IUWBB - News and Notes

[CSP]

6 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

Yet another link between IU and West Virginia. 

We hired our men's hoops coach from WVU. 

Our national championship winning football coach is from Morgantown and attended WVU. 

And freshman women's hoopster Maya Makalusky has a sister playing for the Mountaineers ... 


https://wvusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/riley-makalusky/18965

she transferred from Butler this past offseason. I was just wondering where she went, when going through all this stuff this morning. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Both sisters played AAU for West Virginia Thunder.

[TTT]

If the stars aligned for 2026-2027

Starters: depending on which player/s come from transfer portal and return of Maya and Nevaeh.  A rotation involving these players.

Sara Okeke (sub: Z, Noyan, Jackson 

Addy Nyemchek (sub Beaumont

Z (start with Okeke(sub unknown depending on circumstances 

Maya Makalusky (sub Beaumont

Nevaeh Caffey (sub Battle 

Another scorer/shooter top player from transfer portal guard.

*subject to transfer portal addition/s and players above are added and returnees.

Players not mentioned are nonfactors.

It’s time to put the injury excuse year after year behind (which has become a pattern in the last five or six years) whether long term or temporary injury.  

IU Ladies have to beef up both, physically and talent wise if significant winning success as in competing at a high level is going to be achieved.  25+ win seasons vs. losing seasons or struggling to win 15 to 20 games and that is with a weak preseason/pre big ten schedule.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

With the season winding down --  women's portal runs April 6-20.  If a head coach is replaced a 5-day window opens when a new coach is hired.

Apparently there's scuttlebutt that PUke might dump Katie Geralds.  

[TheWatShot]

6 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

 

Apparently there's scuttlebutt that PUke might dump Katie Geralds.  

My biggest worry recently has been that they'll try and get Glenn Box from Miami while we stick with a coach who's in the exit lane of her career. Hopefully he's not interested or they look elsewhere. 

[NatHillIV]

Purdue recently gave Katie Gearlds a long-term contract.
Made no sense to me at the time given the last few years Purdue has endured.

https://purduesports.com/news/2024/09/24/gearlds-extended-through-2028-29

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, NatHillIV said:

Purdue recently gave Katie Gearlds a long-term contract.
Made no sense to me at the time given the last few years Purdue has endured.

https://purduesports.com/news/2024/09/24/gearlds-extended-through-2028-29

The crazy part is this official Purd-eww website writeup justifying extending Gearlds.

It justifies the extension by inaccurately stating that she took Purdue to the WNIT Elite 8 in 2024-25. The WNIT for Purd-eww was in 2023-24, a year when they went 15-19, 5-13. Then she went 10-19, 3-15 immediately after getting the extension, and is 12-14, 4-11 this year. In a basketball-friendly state that's next level terrible. And a $1.6 million buyout to dump her after the season is no joke.

[CSP]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

The crazy part is this official Purd-eww website writeup justifying extending Gearlds.

It justifies the extension by inaccurately stating that she took Purdue to the WNIT Elite 8 in 2024-25. The WNIT for Purd-eww was in 2023-24, a year when they went 15-19, 5-13. Then she went 10-19, 3-15 immediately after getting the extension, and is 12-14, 4-11 this year. In a basketball-friendly state that's next level terrible. And a $1.6 million buyout to dump her after the season is no joke.

the WNIT Elite 8 lololololol 

[Stuhoo]

Here’s something worth noting in this team picture:

Zania is 6’3”.

Zoe Jackson is apparently standing next to her.

Unless Zoe Jackson is standing on a stool, she’s every bit of 6’5”.

[Stuhoo]

And if you have seen Jackson’s limited highlight reels, she can run the floor.

super intriguing 

[mike vannice]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

And if you have seen Jackson’s limited highlight reels, she can run the floor.

super intriguing 

Yes, she is but Sara Okeke is the one that really intrigues me. Add her to our other freshmen and our returnees and we have one helluva ball club. Just don't know if we have a legitimate shot. Also she is not to be confused with 2027 recruit Ogechi Okeke

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

I've watched both of the Okeke girls and Sara is definitely the one you'd prefer to have.

[TTT]

IU Ladies will have to get another very high level inside player with Noyan and Z.  It would be a home run for her and IU if she joins her fellow teammate Gigi Battle and that would be Sara Okeke.  Got to get depth inside….and that would be formidable considering who may start, sub in and allowing for possible injury.

Zoe is somewhat of a wildcard but adding to depth as a freshman and eventually a sophomore.

Yes, IU Ladies are playing much better vs the bottom half of the Big Ten.  
If it could play itself out it would be interesting to play Maryland in big ten tournament.  Some IU Ladies are not the same players earlier including Makalusky and Caffey.  Can the IU Ladies be the surprise of the big ten tournament this year…not winning it but winning 2 or 3 games.

 

[LamarCheeks]

How do you not vote Shay onto the first team?

Coaches -- you have some explaining to do! 

[LamarCheeks]

Maya on all-freshman team. 

Very well-deserved. 

[LadyHoosiersFan]

21 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

How do you not vote Shay onto the first team?

Coaches -- you have some explaining to do! 

I don't understand it either. She has been a joy to watch and never gave up.  Sure gonna miss her and wish her nothing but success!

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Shay might be an innocent victim of the team’ overall performance.

[Stuhoo]

3 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Shay might be an innocent victim of the team’ overall performance.

And a conference full of the very best players in the nation.

[Demo]

36 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

How do you not vote Shay onto the first team?

Coaches -- you have some explaining to do! 

Watched very little WBB this year, but her statistical profile is so nuts that unless she never crossed halfcourt into the defensive end ever there is just no way there are 5 better seasons in the B1G this year. 

[Stuhoo]

3 minutes ago, Demo said:

Watched very little WBB this year, but her statistical profile is so nuts that unless she never crossed halfcourt into the defensive end ever there is just no way there are 5 better seasons in the B1G this year. 

FWIW, the first team is ten slots.  

While Shay has been pretty much the whole offense, the unquestioned team leader, and has shot the ball incredibly well for a player that gets tons of defensive attention, she is also a small guard that has more turnovers than assists, and she made the first team on the media side. 

With an 18 team conference, to be deemed about the 8th-12th best player at 5'7" on a below average team is really awesome. And for the coach's poll, every first team member is on a team from the top half of the conference, so there's a stated trend there.