Solsberryberries

The roller coaster reality of IU basketball continues under CMW. Win 5 games against teams that aren’t good and get the feels back with some of the fans, then play a decent team on the road resulting in a non-competitive annihilating loss. Once again we give up. Once again we aren’t running back after turnovers. Once again we have selfish shots early in the shot clock against a soft Iowa team leading to long rebounds (our bad shots are worse than turnovers.) This season cannot end quick enough.

If I’m the Michigan AD, I’m trying to renegotiate Dusty’s contract mid-season. There’s a lot of angles to look at Dusty’s buyout. Was it Dusty who wanted a low buyout or Michigan? I’m guessing they’re going to push for a longer term contract, with more incentives with a higher buyout more comparable to what Alabama has with Oats. Here’s to wishing that Dolson does have a “close” relationship with Dusty and some of these conversations are happening. That said, everything I have heard is Dusty loves Michigan and has no desire to leave. What else would he say to people back home?

Woodson called TJD -“Tracy” his first few months on the job. That was a sign of things to come. I once had a coach who never knew my name- only knew the names of four or five guys on the team. (Last names only) He only coached for a year, but it still reminds me how important self-awareness is. At the time, it seemed he only cared about how he was being perceived as a coach. It was his thing- not really about the team. But he couldn’t see it. The Woodson administration is percolating some bad memories. I was worried when I could tell he wasn’t taking the time to remember names and he was referring to himself in the third person. But it’s the same thing. No awareness to how he fits into a program, the lives of young men, a university, a community or a state. It’s all about how those things fit into his world. And he can’t even see it.

Bringing in Yasir is the reason Woodson didn’t retain Mike Roberts. In his short time with Woodson, Roberts was trying to convince Woody to recruit Braden Smith because he was “the best guard in Indiana.” Roberts was right.

Just a couple comments about the staff… 1.) The staff that remains has learned that Woodson only listens to Mike Woodson. They are there to do what he wants. This works for a few elite head coaches, but Woodson misses major stuff and still refuses to listen. 2.) I’ve gotten mixed messages on this, but I’m not certain Woodson has the ability to fire some of the staff like say, Calbert. His own assistants, yes. But outside of that, I think that’s it. Trying to connect the dots, but I think that’s why the Howard thing was a mess and Dolson offered him another job in the department. 3.) One of Dane Fife’s good friends was just hired at the University of Michigan (where Dane is from) as the head basketball coach and he (to my knowledge) did not offer him an assistant coach position. That should tell us something.

Michigan is 11-19 for 3 point with 3 minutes left in the first half.

Wow- that list of names. Plenty of busts in that list. An argument could be made that some could have had success here, but a program shouldn’t have to compensate for coaching deficiencies to achieve success. Outside of Stevens and Donovan, the best coach on that list is Marshall. The dude was a loose cannon (along with his wife), but man could he coach. It seems to me that the obsessive, crazy coaches are the best coaches. Some can make up for a lack of obsession with intellect (see Stevens), but even he made irrational decisions for the love of basketball (left a good job at Lilly for peanuts at Butler). The next coach can’t assume they’re going to win at Indiana- to really win they will need to obsess over it (which is why I wanted Dusty in April). The only thing that would help the sting of losing May is Stevens…and maybe that’s why Dolson didn’t move in April. Just had a call today from a guy with a long history of coaching in college and high school ranks confirming some of the things I heard here- Stevens is not as long of a shot as we have thought.

We have a confirmed “get over the hump” remark in today’s post-game presser.

Direct quote from his immediate family: ”There’s no chance he leaves Michigan. He loves it there.” I would love to eat crow on this, but that was two weeks ago. 5 years down the road… maybe another story?

Unfortunately, I’m convinced he will turn us down. Unless he told his family to tell everyone he’s not coming back home anytime soon to keep the noise down? It’s a crying shame he’s coaching in the B1G and not at Indiana.

Right. But in the past the coach would pre-record the show with Fisch. I just wish Coach would talk ball. Enough of the cliches… talk ball, coach. It’s what the people want to hear.

What’s the deal with the coach’s show this year? Not only has the show been cut back (not every week now), Woody isn’t even batting .500 for making an appearance. He’s been present for 2 full coaching shows since the turn of the new year. I thought this was a major part of his salary?

It seems like Woodson will get his 4th year and an opportunity to improve the roster in the off season. Here’s a couple things I’m hoping for: 1. No playing time promises to transfers. I’ve wondered at times this season if some of the odd lineups have more to do with guaranteed playing time than a reward for hard work? Not sure. I really liked the 4 guards with Ware during the Iowa game. The most driving room we’ve had all season… That, and Iowa’s guards couldn’t stay in front of a gum ball machine. So who knows if it is more effective? Either way, playing time promises limit chemistry and experimentation. 2. A cohesive staff. I don’t want to go into much here, but we need our staff to get on the same recruiting page. I’m hoping we have at least one assistant transition this year. 3. Recruit kids who have a fundamental foundation and win. Potential, potential, potential. I don’t like that word anymore. We need winners. And when kids win at a high level, it typically means we don’t have to teach help side fundamentals the first 2 months of the season. 4. Get a shot doctor into Cook Hall. Mercy. Just mercy. I never thought I would see Indiana have a team captain whose guide hand could tickle his goatee after he shoots. Even if it’s just for aesthetics and beauty, can’t we clean up the form?

First time poster, but looooooong time reader going all the way back to the Decker Scout board (and the other various stops in between.) I’ve always appreciated the overall passion and enthusiasm on this board, so thank you to all the people that make this place enjoyable. Ugh… more coaching threads. I was hopeful that things would move in the right direction with Coach Woodson, but alas… here we are trying to stay above .500. When we look back at the 29 years Coach Knight was here he had 10 10-loss seasons. None of those seasons were sub .500, but they were mediocre, nonetheless. Some of those seasons were right on the heels of some of our most successful seasons. Sure, he caught flack. But it seemed he nearly always had overwhelming support from the fanbase. One of the reasons I believe Coach Knight had that support was simply because he formed relationships that communicated he valued the people in Indiana. He was accessible, benevolent and equally supportive to the surrounding communities. His favorite eateries (like Rosie’s Diner), hobbies, media appearances (coach’s show, golf instructions, coaching clinics) all formed lasting bonds and ties with the state that far outlasted his time here as coach. He taught us how to watch the game- even produced videos teaching the fans what to look for while watching a game (still available on YouTube). To me, along with a coaching philosophy, this is the secret sauce to coaching at a special place like Indiana (beyond the university). Tough years will happen in good, even great programs. But will you have the support and respect of the community to see you through? It seems to me all of our hires since Knight have been a swing and miss in this category- all separate from what happens on the floor or basketball IQ. First, I hope Coach Woodson figures it out. But he has to show up in Indiana High School gyms and eat a bag of popcorn and learn someone’s name who works at Ace Hardware. It’s an important part of the job. Woodson was in the NBA for so long I wonder if the NBA lifestyle will be hard to unlearn? If it doesn’t work out, I really hope we hire someone who gets Indiana. Note: this doesn’t HAVE to be an Indiana guy- but I think it helps the learning curve. Being one of “those” southern Indiana people, I sure hope Dusty May gets a shot at the job. I think his understanding of the game and program are an excellent match. But more than that, he will win over the state by hard work and building local relationships. I’m confident he would live and breathe putting Indiana basketball back on top. No one would want it more. The other coaches mentioned… will they embrace the quirks of Indiana basketball? Crean was right “It’s Indiana.” Indiana is unique. I remain somewhat optimistic that Dolson will do his best to move us in the right direction, but I sure hope whoever the coach has all the support possible from this hungry Indiana fanbase.