Mike Woodson to be next IUBB coach. Thad Matta to be associate AD

[Trish]

1 minute ago, jmsgws said:

As a middle school kid, I shot baskets in the driveway pretending to play with Woodson.  I can appreciate what he means to IU's history.  I welcome him back to IU, and wish him a lot of success,

That being said this whole thing perplexes me.  If I were going after a former player with NBA experience I liked a Keith Smart hire better, but that is only a matter of degree.  I think this goes to show you that IU is no longer a top tier destination.  If Woodson was choice A, B, or C.  I think this deal would have been done a while ago.  

As someone who has talked about how my apathy to this program has grown over the last 5 or 6 years, for me this doesn't do anything at all to build excitement.  The only thing I am excited about in regards to college BB now, is hoping without much hope that someone is going to knock off Gonzaga. 

I fully agree. We now have full evidence that the media has been right. Indiana isn't a job anymore.

Let's be honest here, this guy wouldn't even be considered if he didn't play here. 

[Bowhunter]

I don’t get hiring Matta if he’s not coaching or recruiting


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[JaybobHoosier]

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

That announcement about Matta refers to him as an Associate AD, not an assistant coach so I don't see him actively involved in practices or sitting on the bench during games.  

To me, I wonder if the whole health thing was legit. This move had to be made with Matta basically being a pair with Woodson, just not on the sideline because of health.

[Southside]

Just now, pumpfake said:

I'd be more inclined to say Geronimo is the one who won't return.  His "farewell tweet" sounded pretty final.

The only player who's parents might be familiar with MW could be the Franklins - but I don't know if they've lived in Indy that long.

Didn't it end with "the potential to return"

[ap2345]

Fife associate head coach next? 

[HoosierDYT]

At first was disappointed...but I love having Matta in an advisory role. I think Woodson’s nba experience and ability to connect with players as well as his IU connection + Matta + Lewis/Fife, Chaeney, Hunter/Guyton is a nice recipe.

I’m just glad we didn’t go with a proven commodity and chose to take the road less traveled. It doesn’t seem like a home run hire on the surface, but maybe to get back to where we need to go we need to do something different?

Best of luck


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[FightFor6]

I'm not completely in love with it but the pairing with Matta is intriguing for me. Let's see what an NBA guy and a former elite recruiter can do with a once-in-a-lifetime transfer market to kickstart this thing. 

[Brass Cannon]

Just now, Treesh said:

I fully agree. We now have full evidence that the media has been right. Indiana isn't a job anymore.

Let's be honest here, this guy wouldn't even be considered if he didn't play here. 

Your assuming that we got stuck with a former player because everybody else said no.  
 

For 3 straight hires big donors cried for somebody related to Knight. Well they finally got their wish. 

[IUguy77]

1 minute ago, Treesh said:

I fully agree. We now have full evidence that the media has been right. Indiana isn't a job anymore.

Let's be honest here, this guy wouldn't even be considered if he didn't play here. 

Exactly. How many other college coaching jobs has his name ever been up for?

[LIHoosier]

I'm curious if Woodson talked to Kenny Payne while in the negotiating process on whether to join along or who he knew that can recruit.

[Woodsonshump]

Just now, Bowhunter said:

I don’t get hiring Matta if he’s not coaching or recruiting


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Helping Woodson transition to the college landscape.

[str8baller]

5 minutes ago, Southside said:

So we have a guy that coached at the NBA level, who is an ex IU player, and whom his player in the NBA seem to gush over.

And an ex Butler/OSU coach that had a ton of success, knows the MW, and who can coach and develop....

 

If you can't at least be partially optimistic with that combo, not sure what to tell you. I would have taken either individually over Archie, and now we have two. 

 

Agree. I’m not blown over by the pick, but there is upside to sell. 
 

Seems Dolson wanted Stevens. struck out. Went for matta but health was an issue and scrambled from there

[HoosierTrav]

We will find out soon but I think this hire is huge.  Matta essentially a GM and Woodson having every NBA contact imagineable, means we should be able to recruit right away. Young men will absolutely sit and listen when Coach Woodson speaks. I’m excited. Thad Matta in the program and we still have 3 coaching positions to fill. Bet they are beasts. 

[Hoosier Guy]

Just now, Bowhunter said:

I don’t get hiring Matta if he’s not coaching or recruiting


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That confuses me too. He’s going to be an assistant to Scott. I don’t really understand. We’ll see how it plays out

[Hovadipo]

Just now, Bowhunter said:

I don’t get hiring Matta if he’s not coaching or recruiting


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He’ll be Woodson’s right hand man for on-court, off-court, recruiting, etc. It’s a really, really smart hire if you’re bringing in a guy that’s never coached in college. 

[hoosrnight]

I’ll say I’m not overly happy with this. That being said, Woodson knows the NBA, so that should be a plus, and I do like Matt’s being in the mix. Now let’s get Lewis and CC added to the staff. I’ll NEVER not root my @$$ off for IU, so I’m going to be passively optimistic about this. Who knows, this could be a great hire! Now it’s time to re-recruit our team! LETS GO HOOSIERS!!

[TadQueasy]

Just now, ap2345 said:

Fife associate head coach next? 

I would say there is a better chance of it being Lewis.  But either would make this a way better situation, so let's hope so! 

[DChoosier]

8 minutes ago, OKHOOSIER said:

Woody+Matta recruiting + probably calbert or lewis added to the staff? This is exciting. May not be the splashy media Eff off we wanted, but this is a ton of basketball expertise. Im on board. ROLL HOOSIERS

I’m not sure but I doubt an associate AD (Matt) will be a recruiter,

Looking forward to seeing the entire staff as the assistants will be critical, especially because Woody has never recruited.  Who knows....it may become apparent that one of the assistants is a coach in waiting and this may be a longer term plan than we currently realize.

[rcbowla]

I like Thad Matta, and would've been fine if we hired him as HC if he were completely healthy. 
But I'm also very ignorant. I just don't see what bringing him on as an associate AD does. 

Phil Martelli without taking up one of the 3 assistant jobs that will hopefully go to cruiters

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[HoosierFan1994]

Would love Lewis/Cheaney/and a young former NBA player on the staff. They have to keep Trayce, Armaan, and Lander.