General Coach Candidate News

[Hovadipo 61,337]

32 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Another food for thought regarding Cronin. You never know...but the Cincy job could open up too.

Wes has a gigantic buyout. Not sure if Cincy would be able to eat that or not.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,556]

2 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Stevens, May. Some guys that are really old like Pearl.

Then there's the much higher ceiling, slightly worse floor guy - McCasland (that's my favorite non-Stevens/May choice) and the likely unattainable but complete home run choices - Oats and Otzelberger.

May is auto-better? 

Obviously Stevens, Pearl, Oats, and TJ O....

[AZ Hoosier 10,769]

1 hour ago, Home Jersey said:

Blah blah “let the process play out” blah blah. Gosh, maybe you and Kathy aren’t so different after all... Haha

Jersey, that was just cold. Ice cold. :D 

[str8baller 7,416]

29 minutes ago, iubb said:

 

About a week ago I offhandedly and sarcastically suggested in the FireWoody thread that we’d strike out on everybody and end up with Buzz. I think I might’ve been the first and this whole thing has snow balled from there.  
 

As patient 0, I just want to say: stop. It’s not funny anymore. 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,556]

3 minutes ago, iu eyedoc said:

Reads that Chris Beard gets drunk at local bars

Asks for proof

Provided proof

Now states a video of a drunken slurring Chris Beard in a bar, on Christmas Day no less, is not proof that he gets drunk in public.

 

Getting plastered all alone in a bar on Christmas Day. 

I'm guessing that is a pretty good indicator of a drinking problem.

 

 

Christmas Day bargoer here... also doesn't seem like he was slurring much. 

[HoosierHoopster 8,188]

1 minute ago, Kentuckysucks said:

Buzz is a classic high floor low ceiling hire.  He will never keep the fans happy.  Would be better to go with an up and comer.  At least then we’d have hope.

I'm still pretty jaded by the Miller hire, that was the risk/reward the U took with him,  up and comer, and it failed, badly. There are a number of really good, x's and o's up and comer coaches out there, but that kind of candidate has to be researched into the ground, system / offense and D / type of recruits (are they players who can't get into IU on academics etc.) / ability and energy of recruiting / ability to handle the spotlight that is IU basketball / history of winning / history of program building / etc. 

When you hire a guy like Buzz you pretty much know what you're getting. A number of risks are resolved at the outset. Does the U go for the "safer" pick, at least for the next 4-6 years, or does it swing on risk for the longer term, young and up and coming coach who can be that next guy, like it did for RMK? 

And as risks go for the flip side, of a proven coach with baggage, taking the risk on Sampson obviously backfired in a big way. Fantastic coach, wish it could've worked out, but he was wrong for the program coming off the NCAA investigation at OKla, and for how the NCAA was enforcing its silly phone call rules at the time. 

Whichever way we go, this time the U needs to do its legwork in a big way, two failed coaching hires in a row and we're reeling as a has been program. But we're not a has been that can't be a basketball powerhouse again soon, the right guy could be either an up and comer or a known commodity, but freaking get it right this time.

[str8baller 7,416]

55 minutes ago, GnarlyNormEllenberger said:

Bart Torvik's AdjO/D for the last four seasons. If Stevens says no, I think there's a real good chance the next coach is one of the six candidates below (sans Woody, of course.)

Dusty May

2025: 20/22

2024: 28/120

2023: 27/40

2022: 131/150

4-Year Average.: 52/83

Mick Cronin

2025: 38/10

2024: 133/55

2023: 23/2

2022: 12/20

4-Year Average: 52/22

Grant McCasland

2025: 9/23

2024: 25/62

2023: 69/22

2022: 128/22

4-Year Average: 58/32

TJ Otzelberger

2025: 26/7

2024: 53/2

2023: 122/7

2022: 184/5

4-Year Average: 96/5

 

Confirms my impressions of both Cronin and Otz. Very challenged on the offensive side of the ball, at times. I’m not nearly as high on them as others. 

[Stuhoo 89,045]

4 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

May is auto-better? 

Obviously Stevens, Pearl, Oats, and TJ O....

I am a Buzz Williams fan and would be good with him as the choice, so I should explain - Dusty is not not 'auto-better' than Buzz as a coach or as an admirable guy to be the face of the program. Thinking more auto-better as a choice for IU, because while they're both safe, proven winners and really good guys/leaders, Dusty is more likely to never wander and will be so appreciated as a choice by the entire fan and money community.

[Trish 14,463]

Honestly, if we're hiring Buzz Williams, then just bring Crean back full time. Same goes for a lot of other names as well. 

[VFury 624]

I think Buzz Williams is at the intersection of everything we look for while also being attainable. He wins at a high level in power conferences, not a dick to people on or off the court, and it wouldn't be moving from within the conference. Obviously not the first choice, but he seems like the best possible of the realistic hires.

[Artie86 3,470]

34 minutes ago, iubb said:

 

....smoke and mirrors. Keep posting these to keep attention away from Brad. jmo

[Chris007 62,066]

14 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

So how much of the revenue sharing does the basketball team get?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the Big Ten decided that. Maybe they only decide football. But I thought they wanted football to get something like 70% then basketball at 20% then all other sports the rest. Bit I don't know that for sure. I'm sure some others on here know better than me. 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,556]

1 minute ago, Trish said:

Honestly, if we're hiring Buzz Williams, then just bring Crean back full time. Same goes for a lot of other names as well. 

I liked Crean

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

I am a Buzz Williams fan and would be good with him as the choice, so I should explain - Dusty is not not 'auto-better' than Buzz as a coach or as an admirable guy to be the face of the program. Thinking more auto-better as a choice for IU, because while they're both safe, proven winners and really good guys/leaders, Dusty is more likely to never wander and will be so appreciated as a choice by the entire fan and money community.

I think I would have Dusty May and Buzz as equals. 

[8bucks 7,508]

2 hours ago, Hoosier987 said:

1) Stevens, 2) May and 3) Beard in that order...Beard has a chance if it makes it past Stevens and May.

I mean if this is a footrace and somehow Beard makes it past stevens or may that is pretty impressive and might indicate the drinking is not a big deal.  

[iu eyedoc 4,359]

1 hour ago, Chris007 said:

I want to say for all the people watching from the outside, not on BTB that I have no idea if we will get Brad Stevens or not. I like where we stand but I am not certain about anything. I also can't put a number on what I think the chances are. It's all a process and we are letting the process play out. I don't want anyone getting their hopes up then if something happens and they are crushed, it's my fault. I felt bad last time and don't want it happening again. Let's hope it works out differently this time. Just a FWIW. Whatever I post is what I'm hearing at the time. I don't expect to hear anything for a little while. 

Has Kathy abducted you? Blink twice if you are safe.

[VFury 624]

9 minutes ago, Trish said:

Honestly, if we're hiring Buzz Williams, then just bring Crean back full time. Same goes for a lot of other names as well. 

Crean was able to win 2 B1G titles and 3 sweet 16's while he was here. Also, there's a direct comparison between the two, because they both coached Marquette. Williams went farther more consistently in the tournament than Crean did.

Edited February 10 by VFury

[JSHoosier 22,209]

5 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

I liked Crean

Kind of weird but best non-Sampson coach we've had in the last 25 years. That's a depressing list.

[realTomCrean 2,748]

8 minutes ago, Trish said:

Honestly, if we're hiring Buzz Williams, then just bring Crean back full time. Same goes for a lot of other names as well. 

Thank you

[Pagoda 4,338]

10 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the Big Ten decided that. Maybe they only decide football. But I thought they wanted football to get something like 70% then basketball at 20% then all other sports the rest. Bit I don't know that for sure. I'm sure some others on here know better than me. 

As of now each school gets to decide the allocations and it is still TBD.  I assume the Title IX stuff won’t stick, unlikely half the rev share going to women’s sports when FB generates most of it.

Something close to 70% for FB and 20% to MBB seems likely.  Then layer on NIL on top of that.  I doubt the NIL Clearinghouse slows down the NIL train — no way they veto big NIL deals big schools want to make and players want to take — both sides would go to court.

[JSHoosier 22,209]

1 minute ago, iu eyedoc said:

Has Kathy abducted you? Blink twice if you are safe.

Probably too busy trying to rationalize Woodson's "retirement" with saying moving on isn't on the radar and saying it'll be evaluated at the end of the year.