IH8PU

We can only hope I guess then. In today's new world of college basketball you have to wonder how many will make it to their junior year on the same time for that improvement to take effect? I am anxious to see what happens next year when FINALLY the "covid year" is gone. Were there any others besides Oladipo, that played at IU that did most of their improvement between their sophomore and junior year?? Serious question as I don't know off the top of my head. I am sure there are more than a few others.

You never have enough shooters and I think they need another center taller than 6'3. I look for the two freshman to show enough improvement to be factors next year. I'd like to see them pick up a lights out shooter like Scalia from the portal.

So what's the plan for 24-25 ??? IU still needs a backup center and a pure shooter, even if he comes off the bench. My brain cells are active this morning trying to piece together starting lineups and different lineup combinations. Of course foul trouble will play a role in who plays when. He might say it but I have yet to see Woodson yank a player out due to poor play or too many turnovers. Finally IU has depth that we as fans have complained about annually after the seasons starts. Pre season IU's bench is full of all-Americans based on write-ups. One given ... Baso is in the middle, clogging it up at $1.2M. I also think you have to pencil in Rice and Carlyle as starting guards, with Malik and MgBako with hopes of Reneau improving enough over the summer to spend most of his time outside, yet his inside game is his game. That leaves Gallo coming off the bench, did he agree to that before grabbing his '24 NIL $$ ?? With depth that IU has based on players "signed" more than a couple of combinations can be played. They can go small when needed with Baso in the middle surrounded by Gallo, Rice, Carlyle and MgBako. Or they can add those four to Reneau in the middle with Baso resting or in foul trouble. Surely we will not see the "hockey platoon NBA" substitution method EVEN IF there are 10 good players by the end of signing period for '24-'25. I see Woodson sticking to an 8 player combo by the time the B1G season starts. Of course injuries will be a factor also ... and there will be some, some major or minor, and totally unexpected. At least it is looking like IF that were to happened there are players on the bench that can fill in. Cupps WILL improve over the summer. The kid is too driven not to. Plus isn't it said that the most improvement is from the freshman to sophomore year?? Newton hasn't played in two years, major injuries and although his videos look impressive, those videos don't include the speed of the game ... Ask Banks about that. IMO anything that Newton can do positively on the court is icing on the cake with no expectations. Leal will play less than he did last year but at the same time will come up with a wining shot or key made shots during a tight game ... but on the other hand would he even be in a tight game with Gallo, Rice and Carlyle and an unnamed shooter at this time? To run 4 out 1 in and Baso or Reneau in the middle, ALL current roster players will have to improve their 3 point shooting. Isn't that what Woodson said most of the year "we just need to hit shots" ... a few interviewers said they don't miss them or foul shots in practice ... so there is that to factor in. They CAN hit both but for some reason they DON'T on a consistent basis in games. Just think what that would do to a season of hitting a few more 3's and a LOT more foul shots ??? I know, to hit a 3 you have to shoot a 3 ... still with Reneau and Baso inside, that is a positive in my book. "Layups or Three's may win a majority of games per data but it didn't help ISU in they NIT final nor the PUkes loss. Defense improvement, LESS turnovers based on the two new incoming guards compared to the bad XJ has to make a difference. After all this rambling ... it comes down to players mostly and coaching. NO excuses all year ... play the game. There are so many combos with this group that is already signed on the dotted line, I still don't have an answer on who or what to play.

If that's the case then you have Gallo, Rice, Carlyle, MgBako and Baso .... where's Reneau? I cannot see those two guards from the Pac12 agreeing to come off the bench when they could start anywhere else. Baso at a $1.2M is starting. With MbBako's late improvement in shooting the 3 and getting to the basket he is starting. Like @Chris007 mentioned a few days ago, not enough basketballs to go around ... to me that is a good thing. Competition for playing time is a good thing. How many times has IU fans complained about lack of a bench? Well next year it looks like IU should have a really good bench and they still have scholarships to give.

I see some of the PUke fans are showing a little stress on X. LOL

Make sure Woodson knows his name ... Connor

He visits on the 19th

I know ... free food, free love, look at me and all that stuff .... but after two days in Bloomington, a night on the town and $1.2M in the bank, if he REALLY WANTED to come to IU there would be no need for other visits. But that is just me.

I need an answer soon .... tired of refreshing the screen and my "to do" list continues to grow around the house. LOL

I follow a uber driver in Bloomington on X ... based on his tweets it looks like "Little 5 Weekend" never ends. LOL

Did Payne from Minnesota visit on the 12th?

His instagram just a post above yours

Sorry ... I didn't see the posts above about Hickman

I only get pop up ads if I am on my phone or tablet. No ads when I am on my iMac

I guess he will get plenty of practice going up again McCulley every day in practice.

Texas also got the 6'8 forward from Indiana State today too. His name is not on the tip of my tongue obviously.

I sat next to Ricky Calloway's dad when IU played their annual game in Indy in December. I didn't say a word but only listened. I knew then, no matter what was going to happen the rest of the year that Ricky Calloway was gone after the season. His dad wanted him to be the #1 option on offense and that wasn't happening at IU.

I've never liked UK and never will. I liked Pitino though and I was interested in his 1996 team because of Mark Pope. I attended UW games while living in the Seattle area and Mark Pope was a Freshman then. He transferred to the UK the following year, so that is the connection. I don't know him but only watched him play. Well like I have for Matthew Graves at ISU, Dusty May at Michigan ... I was curious today so I wandered over to YouTube to find the UK press conference. Only UK could pull something like that off. Their intro was amazing. Their area was full. It lasted almost an hour and a half because Mark liked to tell stories. It was a much different press conference than any I have seen for college basketball or college football. It will be interesting to see what changes he brings to UK because watching that you would have forgot that Calipari was ever at UK ... seriously.

He is trying to be the #1 Popular Contributor for the week :)

Whatever happened to that GM idea I heard so much about last month. LOL

Good point, I had not thought about that. Thanks

How soon do we get the Ballo announcement of committing?? With $1.2M he should be almost finished signing paperwork for that new top Mercedes that will need customization. I want to see a commitment announcement before my Reds game at 1:10pm CT :)

IMO he is looking to see what IU does this weekend for guards. No matter how competitive he is, he may want something a little more sure that he is one of the main guards. Someone said that the staff was following him on Instagram but none of the players, like they are for Carlyle. IMO he will be at NC State next year.

They had $6M .... spend it all