General Coach Candidate News

[RaceToTheTop]

1 hour ago, EasyEJay said:

 Well hopefully D2 wonder boy doesn't get absolutely stuffed into a trash can in round 1

I have yet to understand how the complete narrative of McCollum is determined by a first round matchup where his team is obviously less talented than his opponent.

[TadQueasy]

1 minute ago, ap2345 said:

He's playing the style he is this year because of the roster he has. Look at his offensive stats from his last few years at the D2 level and you'll realize that one is not like the others. I get what you're trying to say but great coaches can adjust to the rosters they have and McCollum has done that this year.

I am coming around on McCollum after watching him this week and reading up on him.  He is a WAY WAY WAY better option than someone like Brownell.  

I definitely think he builds his offense around the talent that he has.  I read someone earlier that said he does not believe in fast breaks.  That is such a terrible thought that it does not even deserve a response.   His Drake team just yesterday scored off of several fast breaks that came from their defense.  

I am still all in on Stevens.  But if our fall back option is McCollum then we are in a good spot I believe. 

[Home Jersey]

Just now, AH1971 said:

I'd feel a lot better about McCollum if he had a roster full of players he could bring with him. Seeing Drake play a few times this year, their PG is the only one who I could see playing at this level and while he's serviceable, he's not a star in the B10 by any means. 

 

Yeah that’s totally fair. Probably the biggest drawback to him IMO is the fact he’d have to build a whole new team in the portal for the first time. I’m not concerned about his ability to coach guys or identify talent. IU’s NIL would help I’m sure. I’m inclined to believe in his basketball abilities. Don’t know how he’d be at all the off court stuff having not done that at a P5 level. But I’d bet pretty good or fine enough. I’m comfortable with the risks on McCollum personally. 

[IUGRAD06]

16 minutes ago, EasyEJay said:

Bet money Trent Sisley dips Mom and Pops didn't send him to Florida his senior year to play for a D2 coach that doesn't believe in shooting 3's and thinks fast breaks are pointless. Don't care how big and IU fan he is. 

And that's all fine and good so you think you and everyone else in the fan base are gonna be ok with 14-17, 16-15, 17-14? Again ORAL ROBERTS just fired their coach after a TWO season. NC STATE just fired their coach a year after a final four run. Rodney Terry at Texas is on the hot seat after and Elite Eight and 2nd round seasons because Texas is on the wrong side of the bubble............

He better win 23 + game in year 2  or were not back here in 2029 here back here in 2027

a) hope this is all a pointless exercise that's filling the void and the Big time candidate is named in 2 weeks 

b) if it is D2 wonder boy hope I'm wrong and were set for the next 20 years just don't see it and that's the last I'll say about McCollum and we will see how it all plays out which is fair IMO 

 

Then he wasn’t meant to be here.  This is the problem right.  Coaches need to get players that fit their needs and their system.  Screw them if they don’t want to be here or don’t fit.  I think Archie’s biggest problem is going for the Madonna type recruits that didn’t fit his style or type of player aka Langford and Lander.  People may dislike Painter but he learned not to go for the higher rated kids all the time.  He got kids that fit him and his system.  Worked out well for him afterwards.  If an Indiana kid or a 5 star kid doesn’t fit what you are trying to accomplish then why try to make it work?  It’s mismanagement in the largest way. I don’t think Sisley is going anywhere and he would fit in fine.  

[JimmerNoe]

Just now, TadQueasy said:

I am still all in on Stevens.  But if our fall back option is McCollum then we are in a good spot I believe. 

This sums up my feelings on the search for now. I think these two, or the alleged Scranton Strangler, would be our best bets for winning consistently and quickly. I think if we do something other than these three I will be highly skeptical.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

2 minutes ago, IUGRAD06 said:

Then he wasn’t meant to be here.  This is the problem right.  Coaches need to get players that fit their needs and their system.  Screw them if they don’t want to be here or don’t fit.  I think Archie’s biggest problem is going for the Madonna type recruits that didn’t fit his style or type of player.  People may dislike Painter but he learned not to go for the higher rated kids all the time.  He got kids that fit him and his system.  Worked out well for him afterwards.  If an Indiana kid or a 5 star kid doesn’t fit what you are trying to accomplish then why try to make it work?  It’s mismanagement in the largest way. I don’t think Sisley is going anywhere and he would fit in fine.  

Archies biggest problem is he isn't a good coach.

[AH1971]

Just now, Home Jersey said:

Yeah that’s totally fair. Probably the biggest drawback to him IMO is the fact he’d have to build a whole new team in the portal for the first time. I’m not concerned about his ability to coach guys or identify talent. IU’s NIL would help I’m sure. I’m inclined to believe in his basketball abilities. Don’t know how he’d be at all the off court stuff having not done that at a P5 level. But I’d bet pretty good or fine enough. I’m comfortable with the risks on McCollum personally. 

I think the guy can coach and could win here. But how quickly? What kind of staff can he assemble before the portal opens in 2 weeks assuming Drake isn't still playing? Just not convinced he wins right out of the gate which later dooms him. If you hire McCollum you have to give him full support for 3-4 years or its never going to work. 

[iu eyedoc]

Trying to figure out if this is going to be a Stevens/Few positivity day or a Brownell/Turgeon wallow in misery day on BTB. Trending up but its early

[Hoosierfanyuh]

I understand what there is to like about McCollum but it feels like a huge risk and this hire cannot withstand a potentially risky option. It needs to be a sure thing that will bring the fan base alot of confidence.

[CrossboneIU22]

22 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

I really, really , really hope Dolson doesn’t surround McCollum, if he is the hire, with help.  Forcing Fife and Matta upon Woody was basically an admission that we hired the wrong guy.  
Any coach hired in Fife’s previous position, as an example, should be 100% the decision of the new head coach.

100% agree. What Dolson can do is give McCollum the resources to surround him with anything McCollum thinks he needs to be successful. 

Dolson can also provide help and resources in areas outside of McCollum’s duties, such as a NIL/contacts/contract specialists to assist with dotting I’s and crossing T’s but when it comes to the bench and staff that directly interacts with the players on a day to day basis or recruiting, that should be 100% McCollum’s choices.

McCollum seems to know the players he wants and needs, so he needs guys that can translate those into recruiting or scouting. My guess is, he brings a lot of his staff with him if he is the hire. Similar to Cig. 

[TadQueasy]

No way they surround any coach they hire this year with coaches like they did Woody.  That was a unique (terrible) situation. 

McCollum would not need this, nor any other of the coaches who have been mentioned in this thread. 

[Home Jersey]

Just now, AH1971 said:

I think the guy can coach and could win here. But how quickly? What kind of staff can he assemble before the portal opens in 2 weeks assuming Drake isn't still playing? Just not convinced he wins right out of the gate which later dooms him. If you hire McCollum you have to give him full support for 3-4 years or it’s never going to work. 

I’d be very curious about his staff too. Since he’d have a new team who don’t know his system, I think the first season would definitely be a year of learning and development. I think he would still win plenty of games, not 30 though. I bet by year 2 or 3 he’d be winning at a similar rate to how he does now. Could take longer though I admit. He’s young too. This search has definitely been eye opening about fan expectations. Patience is a virtue… clear progress / vision for the future just needs to be shown to keep people engaged IMO.

[Papacap]

I still think McCollum to IU is a social media creation but if it came to that, I wouldn’t feel as deflated as with Brownell or some other guys who have been around awhile and have inconsistent results. But, it’d be a huge risk. Does he turn into Stevens or Gerry Faust? Likely something in between but a wide variance for sure. I just find it difficult to believe that with what IU is willing to pay a coach and the NIL budget that it will end up being McCollum. 

[EasyEJay]

3 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

I have yet to understand how the complete narrative of McCollum is determined by a first round matchup where his team is obviously less talented than his opponent.

I agree with you it definitely doesn't but if the rationale of his hiring is he wins and you point to all his D2 titles. The his first taste of the Big leagues is that he gets bodied by a 6 seed (4th or 5th place unranked power conference team) for those in the fan base that have done less research on the guy (80-90%) that'll be the major talking point all off season until the first meaningful game in Nov when he is immediately thrown right back into a similar environment with IUs nationally hyped and tough non conference schedule. 

[CrossboneIU22]

17 minutes ago, cbp4iu said:

With McCollum having the week off… I’m guessing if he would “talk” to Iu at some point this week. A behind doors conversation and private. 

Alert: Activate the plane trackers. We don’t play until Thursday, perfect time over the next three days for such a meeting. (That is if Brad isn’t already locked up)

[RaceToTheTop]

45 minutes ago, EasyEJay said:

And produced draft picks in TJD and JHS. 

I do have to say I don't know how much credit he should be getting for that.  Trayce Jackson Davis certainly improved under Woodson but finding a guy that fits that bill -- no outside game at all -- that fits into the NBA is like striking gold that likely isn't going to be struck again.  It's not like we should be seeing Ballo or Reneau at the next level.  JHS seemingly got way over drafted and is a mid range shooter that probably should have never been drafted where he was.  In the end, there will have only been one successfully NBA player come from IU under Woodson.

[JustWinBaby]

6 minutes ago, iu eyedoc said:

Trying to figure out if this is going to be a Stevens/Few positivity day or a Brownell/Turgeon wallow in misery day on BTB. Trending up but its early

I simply refuse to believe there's any real shot Brownell is an actual candidate. At BEST we are doing him a favor by "considering" him as a candidate.

Turgeon is just a meme started by one dude on this board lmao

[OKHOOSIER]

21 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

This guy is really good:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Hodge

 

Appreciate you filling our hyperbole doomsday void until Hornsby turns the internet on in his fallout shelter. 

[CSP]

35 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

If the best that IU basketball can do is Ben McCollum, it’s a depressing as hell signal that IU basketball is a middle of the road basketball program so far removed from “blueblood” status. Maybe McCollum is the boy wonder that many on here have convinced themselves of, but IU basketball shouldn’t have to take that chance. How does the program go from allegedly offering Brad Stevens $10+ million a year to McCollum being the next option? 

I don't share that opinion. 

[Rico]

21 minutes ago, theriverpilot said:

I know it's been said before in the past, but I'll bring it up again.  The IUBB and Nebraska football mirror each other with the uphill battle to return to prominence.  I'm really starting to temper my expectations at this point.

I am more apt to compare IUBB to UNLV  basketball....