Fire Coach Woodson Thread

[HoosierHoopster 7,208]

18 minutes ago, CrossboneIU22 said:

Crean was an amazing coach in all aspects except for the 40 minutes that counts on the win loss record. 

Won 2 B1G championships, took us to 3 SW16's, nations longest #1 ranked team during his tenure, often one of the highest scoring Div I offenses, B1G COY. He wasn't a great bball mind by any stretch, but he opened up an offense that was a blast to watch, brought in and developed a long list of some of the best players to ever wear an IU jersey, and single-handedly took us back from a team that had 0 scolys and had to play baseball players, bottom of the Big !0, to a winning program with multiple NCAA appearances. He couldn't build consistency as he kept bringing in guys who left for the League without a core and then brought in multiple guys who had no business playing at IU,  and he wasn't on the level of coaching to take IU back to the top, but he was better than this - and if he was our coach now, we'd be so much better. Funny how that worked out with the terrible hire CAM and Woodson decisions.

[Hoosier987 1,296]

1 minute ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I love Sampson - as a coach and basketball mind - but the culture at IU under Sampson was horrible, it was a drug and failed class culture, not sure what your age is or whether you were following IU ball then, but while the level bball under his coaching was outstanding (we were 24-4 when Sampsongate broke), the academics were in the dumpster, multiple players failing, drug issues and suspensions everywhere, we didn't get Cody's older brother then because his family wanted no party of that "culture."

I'm here in Houston, the program Sampson built here (after the lengthy show cause and having to coach in the NBA before he could come back to college) is, at least from a bball standpoint, fantastic. One of the best bball minds in the college game, hands down. Don't really know what the academics etc. are like for the players here, it basically doesn't matter to the Univ. of Houston, very different situation from a college standpoint. But do I wish he could have worked out at IU? If he could have adjusted to some basic academic requirements for the players, absolutely.

Yup, I don't disagree about the some of the characters on the team.. I think he got in too deep with winning that season and unfortunately, that's what happened... He had recruited some high character guys the following year, who represented Crean's first years admirably (Pritchard, Roth, Elston) which tells me he knew he needed to infill the following year with quality guys. In terms of the grades though, they didn't fall apart until he was fired. The team saw the writing on the wall at that point. As you mentioned, it would've been great if it had worked...probably a couple of titles.

Houston is a very nice city. Seems like CKS, learned post IU and in the NBA. Their program is fantastic. 

[IUFAN1976 3,424]

4 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I love Sampson - as a coach and basketball mind - but the culture at IU under Sampson was horrible, it was a drug and failed class culture, not sure what your age is or whether you were following IU ball then, but while the level bball under his coaching was outstanding (we were 24-4 when Sampsongate broke), the academics were in the dumpster, multiple players failing, drug issues and suspensions everywhere, we didn't get Cody's older brother then because his family wanted no party of that "culture."

I'm here in Houston, the program Sampson built here (after the lengthy show cause and having to coach in the NBA before he could come back to college) is, at least from a bball standpoint, fantastic. One of the best bball minds in the college game, hands down. Don't really know what the academics etc. are like for the players here, it basically doesn't matter to the Univ. of Houston, very different situation from a college standpoint. But do I wish he could have worked out at IU? If he could have adjusted to some basic academic requirements for the players, absolutely.

And that was never the option because he broke the rules on something that is legal now.  I think he would have changed.  It was year 1 and he brought those players in so he could start winning immediately.  Yes, they had issues but my guess under todays Transfer Portal and NIL, a lot of players aren’t going to class!

[CrossboneIU22 1,224]

1 hour ago, Chris007 said:

There's not enough season left for that

Ok, first one to make it then. Might still be a while though

[Hoosier987 1,296]

9 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

I actually like the Sampson hire there are others who were mocking Sampson having drug dealers on the team.  Personally, I like the way his teams play, they play hard and with a focus and toughness I have not seen since the Knight era!  It’s too bad that he broke rules and we gave ourselves the death penalty for something that is legal now, which make think why did IU have this holier than thou attitude.  Most universities would have slapped their coach on the wrist and have them go back to coaching and let the administration deal with the fallout but not IU, and yet here we are!  It is a good possibility that Sampson could have won a National Championship if he was still our coach at IU.   

I would venture to say 1 or 2 titles. He's a Hall a Fame coach. I've watched a couple of their games this year...their team reminds me a little bit of our 2006-2007 team...he doesn't have the offensive talent or star power he typically does...but they play hard nosed defense and win games that I'm not sure other coaches coaching would. Coleman Hawkins couldn't do anything against them the other day. Double Teams flying everywhere.

[ap2345 8,182]

There’s been legit smoke from Boston for a while so we’ll see what happens 

[IUFAN1976 3,424]

3 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Won 2 B1G championships, took us to 3 SW16's, nations longest #1 ranked team during his tenure, often one of the highest scoring Div I offenses, B1G COY. He wasn't a great bball mind by any stretch, but he opened up an offense that was a blast to watch, brought in and developed a long list of some of the best players to ever where an IU jersey, and single-handedly took us back from a team that had 0 scolys and had to play baseball players, bottom of the Big !0, to a winning program with multiple NCAA appearances. He couldn't build consistency as he kept bringing in guys who left for the League without a core and then brought in multiple guys who had no business playing at IU,  and he wasn't on the level of coaching to take IU back to the top, but he was better than this - and if he was our coach now, we'd be so much better. Funny how that worked out with the terrible hire CAM and Woodson decisions.

He’s not coaching now!  I say give him a call to have him come back as an interim to try and right this train wreck.  He would definitely be an upgrade to what we have now!

[MrBBall 121]

1 minute ago, ap2345 said:

There’s been legit smoke from Boston for a while so we’ll see what happens 

Can you expand on that?

[IU22 97]

1 minute ago, ap2345 said:

There’s been legit smoke from Boston for a while so we’ll see what happens 

Can you elaborate? 

[IUFAN1976 3,424]

1 minute ago, Hoosier987 said:

I would venture to say 1 or 2 titles. I've watched a couple of their games this year...their team reminds me a little bit of our 2006-2007 team...he doesn't have the offensive talent or star power he typically does...but they play hard nosed defense and win games that I'm not sure other coaches coaching would. Coleman Hawkins couldn't do anything against them the other day. Double Teams flying everywhere.

They definitely win by D.  They are always in a good defensive stance

[JaybobHoosier 11,893]

8 hours ago, Napleshoosier said:

Please do buddy!  Get on back Jaybob!  We miss ya.

Always good to talk with you Nips. I’m always around, just don’t post a whole lot anymore. Going to try to more here and the other site. 
 

Ready for this mess to end. Might need to get a tailgate get together for posters to come hang out.

[HoosierHoopster 7,208]

7 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Yup, I don't disagree about the some of the characters on the team.. I think he got in too deep with winning that season and unfortunately, that's what happened... He had recruited some high character guys the following year, who represented Crean's first years admirably (Pritchard, Roth, Elston) which tells me he knew he needed to infill the following year with quality guys. In terms of the grades though, they didn't fall apart until he was fired. The team saw the writing on the wall at that point. As you mentioned, it would've been great if it had worked...probably a couple of titles.

Houston is a very nice city. Seems like CKS, learned post IU and in the NBA. Their program is fantastic. 

FWIW my recollection is the grades were an ongoing problem and were related to the ongoing multiple drug issues with several of the players that year and leading into it. It took IU a few years after Sampson to bring the team academics back up to par. Houston is not a nice city  -- lol, it's an zoneless incredibly unattractive ugly mess of a city with terrible traffic and horrible drivers (repeatedly ranked as one of the worst driving cities in the country) that generally has a thriving economy because of how corporate-friendly it is -- but UofH has been very well developed into a good college and excellent resources and one Hell of a bball program under Sampson. His teams are so much fun to watch.

[Uspshoosier 46,309]

https://x.com/insidethehall/status/1879901775865766191?s=46

[HoosierHoopster 7,208]

5 minutes ago, ap2345 said:

There’s been legit smoke from Boston for a while so we’ll see what happens 

Oh Lord, here we go again lol

[TadQueasy 790]

21 minutes ago, Trish said:

Brad is coming home Chris.. I’ll message you..

how about your share with the class 

[Hoosier987 1,296]

1 minute ago, Pagoda said:

I don't know why Kelvin had to recruit so many risky guys.  It wasn't necessary.

I wish we would have torn up those stupid text/call records and had Greenspan with McRobbie or maybe the Chairman talk to Kelvin about the sort of players we recruit.  To be clear, it's fine to take some kids with a tough background, but what happened was clearly creating a culture that didn't work and it exploded.

Jamarcus Ellis (RIP) died tragically in a car accident in 2023. From many accounts,  he had a very tough childhood but  he righted the ship and ended up working with students at a school in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. 

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/former-iu-basketball-player-jamarcus-ellis-has-passed-away/

[IUFAN1976 3,424]

15 minutes ago, IU22 said:

If Brad takes the job this time does Mullins reconsider IU?

I say if we hire Brad Steven’s, Bruce Pearl, or Dusty May, the line of communication will be open again to Mullins.  I am not saying he will decommit from UConn but the new coach will at least reach out to start a dialogue 

[mdiu28 1,845]

1 minute ago, Hoosier987 said:

Jamarcus Ellis (RIP) died tragically in a car accident in 2023. From many accounts,  he had a very tough childhood but  he righted the ship and ended up working with students at a school in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. 

 https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/former-iu-basketball-player-jamarcus-ellis-has-passed-away/

I started looking up players from Sampson's team that Crean let go yesterday after the Eli Holman pot throwing saga was brought up here just to see what those guys are doing (Eli is still playing, BTW, in Iran) and saw that too. Just horrible. Sad news for the Etherington family yesterday as well. 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 9,361]

16 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Won 2 B1G championships, took us to 3 SW16's, nations longest #1 ranked team during his tenure, often one of the highest scoring Div I offenses, B1G COY. He wasn't a great bball mind by any stretch, but he opened up an offense that was a blast to watch, brought in and developed a long list of some of the best players to ever wear an IU jersey, and single-handedly took us back from a team that had 0 scolys and had to play baseball players, bottom of the Big !0, to a winning program with multiple NCAA appearances. He couldn't build consistency as he kept bringing in guys who left for the League without a core and then brought in multiple guys who had no business playing at IU,  and he wasn't on the level of coaching to take IU back to the top, but he was better than this - and if he was our coach now, we'd be so much better. Funny how that worked out with the terrible hire CAM and Woodson decisions.

And, imo, he would have done well with the portal. We would have never needed 7 players at once lol.... 1-2 guys a year and he could be selective and scouted them, found good fits. He found Zeisloft (who was marginal before IU) and Biefeldt (I know I spelled that wrong).... and they were absolutely perfect additions to those teams. 

[Pagoda 850]

11 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Jamarcus Ellis (RIP) died tragically in a car accident in 2023. From many accounts,  he had a very tough childhood but  he righted the ship and ended up working with students at a school in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. 

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/former-iu-basketball-player-jamarcus-ellis-has-passed-away/

Yea.  IIRC for some periods growing up he lived out of a car.  That sucks I can't imagine that.  If we could have got good players like him in and made it work, that's great, but Kelvin generally couldn't get them to buy-in to the whole student-athlete strong team culture thing. 

I just remembered Kelvin had Bud Mackey committed.  Kelvin was just way off on recruiting some of these guys.