AH1971

But none of that points to Pearl being a scumbag. Ratting out a rival team (40 years ago) or hosting a recruit at a family bbq or having a rogue assistant accepting bribes to influence current players to a certain agency upon graduation doesn't warrant the scumbag slander.

IU can (and probably will) do a lot worse than Pearl, all things considered. I understand the hesitation with someone like Pearl, most likely due to age, but some of these character assassinations of Pearl are not only wild, just outright untrue. I get that Dusty May is the likely and preferred candidate, and while I would agree he has a ton of upside and could do great things at this university, he's nowhere near the sure thing that Bruce Pearl would be. Given IU's current position and mere treading of water for the last two decades, I'm not sure IU can afford anything but a sure thing at this point. 6 to 8 solid years of Pearl is the remedy this program needs in my honest opinion. You need a guy who can come in and be competitive from day 1. You need a guy who can change the culture of the program and do it almost overnight. You need somebody to build a foundation that IU hasn't had since Knight was fired almost 25 years ago. I trust Pearl to do that over May.

Can you elaborate more on point 4 please? As someone who lived in Evansville during the Pearl/USI years and has personally engaged with Pearl on multiple occasions, "bad person" wouldn't even be in the top 10,000 words used to describe Bruce Pearl. He's a genuine, passionate guy who cares deeply for his craft.

Here's what I want to know from an administrative standpoint: Are they simply keeping Woodson for a 4th year because the optics of firing an alum after 3 years signal too quick of a trigger and are simply delaying the inevitable? OR Do they actually think Woodson not only deserves a 4th year, but actually think he's the guy going forward? Obviously I don't have a voice or the money to make a difference, but if I'm one that does, I don't give a single dime to the athletic department until that question is answered.

Ryan went to back to back final 4’s a few short years after. He lived.

If it weeds out the kids who aren’t fully committed even after they are signed and committed I can live with it.

She’d have to get there first…

I can think of a lot worse things than not releasing a kid who not only pledged (but signed) a letter of intent because he had a change of heart at the 11th hour. Fully onboard with releasing a kid due to a coaching change or sanctions being imposed on a program.

Because 3 or 4 guys came back last year who weren't supposed too and losing MM but getting KF and Mitchell back was a net win for Duke. IU is under no obligation to let Liam out of his LOI unless there is a coaching change.

IU would have to release McNeeley as he is already signed. IU isn't going to release McNeeley unless there is a coaching change.

If that many things need to happen, why not just eliminate the root of the problem?

Guess that’s why they call it a theory

Pretty telling that a leak of Queen’s recruitment (assuming the rumor is true) happens within 24 hours of Woodson publicly declaring that he’s not going anywhere. Not saying it’s 100% the case, but I can see it coming off that way. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sisley come off the board here in the next couple weeks at the conclusion of their season and not to IU. This is going to get way worse before it gets better.

Yeah Reneau ought to stay here forever if he could. Not a team in America who likes to play through the post more than Woodson. He'd be silly to leave.

Completely understandable. I will say that I felt more confident going into Archie's 4th year than I do going into Woodson's 4th year and I was over Archie after year 2 lol. Archie at least had TJD and Franklin who showed some promise as freshman. Next year could get ugly and very quickly too.

I’ve heard Musselman’s buyout is a joke which probably makes him the most likely candidate. Cronin’s is huge if I recall so he most likely would have to be fired, which it seems like he’s actively trying to do, for it to make sense for Louisville. But I don’t think Louisville can afford to mess around this time after the Kenny Payne debacle.

Musselman or Cronin will be coaching at Louisville next year. I feel pretty confident saying that. Ohio State will hire a P5 guy, guessing Lamont Paris.

The former 2 were groomed specifically for those respective jobs. Both were former players and alums who sat on the bench learning from two of the best to ever do it. I’d argue Scheyer ran most of the day to day at Duke in the 2-3 years prior to Coach K’s retirement. He was certainly Duke’s lead recruiter and did 95% of the leg work. Not quite apples to apples comparison.

I just don't think you'll ever see Drew leave Baylor unless there is some writing on the wall where consistently winning at a high level there is no longer feasible. I don't forecast that to be any time soon.

Because guys just don't build something from the ground up, stay 20 years, win a national title, and then up and leave. You for sure talk to him if you're IU but really all that does is likely get him an extension at Baylor. He has everything he needs in Waco and then some. And if we're being honest with ourselves, Baylor IS the better basketball program over Indiana right now and has been for the last several years. Now obviously the perks and rewards of winning at IU far exceed what they do at a school like Baylor, but that probably doesn't matter to somebody like Scott Drew who really has nothing else to prove for himself.

Unfortunately I believe a blank check, not emails, is what is going to push the envelope here. If I’m a donor with the kind of money to buyout Woodson, not sure I’m signing that check until I get some reassurance leadership at the top is in place.

He hired Woodson…

Guessing the applicant pool for quality assistants is practically zero for next year. Not sure who would want to uproot their family for a year when Woodson inevitably “retires” or is fired after next year and finds themselves out of a job. Either way, the whole thing is going to be blown up after this season or next, not sure why you wait?

That may be my fault for assuming Purdue just based on @ISPwording that said it would ********* suck if we lost the player in question to that school. So my fault for maybe jumping the gun. I just don't see Purdue having any need for Galloway next year. They need defensive interior help and rebounding and may not be able to get it because they don't have any spots available. There's not a lot behind Furst and TKR next year and those guys aren't exactly elite rebounders to begin with.

In all honesty, assuming this is Trey Galloway to Purdue, where is Purdue getting the open scholarship to even entertain the idea of adding Trey Galloway? Purdue HAS to force someone out as is just to admit all 6 incoming freshman. And where does Galloway even fit on that team next year? I guess he could take Lance Jones spot in the rotation, but where does that leave Myles Colvin, Kanon Catchings, etc? Not doubting what you have said/heard, I just don't think the logistics make any sense. I just don't think Painter has stockpiled all these guards and wings to get a one year rental out of Trey Galloway.