NCAA MBB Transfer Portal

[realTomCrean 1,806]

6 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Dana Altman said the exact same thing about Ke'lel Ware not wanting to work hard and get dirty on a mediocre Oregon team.  He also shot way too many threes for them.  And he doesn't have to be Ke'lel Ware to be a useful player.

He does have to be a “Humble Beast” though 

[Home Jersey 11,258]

4 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Can we put Woodson in the Portal?

I heard Grand Canyon U is interested in offering him a lifetime contract but only if @AZ Hoosier gets the BOT to approve. 

[realTomCrean 1,806]

Just now, Home Jersey said:

I heard Grand Canyon U is interested in offering him a lifetime contract but only if @AZ Hoosier gets the BOT to approve. 

As a current student that is the gossip around the online campus 

[RaceToTheTop 27,621]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other and don't care A or B.  Booker is lazy and doesn't have Ware's motivation.

Google "Accusations or Portal Target Kel'el Ware's Laziness...".  He was given the exact same label coing to IU.

I'm not saying that Booker's effort will improve, but Ware's effort by all accounts wasn't great at Oregon.  Players can change.  I'd certainly prefer a high effort, talented player but the chance that it does improve is there.

[yard_dog 34]

3 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

I'll throw out another Indiana kid that could go into the portal. And I've been on record that I have never been a fan of this player. At all.

But he's been watching Kel'el Ware go from Oregon bench warmer to a lotto pick/at worst first rounder; in fact he watched it from one foot away from Kel'el yesterday. He's probably noticing that of all players nationally, Ware may be his most natural comp. 

Xavier Booker.

 

Only if he's the third big.  I've said this before, but I don't think Woodson is rolling the dice on underclassmen or unproven players again.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 87,200]

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

 

 

[SamIam 701]

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

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

XB was a top 10 recruit and Essegian made the B1G All-Freshman team with 3 NBA players and Braden Smith. We are talking about them this early because they are from Indiana but they absolutely deserve at least a conversation either way

[Home Jersey 11,258]

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

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

I think there is absolutely merit in looking "closer to home" first as a program. It just makes sense - that's what non-athletes do for all of those non-sport "real life" reasons. As fans I think it makes sense that you'd value players you've seen/followed in HS more highly than other fans in other parts of the country may. Just more familiar with their game/history and of course that connection absolutely means something. I have been rooting my butt off for Mack all year - he's only the 3rd player from Jersey to play for IU (the 2nd was Geronimo lol). He was off to a rough start but showed glimpses and man, if he is here next year... will get some serious buckets. 

That said... I certainly hope the coaches will evaluate all options and prioritize based on other factors. IMO, could Booker and Essegian contribute here. Sure. I'm not familiar enough with the portal to say they're our best options. If they are, I'd be very underwhelmed. I actually find Booker more interesting than Essegian, despite Essegian having a more productive history. But I tend to overweight those 7-foot types, even if it's just on potential alone. Can't teach height. We did have success getting Ware's motor going. Essegian... if you're not good enough to be a starter at Wisconsin, I don't think it's a recipe for success to go after him hard. Wouldn't hate him as a mop up rotation player I suppose. But I'd prefer a lot more speed at this point based on what the team needs roster wise right now.

[HoosierHoopster 7,432]

Absolutely do not care what state portal players are from — go out and get the best scoring guard and/or lead guard available. A strong scoring / defending wing would be awfully nice too

[Stuhoo 84,405]

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

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

 

 

We are talking about them because they’re portal possibilities, because playing near home is a recruiting advantage, and because they’re talented.

[Home Jersey 11,258]

Curious what people would think about Aden Holloway - if I recall he lit us up pretty good against Auburn. My understanding is the quality of his play dropped off fairly sharply in the second half of the season, though he was strong in the non-con. 

Trilly said he most likely would be looking to go somewhere that he could have more of an impact. Not necessarily "down a level" as in still P5, but different style of play than SEC. I think that certainly applies to us. Only 6'1 from Charlotte, doesn't seem like an immediate fit. But I would love to see a few speedy guards on next year's roster. Ideally a couple inches taller.

[Hornsby 2,991]

If Taco and Reneau enter portal I will absolutely panic 

I am sure iu can offer them a ton of money but these days you have no idea what a player will do. It's free agency every year now. I dont like it but it is what it is I guess

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk

[str8baller 6,157]

8 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

We are talking about them because they’re portal possibilities, because playing near home is a recruiting advantage, and because they’re talented.

It should be a slight NIL advantage, too. A guy like Essigian, for example, probably raises his profile a bit being at IU and can go home in the summers and hold camps or do a day signing autographs at the local car dealership—even as a reserve—than if he goes to Rutgers or if IU gets a guy from Maine. There should be a little synergy with acquiring more local guys, especially non-starters. Leal is an obvious example of this with regards to his NIL/RE side job

[woodenshoemanHoosierfan 6,384]

Why would he leave IL?  
Guys are just dreaming about dudes not even declared yet.  Still have a week plus fellas.  

Thinking the same thing

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[SamIam 701]

Woody needs to go get a proven lead guard. That is need #1. Someone like Thornton, Pope, or Wade Taylor. Absolutely non-negotiable, cannot-miss. I like Holloway and Mintz but I would prefer a sure thing that has shot at least 35% from 3 at some point in their career. 

Everything else depends on style of play. I would probably get a backup big and a defensive 4, planning to play MR at 5. I expect Woody to find a shot blocker and a backup 4, planning to keep MR at the 4. Some 4's: Mag (RU), Arceneaux (Hou). Some 5's: Onyenso (UK/15(!!)% block rate), Booker (MSU/7.5% block rate), Okpara (OSU/10% block rate). 

Beyond that, we need spacing and depth. We probably need at least 2 or 3 guys here. Hopefully we can get some interchangeable guys with more than 1 year left who can shoot and drive. Woody has prioritized length and athleticism above shooting in the past, but hopefully Leal playing himself into PT is evidence that Woody has learned something. 

One note on Indiana guys, Sam Story (I know, I know) mentioned in his pre-season email how much the staff thought Trey/Leal would help them recruiting Indiana guys, because they made so much in NIL. The staff thought they could sell the "if you come here from Indiana, you will be a legend and make a ton of money" angle. I think Blackmon (Stet/Marion), Hickman (Bradley/BSHS), and Essegian (UW/Cent Noble) would listen to that pitch for sure as they all fit the shooting need and are coming from programs that are comparatively deficient in NIL resources. 

[IUHoosierJoe 1,562]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

 

 

Booker was a 5-star, top 20 recruit, so I'd think so.  Essegian, maybe not so much.

[RaceToTheTop 27,621]

Kylan Blackmon of Coastal Carolina in the portal.  6’1” guard, 11.6 ppg, 36% three point shooter

[Demo 21,274]

This one might be interesting. Jacob Crews from UT-Martin re-entering the portal. 6’7” wing. Averaged 19 pts and 8 rebs on 49/41/82 shooting splits. 1 year left. 

[go iu bb 7,347]

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

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

 

 

Probably. I didn't want Booker or if HS and don't want him now. I think some people just look at his ranking and that he's from Indiana. 

[RaceToTheTop 27,621]

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

Serious question.  If Xavier Booker hadn't gone to school in Indiana would there be this much "should get him" conversation?  Same applies to Essegian at Wisky?  Are we color blind because they're from Indiana?

 

 

For me personally, it's not so much as a 'should get him' as it might be an easier get than some others because if they are looking to move closer to him it's a fit.  Not saying they would be 'musts' but personally I don't share the dislike for Booker that you do.  I'm not saying that we should go out and get him if he enters and plan on building the offense around him.