steubenhoosier

Without getting too political, it's absolutely insane than an acting governor can take over replacing seats as they please. Replacing elected trustees doesn't sit right with me. I'm not a fan of Quinn sticking around, he's already set this basketball program back another half a decade getting his buddy hired.  As someone mentioned as well, I really hope he stays away from the basketball program, we don't need his guidance, nor does Scott.

So, would you work for free because your company is who draws business, not you?

Did you honestly expect this program to be at the level of the “big boy schools “ in year 1?

Did you honestly expect this program to be at the level of the “big boy schools “ in year 1?

But the roster isn’t full of mid majors. We have Big East, Big 12 and SEC players on the roster. If Goode and/or Leal come back, we’ll have a third to 40% of the roster with big boy conference experience. 

But the roster isn’t full of mid majors. We have Big East, Big 12 and SEC players on the roster. If Goode and/or Leal come back, we’ll have a third to 40% of the roster with big boy conference experience. 

Did you honestly expect this program to be at the level of the “big boy schools “ in year 1?

Did you honestly expect this program to be at the level of the “big boy schools “ in year 1?

This is coming from an anon poster who generally believes in firing coaches quickly.  I'm not in the need to give a coach four to five years camp.
To level set: CDD has been here for two (2) months.  Not only has IUBB generally been bad for 25 years, CDD inherited Mike Woodson's four alarm tire fire of a program where almost all the staff and players were unusable and had to go.  The only useful thing CDD inherited was one (1) 4* high school recruit who committed despite Mike.  Even with our resources, no staff and no players is a tough starting point.
I think a turnaround can happen pretty quickly and it should be expected, but it will take some time when a coach inherits a four alarm tire fire.  There is just no way around it.  I don't mind folks being critical when we get some concrete signs of trouble, but it's been two (2) months.  Give me a break. We have a whole new staff and roster -- we're going to have to wait and see how this goes because we just don't know right now.
The goal in Year 1 is not to be top-10 or whatever -- the goal is put out Woody's four alarm tire fire and establish a culture and foundation we can build from for years to come.  Think big picture.  
In my view, a reasonable Year 1 of culture and foundation building includes playing modern/smart/tough basketball, making the tournament, signing very good high players again, and then doing well in the spring 2026 portal.  All of this will set us up for Year 2 when expectations can ramp up.  
What I cannot see a reasonable case for in Year 1, and especially not two (2) months in, is comparing ourselves to programs that have been healthy and successful for many years or decades.  Such as Duke.  It's a free country, but if you're expecting this in Year 1 you're going to be miserable.
I don't think a turnaround in the portal era should take long, but it's also not going to happen over night either.  I might suggest watching this program play some games and compete in high school recruiting battles.  If we play bad bball and miss the tourney and recruit poorly, okay hit the panic button.  I probably will.  But until then, getting worried seems pretty pointless.
And hey, CDD has built programs before.  His staff looks pretty good -- we've got offensive minds and a coach from a rich top-10 program liked what he saw at IU and joined us.  CDD teams defend reasonably well.  There is real talent on this team, notably shooting.  This could turn out pretty good... we'll have to wait and see.

Did you honestly expect this program to be at the level of the “big boy schools “ in year 1?

Yeah we’re gonna have to lunch pail our way out of the hole we dug ourselves. Didn’t have to be this way, but alas. Hope Devries Is up to the task. 

Yes, a lot of NE Indiana folks not happy with the decision to cut Mastodon sports. 

Watching posters crash out 2mos into year one is wild. It’d be almost excusable if we didn’t watch a midmajor football coach with a bunch midmajor guys get to a 12th place finish (or better).  
 
The funny thing is, if we suck next year how’s that any different than the last 25 years? Just relax and see what the new coach sucks we’ll know in a couple years and we can sit back and ***** for 3 years until he’s fired. IU basketball at its finest. No need to get a head start on the misery tho.

Not to be anal, but if PR is a US territory, how can this be an international trip?

You take this much too seriously. Since this site doesn’t allow for emojis, hard to represent tongue in cheek 

You take this much too seriously. Since this site doesn’t allow for emojis, hard to represent tongue in cheek 

Not to be anal, but if PR is a US territory, how can this be an international trip?

Not to be anal, but if PR is a US territory, how can this be an international trip?

We’ll know beforehand if he’s getting drafted because he’s not staying in without a promise. Personally, I think there’s a pretty decent chance he does. He measured and tested pretty well and that stroke is that stroke. I imagine he’ll do ok in team workouts and if he has a really good one with someone and follows it up by interviewing decently and has answers to some of the knucklehead stuff someone will see that as a swing worth taking.

MM chosen at the end of the 2nd round by Cleveland in latest ESPN mock draft 

MM chosen at the end of the 2nd round by Cleveland in latest ESPN mock draft 

MM chosen at the end of the 2nd round by Cleveland in latest ESPN mock draft 

It’s symbolic.
He was crippled by CMW, and now that he’s committed to UW, he’s miraculously better:)

Oh, I wouldn't refer to it as 'great' if we are ranked near 20 at year's end.  I would be pleasantly surprised....pleased, yes. It is CDD's first year here.  And the team as a team has a long way to go.  It will take some getting over some bumps (not humps)...and taking some lumps.  
Great would be in the Sweet 16 with a good showing there.  Great would include the team playing their hearts out routinely.  Great would be CDD showing his mettle and BB IQ.  Great would be the guards playing like they belonged in the competition for the top of the B1G.
Great would-be recruiting improvements for 2026 being experienced during the basketball season. ..and really building something towards another banner.
(Great would be a serious upgrade in referees and fairly calling games consistently home and away and in the first half and second half.  But I dream.  Never mind.)
I understand why some would say it is great.  Things are relative.  
To me, great is competing with the best routinely, and bringing it all home once in a while.
I am not going to accept all of the hype.  But I am intrigued.  And I will cheer the team.
My expectations are a little lower than others on this site.  I hate to admit that.  I usually am a positive...cup is half-full of BS..kind of guy.  I just do not think that we will get even a sight of that rabbit on the first try this season.   

To me, the value Leal brings has much less to do with his on court skills, and much more to do with the knowledge he has.
There is no one else on this roster who understands playing in the B1G. Save KJ, and it was several years ago, no one on the staff either. No one understands the style of play of each opponent, nor coaching tendencies. No one has experienced the way B1G games are reffed. Leal can bring that knowledge to the locker room and to coach’s meetings.
Yes, he could also do this as a grad assistant, but adding him to the roster, assuming we can’t get someone who fills the rim protection needs, give us the flexibility to play him should the injury or foul bug hit the team.
The intangibles Leal brings cannot be measured by any statistical analysis. Value comes in different ways.