IH8PU

My ex just finished her 4th transfer and swears she is retiring from "the game". LOL

Woodson said when hire his recruiting plans were exactly that ... recruit the best talent available, no matter what the position, even if it meant he was recruiting over someone. That is why he is in the roster predicament he is working with. He doesn't have a plan to build a roster with purpose, only recruit the best and tell them "he can" get them to the next level. Then Mike Woodson says with his coaching expertise he can win Big Ten and NCAA Championships. LOL

I agree with your lack of excitement with Woodson coming back. I am more excited for IU football than I am basketball next yea. I also think there is no way Woodson will sign the players needed to be as good as last year. Ware carried that team toward the end of the season and I don't see Woodson finding a replacement that good. Your top three are all good for IU but all three have serious competition and we both know how well Woodson closes the deal. NIL available or what is left will be a factor for his success. I also agree I don't see a Love or Dickinson type player in the portal. Withe MM - MR and now the new Freshman, I don't see any portal wing even if he is a shooter considering IU. Will Cupps and Leal be happy coming off the bench with Gallo and a portal PG or SG starting? Three years ago Woodson said his recruiting philosophy was to recruit the best player available, no matter the position. I thought at the time that type of roster building would come back to haunt him. Hard to believe we (fans) have to wait 27 more days to possibly see what the 2024 roster will look like in addition to the late signings from May and after. I don't feel a "warm fuzzy" about the roster Woodson and staff will end up with based on past performances.

There must be a lot of behind the scenes negotiation going on eh? I agree with you ... a long offseason. I am more excited for IU football than I am next IU basketball season.

So the question is, how much of the NIL money left will buy 6 players, with two of them being potential starters? Might be a very interesting roster for next season and not in a good way. I don't see Woodson's offense working without a NBA caliber center.

I agree. Portal players in any position are not going to any team to come off the bench, they are transferring to play a bigger role or for a bigger school for more exposure and in other cases ... "how much do I get paid".

I don't see that lineup being a consistent winner in the B1G. I've always said to be a frontline player as a freshman, they have to be NBA caliber from the first tip off. Not waiting 3/4 of the season to develop. Reneau will get eaten alive guarding a 5 ... foul trouble galore. Plus too many TBD's. In fact I don't see that line up winning many games.

The "Hurley's" will never live with those hillbilly's.

Ah so maybe I am better than I thought I was. I wasn't factoring in Romeo in my post .... only the GA Tech game, which I remembered being Crean's last. I strayed from the Romeo discussion, my fault.

Hmmm, well evidently my old brain cells are out of alignment again ... it's terrible getting older than dirt.

thanks for that info ... makes a lot of sense. Things change when the AD changes no matter how well you are doing. The AD change last fall at the start of football in Washington was obviously a factor when DeBoer turned down $9M/yr in November.

All I remember about that GA Tech game in the NIT was this ....

I am going to finally reply to this offensive talk. @AZ Hoosier don't take this personally because it is not directed at you but the general talk of needing a new offense. When you have an All-American center (TJD) you feed him the ball. When you have a projected NBA Draftee (Ware) you feed him the ball. Outside in, Inside out ... makes no difference. I don't care if you call Woodson's offense "zoom", whatever ... it is basically a pick and roll offense he ran for decades in the NBA. IT IS WHAT HE DOES!!! When you have 'shooters" that can't hit the 3 consistently with those two centers playing inside back to back year and add in Race or Malik the offense is ran through them. The ***** is IU plays two bigs inside. Fine, get some shooters that can hit the 3 on a consistent basis and that will lead to them taking more threes. It makes no sense to shoot 20-30 threes per game if you cannot hit 30% of them. How many times did last year's team shoot 19% or lower than 25% from 3???? More attempts does not equal more made shots .... Percentages don't lie. Sure, run more screens for "shooters" like Nevada, Indiana State, UCONN, etc ... but Woodson is NBA pick and roll, create mismatches and kick it out for a 3 (he doesn't do it enough) .... also how many times are IU shooters ready to shoot the 3 as soon as they catch the ball? Not enough. Take a look at three point shooters in this tournament and they never hesitate shooting the three when they receive the ball outside the 3 point line. As soon as they catch the ball outside the 3 point line they are letting it rip. NO hesitation. YES ... IU did look good with only Ware or Reneau playing inside SOMETIMES, and all 4 outside BUT compared to other teams that run that .... rarely did IU have the lane open playing 4 out and 1 inside like these other teams do. IMO ... Mgbako came on at the end of the season shooting 3's and moving inside for a drive ... his 3 point shooting will improve this summer. Reneau could hit the wide open "set shot" 3 as I call it but this summer he needs to improve shooting that shot as soon as he catches the ball outside the 3 point line. Galloway will spend the summer recovering from surgery, little time to improve his shot ... Cupps should live with Jordan Hulls and shoot a million shots per day ONCE he is taught correct shooting technique. Finally SIGN AT LEAST TWO 3 POINT SHOOTERS !!!! Otherwise Woodson will run the same offense passing to bigs inside, Reneau and TBD center. PLUS factor in what these returning players and new portal players are told when they are signing on the dotted line for another year .... start or off bench ... green light shoot ... or inside post emphasis. Those discussions IMO are also a factor in what kind of offense system is played, no matter what fans want. FINALLY ... over the summer ... ALL players learn how to do a basic block out of their man anywhere on the court when a shot is taken and f****** rebound !!!

I think they need a couple of front line players from the portal.

How many scholly's are available for the women's team next year?

@Chris007 said Hickman was sick this weekend. The on campus visit was canceled.

I agree 100% and I don't care if it is an unpopular opinion. Never have liked him.

Sounds like the perfect day to me.

Wasn't Hickman suppose to visit IU this weekend. I see nothing on twitter that says that or how his visit went if there was one. Where is @Chris007 when you need him.

I'll place my bet on Michigan. Don't ask me why.

You have to wonder what the off season program is for pitchers for so many getting injured. I have always said in any sport it is not good on the body to work out 365 days per year, even if programmed to peak at certain times. Where were all these injuries back in the 60s and 70s when players drank beer, played golf or worked at a bank in the off season and din't know what a weight or exercise was? Yep, all of baseball does that and it drives me insane.

I agree 100%

Exactly .... what will it be this year??

I guess as a lifelong Reds fan, first game seen was at Crosley Field, 2024 still looks promising even with Marte out for 80 games, McLain on the 60-day IL and Friedl out. I think the starting pitching staff is stronger than 2023 and can withstand some injuries or poor performance with depth to fill in. The roster looks better than 2023 yet how many of the rookies will have good sophomore years? My only wish and it will never happen with David Bell and Analytics .... quit burning up your bullpen by seasons end by pulling starters that are pitching well in a game, just because they have hit 5 complete innings or a 100 pitches.

If you are old like I am, do you want to go watch high school games, then taking away tee times in exchange of AAU ball in the summer, then kissing @$$ on the phone to those parents so the player and parents "feel" the love they speak of on Twitter????? Woodson doesn't either. LOL