Shooter

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.

I think he'd play here. Assuming we get Carlyle, I see Essegian as our fourth guard. And he provides something entirely different from the other three, that we have been dying for - a lights out spot up shooter. He's not getting starter minutes, but I see him in the rotation.

I don't think it's a big deal. I've been through the recruiting process for work a few times. Pretty similar process to us bringing in players. They put you up in a nice hotel, get the serious stuff and interviews done during the day, and then take you out to a nice dinner. People typically have a drink or two at the dinner. I think a recruit going to the Bluebird on a recruiting visit is basically the college kid equivalent of me having a drink at Ruth's Chris.

Great get in Ballo. If we're going to play with a traditional 5, may as well grab one of the best in the country. We've talked a lot this offseason about a potential Reneau-Mgbako frontcourt pairing, and the potential rebounding / defense limitations of that tandem. A Ballo-Mgbako pairing doesn't have that issue - and still spaces the floor for our penetrating guards. I know the two bigs will play together plenty. But I really hope we also see a fair amount of the Ballo-Mgabko frontcourt.

I do not agree at all with that first sentence. I love the Rice addition. For the 2 guard spot, it's not that complicated - some people prefer the guy who has already made "the leap", over the guy who hasn''t yet. It's not an anti-Carlyle sentiment. He is clearly talented, and may very well make that leap next season. But Conwell already made it. He has already shown he's capable of being a key contributor and efficient shooter on volume for a good team. Carlyle has not, yet.

Rice was my #1 priority from the portal. Love this signing. Now let's get a big time shooter to go with him.

Agree. If Woodson is married to Reneau being a 4, I think Ballo is pretty much the best case scenario as the 5. He's an absolutely elite rebounder, which fills a big need for us.

I think Rice will be a fine shooter. But I agree, if we are going to play two bigs together again, both wings need to be knockdown shooters. Mgbako is one. Of the guys we're rumored to be in on, I want Conwell or Hickman for that other spot. Gallo will still get heavy minutes as sixth man. But I think Gallo lineups work best with a shooter like Mgbako at the 4.

Exactly. And for additional context, Reneau's assist rate ranked 16th out of all Big Ten players, and #1 among post players.

He's absolutely not a problem offensively. He's a post player, and a really good one. He draws consistent double teams. He does force it sometimes, but he also had the second highest assist rate on the team. Put spacing and shooting around him and he'll be a monster. Defensively he's a tweener, yes. I don't think that's an unsolvable issue.

Huntley-Hatfield can play. Would be interesting to know what kind of role Woodson has in mind.

Is there some report out there about IU and Conwell? He would absolutely be a priority target for me, but ISU is still playing and I haven't seen anything about him being in the portal.

While I have not been a fan of Woodson lately, it's March 28 and the roster still has 6 open spots. Probably need to wait a bit before making any big proclamations.