IU Basketball News and Notes

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Woodson on Jakai Newton: "He still hasn't fully recovered. He's had some good days but we can't consistently keep him on the floor. It's been frustrating for him."

This is so damn depressing to hear from Woody.  If Jakai didn't have bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all.

[Trish]

https://x.com/insidethehall/status/1836483302485529086?s=46
 

The Newton news isn’t too surprising. I didn’t have him in my rotation I posted last week. I imagine he will “transfer” this upcoming Spring. 
 

Woodson mentioned he wants to play small with Luke or Malik at the 4. I don’t know about Malik at the 4, but Luke could do that. I’d like to go really small and see a line up with

 

Rice / Trey / Tucker / Mack / Luke

That’s an interesting line up I’d like to see get some minutes early. 

[Chris007]

2 minutes ago, Trish said:

https://x.com/insidethehall/status/1836483302485529086?s=46
 

The Newton news isn’t too surprising. I didn’t have him in my rotation I posted last week. I imagine he will “transfer” this upcoming Spring. 
 

Woodson mentioned he wants to play small with Luke or Malik at the 4. I don’t know about Malik at the 4, but Luke could do that. I’d like to go really small and see a line up with

 

Rice / Trey / Tucker / Mack / Luke

That’s an interesting line up I’d like to see get some minutes early. 

I believe he said with Luke or Mack at the 4, not Malik. 

[HoosierHoopster]

3 hours ago, Demo said:

Please God. 
I may get up out of my chair and do a cartwheel while yelling Hallelujah if we go real small ball with one big

[LamarCheeks]

Our fellas gettin' their groove on ... 

https://x.com/Red_Dead_Fred/status/1836506677979607306

[Demo]

https://x.com/pos_josh/status/1836507063821684762/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1836507063821684762&currentTweetUser=pos_josh
 

“I won all day.”

Impossible not to love Myles. Such a great kid.

[sirhoosierlot]

Dark horse best player on the team this year for me. I might be insane 

 

[HoosierTrav]

2 hours ago, sirhoosierlot said:

Dark horse best player on the team this year for me. I might be insane 

 

The best NBA prospect on our roster. Offensive game is extremely polished. 

[Stuhoo]

3 hours ago, sirhoosierlot said:

Dark horse best player on the team this year for me. I might be insane 

 

That is one seriously confident young man 

[IUHoosier5]

If he plays like he talks, then they’ll be very good. Maybe even great. He’s a perfect match for Woody. Sort of like J-Hood. 

[MikeRoberts]

9 hours ago, IUHoosier5 said:

If he plays like he talks, then they’ll be very good. Maybe even great. He’s a perfect match for Woody. Sort of like J-Hood. 

If he is accurate and is fitting right in with our starters and maybe even outplaying them a bit we’re going to be really good. I get the sense that he is right there with mgbako, he had no hesitation when talking about that relationship and I think he is being humble in all actuality

[HoosierHoopster]

12 hours ago, HoosierTrav said:

The best NBA prospect on our roster. Offensive game is extremely polished. 

He's both confident and humble -- all about the work, knows he has the tools.

And loved hearing him talk about how Bako can flat out shoot -- looking forward to seeing that in action, as in MORE shooting, along with this young man's attacking game, this season

[Stuhoo]

If you want to really appreciate the personality and mindset of one of our new players, watch this interview of Oumar Ballo. Such a likeable guy, been noticing the IU fanbase for years, and his reaction when asked about Malik is priceless.

 

[DChoosier]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

If you want to really appreciate the personality and mindset of one of our new players, watch this interview of Oumar Ballo. Such a likeable guy, been noticing the IU fanbase for years, and his reaction when asked about Malik is priceless.

 

I listened to the Ballo, Tucker and Rice interviews and they all seem like really great guys.  Also heard MR’s interview and it was GREAT to hear him talk about practicing small ball with him at the 5.  Should be (better be..LOL) an exciting/successful season.

[Trish]

On 9/18/2024 at 2:44 PM, Chris007 said:

I believe he said with Luke or Mack at the 4, not Malik. 

Ah correct, I had misread that. Makes a bit more sense now!

[HoosierHoopster]

11 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

If you want to really appreciate the personality and mindset of one of our new players, watch this interview of Oumar Ballo. Such a likeable guy, been noticing the IU fanbase for years, and his reaction when asked about Malik is priceless.

 

Great interview. I’m starting to get psyched!

Especially the part where he says i wish i could tell you guys … I’m confident we’re going to do great things.

Context is his years at AZ. Him sounding this pumped and confident on this team says some very good things. He knows what a good winning team looks like 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Dare we hope?

https://collegehoopstoday.net/rothstein-files/5-dark-horse-candidates-for-the-2025-final-four/

[Demo]

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

Dare we hope?

https://collegehoopstoday.net/rothstein-files/5-dark-horse-candidates-for-the-2025-final-four/

I disagree with calling this team a dark horse. Obviously there’s a lot of assimilation needed, but if your talent-level is such that a top 4 tournament seed is a reasonable  expectation , and I don’t think that’s arguable here, then making a FF should be viewed as within a perfectly reasonable range of outcome.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

I disagree with calling this team a dark horse. Obviously there’s a lot of assimilation needed, but if your talent-level is such that a top 4 tournament seed is a reasonable  expectation , and I don’t think that’s arguable here, then making a FF should be viewed as within a perfectly reasonable range of outcome.

I’m telling y’all Woodson respect level by the predictors is the factor. It’s not just us. Fortunately one great season goes a long way to changing that.


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[Stuhoo]

15 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I’m telling y’all Woodson respect level by the predictors is the factor. It’s not just us. Fortunately one great season goes a long way to changing that.


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100%. And while I see the basis for it, I think it's a bit misplaced.

I see a massive failure by Woody, but not with player development or in-game coaching. Woody has been really pretty good on in-game adjustments and offensive sets.

Where he has royally sucked has been as a guy that could build a roster that has the components to succeed in the modern college game. The choices we had a guard last year were roster building malpractice: An injured and erratic X, freshman Cupps, Gallo (that's one solid option) Gunn, and Leal? Aye caramba!! The year before? We were a 4 seed with only one healthy high-level guard.

This year? Not sure of it, but I kinda think the problems with horrendous roster construction have been rectified.