(2026) - Anthony Thompson to O$U

[tyappleg]

2 hours ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Trilly latest update day is it’s turning into a bidding war but we are playing the game 

Good.

[Scotty R]

1 minute ago, JimmerNoe said:

I said top five. And even still, Mgbako (#10 was his best final ranking), was Big Ten freshman of the year with an absolutely awful system for his skill set.

If you look through the last several years the majority of top 5 players in final recruiting rankings are high level college contributors from day one 

being overly judicious with the money is going to leave us in situations where the big prizes are gone and we are getting nickel and dimed by what is left, typically good but not great mid-major guys. You can probably win that way, but give me a headliner or two every year for my money.

I think Thompson is ranked 6th or 7th and not in the top 5. I still take 3 top 50 players over 1 top player. Also they say this is one of the weaker classes in a few years so the top players in this class isn't the same as other years

[JimmerNoe]

1 minute ago, tyappleg said:

The difference here at least is the staff has been involved with Thompson. They know who he is.  Woodson probably didn't even know Mgbako's name before he decommitted from Duke.

Facts. And for all the lamenting about Mgbako, he still was a starting caliber player in the big ten in a system that was truly the opposite of what he needed to succeed.

[Scotty R]

2 minutes ago, JimmerNoe said:

Cool, you just spent 3 million or more on three roster spots that are unlikely to be starter level players in the big ten. So now are down 3/12 million with zero star caliber players. Money gonna go quick that way.

I totally disagree with that statement. Just how many top 5 players have been on the championship teams the last few years. I think it was the last UNC championship team where all of their starters were ranked between 15-70

[tyappleg]

Just now, JimmerNoe said:

Facts. And for all the lamenting about Mgbako, he still was a starting caliber player in the big ten in a system that was truly the opposite of what he needed to succeed.

Yep.  He was not a bad player, just didn't fit. (A big part of Woodson's problems here stem from that). But when the only decent HS recruits you can get are guys who decommit and need to make a quick decision, that happens. 

[HoosierDevils]

2 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

I totally disagree with that statement. Just how many top 5 players have been on the championship teams the last few years. I think it was the last UNC championship team where all of their starters were ranked between 15-70

Didn’t X’s and Joe’s just do an episode on this? I can’t remember the exact but I’m pretty sure the punchline is all national champs for the past 10-15 years have WAY more top 80 players (as in start 5 plus first off the bench) than the top Big 10 teams do (typically around 4). 

[JimmerNoe]

1 minute ago, Scotty R said:

I think Thompson is ranked 6th or 7th and not in the top 5. I still take 3 top 50 players over 1 top player. Also they say this is one of the weaker classes in a few years so the top players in this class isn't the same as other years

Ok, my initial phrase was top 5-ish. I guess I consider that 3-7, but it’s all semantics at that level of talent.

You’re going to spend 25% of the budget on three guys that are almost certainly not going to be stars? And then may transfer because they aren’t playing? I’ll use that extra few million for some mid major guys with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

IMO, we desperately need to start spending aggressively at the top of the roster. We should have a minimum of three guys in that 2 million range. Jimmies and Joes. There are plenty of players to be had that fit perfectly well in roster spots 4-8 that are reasonably priced.

[JimmerNoe]

5 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

I totally disagree with that statement. Just how many top 5 players have been on the championship teams the last few years. I think it was the last UNC championship team where all of their starters were ranked between 15-70

To be completely fair, I would rather win 25-30 games a year riding mega talent, just for the next few years, than try to moneyball a team together right now that MIGHT have a chance to win it all.

We desperately need to energize our brand and fanbase in this new era.

Give me a roster constructed more like Duke or UK with Coach Devries for a few years to make our brand ultra relevant again, our pile of cash grows with yearly success (even without a title), and then once we are sitting pretty and have some clout let’s grab a few more of the top 50 guys that might pop big time in a year or two.

may not be the prevailing opinion but I just want to win some damn games.

[Scotty R]

Just now, JimmerNoe said:

To be completely fair, I would rather win 25-30 games a year riding mega talent, just for the next few years, than try to moneyball a team together right now that MIGHT have a chance to win it all.

We desperately need to energize our brand and fanbase in this new era.

Give me a roster constructed more like Duke or UK with Coach Devries for a few years to make our brand ultra relevant again, our pile of cash grows with yearly success (even without a title), and then once we are sitting pretty and have some clout let’s grab a few more of the top 50 guys that might pop big time in a year or two.

may not be the prevailing opinion but I just want to win some damn games.

I want a program with sustain success like UCONN, Purdue, Houston, Florida who didn't build their rosters with top 10 players. If you look at the final four teams the last few years it is mainly players who were more top 25-50 ranked

[JimmerNoe]

4 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

I want a program with sustain success like UCONN, Purdue, Houston, Florida who didn't build their rosters with top 10 players. If you look at the final four teams the last few years it is mainly players who were more top 25-50 ranked

UCONN has massive success in the last 25 years and recruits whoever they want. Last year they relied heavily on Liam McNeeley who was a top 10 guy who they certainly paid handsomely. Before that they had Stephon Castle who was top 10.

Houston and Purdue have two of the absolute best system coaches in basketball and are outliers in any metric talent wise. (Although Houston has grabbed a few burger boys recently)

Florida was not in fact aided by any top 25-50 guys that THEY recruited. They won with really good proven transfers.

i get that we have different ideas on this, but you’re cherry picking the absolute cream of the crop, and we just frankly aren’t in that ballpark right now. I’d rather spend heavily to become relevant quickly, and let the success follow that however it may.

[Scotty R]

I am watching this right now and they are discussing a lot of the stuff we are talking about when it comes to recruiting. If you have time it is worth the time to see how recruiting takes place

 

 

 

 

 

[Hoosierfanyuh]

Rabbys ILTR about him seemed positive in my opinion 

 It could be “best system” and very strong NIL (Indiana) vs. biggest NIL offer (Ohio State).

Stated that is an opinion of others but some believe that is a good opinion. He emphasized IU has a very strong NIL offer. 

Im a Diebler hater and think he chooses us. Time will tell. I do feel more confident by the day though. Many days before the 21st. I’m sure there will be more twists and turns along the way.

[Stuhoo]

4 minutes ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Rabbys ILTR about him seemed positive in my opinion 

 It could be “best system” and very strong NIL (Indiana) vs. biggest NIL offer (Ohio State).

Stated that is an opinion of others but some believe that is a good opinion. He emphasized IU has a very strong NIL offer. 

Im a Diebler hater and think he chooses us. Time will tell. I do feel more confident by the day though. Many days before the 21st. I’m sure there will be more twists and turns along the way.

Diebler is another Mike Davis/Rodney Terry-like reminder to NEVER hire the interim coach as the permanent guy solely based on an end of year run.

[Hoosierfanyuh]

8 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Diebler is another Mike Davis/Rodney Terry-like reminder to NEVER hire the interim coach as the permanent guy solely based on an end of year run.

100%

[Demo]

47 minutes ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Rabbys ILTR about him seemed positive in my opinion 

 It could be “best system” and very strong NIL (Indiana) vs. biggest NIL offer (Ohio State).

Stated that is an opinion of others but some believe that is a good opinion. He emphasized IU has a very strong NIL offer. 

Im a Diebler hater and think he chooses us. Time will tell. I do feel more confident by the day though. Many days before the 21st. I’m sure there will be more twists and turns along the way.

Sounds like exactly the way you'd expect that to go. 1 thing: Should Almond commit elsewhere, I imagine you'll be able to add 1 more "very" to that "very strong NIL." 

[Hoosierfanyuh]

From Eric 

OSU still has the biggest offer in the table by a decent amount but he and his team are unsure about that situation. 

He likes the Indiana situation from a basketball perspective. 

But no one is really willing to call it. some before thought the adidas connection would help IU and be the thing that tipped the scales for IU but right now the people I have talked to aren’t willing to call it. 

Just sharing what I’ve heard.

[68Hoosier]

On 10/11/2025 at 2:27 PM, Hoosierfanyuh said:

From Eric 

OSU still has the biggest offer in the table by a decent amount but he and his team are unsure about that situation. 

He likes the Indiana situation from a basketball perspective. 

But no one is really willing to call it. some before thought the adidas connection would help IU and be the thing that tipped the scales for IU but right now the people I have talked to aren’t willing to call it. 

Just sharing what I’ve heard.

Anything new on this front?

[Hoosierfanyuh]

Nothing new so far this week. All that has really been said is that he’s sitting down with his parents this week 

[bird4par]

[BtownStrength]

9 minutes ago, bird4par said:

Has a time been announced for this?