Shooter

I hope you are right. Dolson and Woodson don't need to be best friends, but open disdain between them would not be healthy for the program.

I have never listened to their podcast, only read the summary posted in this thread. But I agree, their story fits with the things Woodson said publicly down the stretch last season, so I don't see any reason to not believe them. The only part that I found surprising was "I am the coach here until I say so", said directly in front of Dolson. I had no doubt that Woodson felt that way. But if he really said that in front of his boss, the dynamic in the athletic department is worse than I realized.

If he fails like last season it will be easy, he gets fired. If we are really good, also easy. Nobody cares how arrogant you are when you are winning. (Obviously I am rooting for this outcome... I want IU to win way more than I want to be "right" about Woody) The tough one is the middle outcome. Say we are a 8 seed in the tourney and lose second round... a lot of fans will be frustrated but I'm pretty sure Woodson stays in that scenario.

I haven't posted much in this thread, but the "soft" accusation is ironic in this setting. This situation exists mostly because Woodson reacted so poorly to criticism during a season in which he deserved it. He's extremely thin-skinned. I thought the Rick Bozich article was spot on. Woodson has Knight's ego, without a fraction of his success.

I think a large part of the disconnect is that Woodson feels like he does have that track record - based on his playing career and NBA coaching resume. That's why he bristles when fans or local media question him. On the other hand, the fans only look at his IU coaching results and think "this guy has accomplished very little, why is he so arrogant". If Woodson acts the same way but has us in the top ten this year, it won't be a problem. He just needs to win.

I admit I have not seen him play. But looking at his stats, how is it likely that he's significantly better than Sparks? Prior to IU, Sparks had better numbers and a bigger role on a significantly better team than Bellarmine. Numbers don't always tell the whole story, so maybe someone who has seen him play a bunch can give an opinion.

To your second point, I would suggest Woodson is the one who needed to "grow a pair". His team was playing awful for months - sitting at 6-10 in a down Big Ten, barely beating cupcakes in Assembly Hall, outside the top 100 in Kenpom. All of that is completely unacceptable at IU, and Woodson should know that. Yet he was the one who got "butthurt" and lashed out because fans and media dared to question him. All that said, he and staff have done a really nice job building a roster this offseason, and I'll be back in the Hall cheering on the Hoosiers again this winter. Just won't be cheering quite as loud for Woodson in particular.

Agree. I actually saw Hemenway play once in high school and thought he was really good. But if we add him, then my projected 10-13 spots on the roster are all filled by guards. Would like to see another depth big.

I think he's more like 6-7. And I could easily see him finishing some games. Pretty much an ideal role player, I love this addition.

Yea his three point and free throw shooting were awful last year. We both agree on that. You said his finishing at the rim was subpar, which was a completely false statement. 58% on 2s, second best in the Big Ten amongst guards.

I am curious to see how the guy we ultimately sign compares with Payton Sparks.

"Subpar finishing at the rim" could not be farther from the truth on Galloway. He shot 58% on 2s last year on pretty high volume, which is outstanding for a guard. Second best 2PT% for a guard in the Big Ten.

We do, but I think Goode would close out my core 8 man rotation. I want Reneau playing 5 most of the time when Ballo is out. Still need a portal big for injury/foul trouble insurance, or for specific matchups where there is an opposing 5 that Reneau can't handle.

I have zero sources, but can't see how that would make sense for either player. We have a clear role available for a bigger shooting forward off the bench. But not for two of them. I like both players, but if Goode wants to come here I think that's a no brainer. We need to add a role player who is good, but not so good that he'll be unhappy coming off the bench. Goode is a proven quality role player at the Big Ten level. He's from an IU family. The fit does not get any cleaner than that.

Goode would be an excellent fit here. A Mgbako - Goode forward pairing will hold up defensively against all but the biggest opponents. And offensively, that is an outstanding fit next to the penetrating guards we will have. I consider Goode to be a high level role player, first or second guy off the bench type. I doubt we are going to find anyone better for the role we have available.