IU Baseball

[cbp4iu 2,129]

2 minutes ago, Aaron said:

Average is fair. Above average recruiter, very flexible at changing things when needed (which is why team improves as season gets later), average to below average teaching fundamentals.

Not the best or worst and his record shows that with 3 NCAA’s in five yrs all coming because team got hot late.

 

 

I was looking at something that 4/5 seasons he truly got off the wrong foot. His teams are always 2/3 weeks behind the 8 ball. Great guy and recruiter but tends to lack something that I just don’t know what it is

[maharkn 1,907]

Once we get a bball coach locked down then Mercer needs to go. He needed to go after last season

[Aaron 4,387]

2 hours ago, maharkn said:

Once we get a bball coach locked down then Mercer needs to go. He needed to go after last season

Again you and way to many others have out of control expectations for this program. In the Mercer era of 5 years you have 3 NCAA appearances, 1 Big Ten Title, a weird COVID season of conference play missing by a game only and then one bad season in between. You are not firing someone after making the NCAA Tourney last season. 

The Big Ten in baseball is essentially the Mountain West when it comes to other sports and IU is the most consistent team with ONE losing record since 2008 and been to NCAA's nine times. No one in the conference comes close to that and any other squad in this league would kill for our last 17 years.

Mercer is not elite, but to think someone is going to come into the Big Ten and do so much better is not based in reality. Yes his teams are not always good fundamentally and start slow. However, he is a good recruiter and excellent at adjusting on the fly. The question is do you want to fire a decent coach for a small shot at greatness that could also make things a lot worse if you miss?

Remember this is northern baseball where the Big Ten and Big East are essentially the A10 or Mountain West of basketball and never getting to the pinnacle. On the surface things are far from perfect, but the reality is you can't just be getting rid of a coach every time you are not an elite program.          

[maharkn 1,907]

28 minutes ago, Aaron said:

Again you and way to many others have out of control expectations for this program. In the Mercer era of 5 years you have 3 NCAA appearances, 1 Big Ten Title, a weird COVID season of conference play missing by a game only and then one bad season in between. You are not firing someone after making the NCAA Tourney last season. 

The Big Ten in baseball is essentially the Mountain West when it comes to other sports and IU is the most consistent team with ONE losing record since 2008 and been to NCAA's nine times. No one in the conference comes close to that and any other squad in this league would kill for our last 17 years.

Mercer is not elite, but to think someone is going to come into the Big Ten and do so much better is not based in reality. Yes his teams are not always good fundamentally and start slow. However, he is a good recruiter and excellent at adjusting on the fly. The question is do you want to fire a decent coach for a small shot at greatness that could also make things a lot worse if you miss?

Remember this is northern baseball where the Big Ten and Big East are essentially the A10 or Mountain West of basketball and never getting to the pinnacle. On the surface things are far from perfect, but the reality is you can't just be getting rid of a coach every time you are not an elite program.          

He is basically Mike Woodson. 

[Aaron 4,387]

23 minutes ago, maharkn said:

He is basically Mike Woodson. 

Not even close. When was the last time Woodson won the Big Ten in his tenure? Also if you are saying he is basically Woodson (which is far from true) then the equivalent of the history for baseball would need to except Woodson's results. Three NCAA Appearances in four years would be adequate. If Woodson had the level of success for baseball that he has had in basketball that would be enough given the expectations of this program relative to history.

Now lets get to why he is not Woodson. He was 100% qualified to coach in D1 with previous experience at Wright St. Woodson had none. Also, his in game management and ability to make adjustments as the season goes on and cater to the needs of his given team are something Woodson could only dream about. Both are not the greatest at teaching fundamentals but the similarity ends there. Woodson is a lazy and terrible recruiter. Mercer works his butt off with recruiting and is a good recruiter.

The fact that both are not the greatest at teaching fundamentals and player development is certainly equivalent. However, Mercer has flexibility to make adjustments and the work ethic to recruit and do the job that Woodson has not touched.

On a scale of 1-10 Mercer is about a 6 due to a lack of development of players and teaching fundamentals well. However, he is a good recruiter and flexible at trying new things when something doesn't work.

On a scale of 1-10 Woodson is about a 3-4 due to the same development and fundamental issues. At the same time he is a lazy recruiter and unwilling to adjust.

I would liken Mercer more to Crean in that it is a bit of a roller coaster and he is far from perfect. However, in baseball given the history and expectations that is slightly more acceptable if not livable. Also both have won the Big Ten 

Mercer is far from perfect and I cannot defend everything he does. However, he is much more Crean than Woodson in a sport with far lower expectations.           

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,178]

Hoosiers (7-9) on the road this afternoon in Terre Haute to play Indiana State (7-9) at 4:00.  Game televised on ESPN+.

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[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,178]

Hoosiers return home with a 9-4 win over Indiana State.  6 IU pitchers gave up 7 hits, walked 5 and hit 3.  Offensively, we had 8 hits led by Dickerson with 3 and Hanley with 2 and each had 2 RBI.  We host Ohio State this weekend.