, she stands as a liability to the Lady Lions, committing 2.4 fouls per game and 3.2 turnovers per game. When Merkle does occasionally drive, she does so forcefully – too forcefully with her frame. She often commits a charging foul and turns the ball over as a result. The Lady Lions have committed too many turnovers to succeed this season, but Merkle’s frequent dropped passes in the paint have turned what should’ve been easy points into turnovers. Against Rutgers on Sunday, Merkle came off the bench for the first time this season after starting 20 straight games for the blue and white. When asked why Merkle came off the bench, Kieger offered a simple, yet telling answer. “Practice. Whoever practices hard earns it,” Kieger said. Merkle has been seen as one of the slower players on the court, and while her large frame can slow her down, her level of hustle isn’t on par with the rest of the Lady Lions. Some thoughts on Gracie Merkle playing at Penn State. Af first when she was in the portal I thought Yes. After reading this I said No. Now, I say push her to be great with some good coaching and let’s go…..one reason I am tired of seeing all the pop ups on this thread. Get her in shape and it would allow IU Ladies to play over the top. Quick moves to the basket with authority and confidence with good decision making to kick out. Can’t teach 6’6.” Maybe, just needs coaching and she can join Ciezki.

Overall, pretty elite coach that coached elite players who were disgruntled by the way she may have coached them but didn’t put up with their negativity, attitude and etc (nice way to put it). Yet, she goes on pretty much successful just being herself with high talent and physical players for the most part. Congrats to her. Kinda gruff but also in her way respectable. She does it her way.

Might want to consult Maryland Ladies coach. She recently replaced her whole team and right now she’s Maryland is doing fairly well.

May not be only reason. Common sense might say she wants to go to a team where she can plug into for a higher percentage chance to go to final four or beyond.

Yarden and how about Shay? and $6,000,000 for the men’s program last year. Then, look at the character of each program. Sidenote: does not involve new men’s basketball coach in any way.

Yes, it is very obvious NIL is a major factor nowadays. Some programs (players and coaches) seem happy. Others seem stressed.

Agree. Life isn’t fair. Take the word ‘fair’ out of the dictionary. This hardly if ever happens. Fans/People: “NCAA for division one (and law makers) you have made your choice.” People/Fans also have a choice: Turn around and walk away. Don’t have anything to do with any of it for a couple years. Sounds outrageous? Well what is going on now is outrageous. Maybe, IU could sell there athletics department to Mark Cuban and/or a group of investors.

Transfer Portal is like playing musical chairs.

Not talking about T.Moren tenure. I thought it was an excellent hire from the beginning the day she was hired and watched the program grow and actually expressed it throughout in another blog that closed down before moving to this one. Talking only about Lilly playing center as a starter in big ten. T. Moren does an excellent job of encouraging and trying to instill confidence in her players.

Based on hope. Not hard evidence. Yes, to evidence of solid backup center and she struggled even with that. (At big ten level)….Agree with being in the minority. Per ESPN Makalusky (95) vs Berger was (96). It depends on which rating system is used. However, Makalusky is great get for IU Ladies. Yes, IU Ladies played against more physical, athletic teams (some even when not taller more thickness to their bodies).

Maybe, out of high school, but Lilly gave 0 evidence of a big ten starting center though she was a starter some. Not out of high school to IU but Parrish was the highest rated player ever at IU while in high school. Patberg from ND was a 5 star. Also both, Berger, Holmes were at least ranked as high as Makalusky in stars. Future remains to be seen. Makalusky is a stick right now and will go up against bigger and more athletic and yes Caffey (3) is good but same thing holds true for her. Then, Ashlyn the following year looks sturdy and has another year of high school.

T. Moren has been in and out and has sustained some but it’s teeter tottering as (not even counting IU Ladies in transfer portal now. They weren’t going to be full time impact players at big ten level) projecting out IU Ladies are spiraling downward rather than upward. (or maintaining). A couple years ago T. Moren in her own words stated it’s one thing to make it to the top. It’s another thing to sustain it. The good news it is correctable. For this year transfer portal success needed.

Add several coaches/schools because more of the best players are walking to them to get into near top fluctuating 1 to 10 to 20 to 25 rankings.