2024-25 IU Season Outlook

[JimmerNoe]

I wanted to start some discourse not located in the thread we have all voiced our grievances, as it seems that ship will not sail for at least another year. Instead of bickering let’s start looking ahead, for better or worse.

With Trey and Anthony announcing they are back, and lots of happy cheering faces on the bench throughout, I tend to believe we may get our important pieces back despite the fear of mass exodus (obviously up for debate). With another borderline lottery pick and a Bahamas trip to sell in the portal this year, let’s talk about certain players, staff changes, and portal needs instead of hand wringing about something that a lot of us were admittedly hoping for.

[sirhoosierlot]

Jalen Blackmon. Get it done. 

[TadQueasy]

[JimmerNoe]

“Best” case depth to start the portal:

Guards: Galloway, Cupps, Leal, Newton?

Forwards: Mgbako, Reneau

C: Sparks

OUT: Gunn, Banks

That leaves 5-6 spots that we need to fill with quality. Tons of production to replace from Ware but think we can improve on X without much difficulty if we have the money supposedly ready to go. Big concern would be where we find athletic playmakers on the wings and how we figure out playing Mgbako at the 4 without forcing Reneau to be a 5. 

[Home Jersey]

Maybe a better fit for the transfer portal thread. But a little birdie told me these players might enter the portal. Wish I had the position listed. Hopefully a few guards we could nab. When the staff talks about having better portal connections this go around, I would really like to see some early announcements from the portal. Especially since that's apparently the only recruiting strategy we're going with. 

- Brandon Gardner (USC)
- Dylan Cardwell (Auburn)
- KD Johnson (Auburn)
- Devin Askew (Cal)
- Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech)
- Kerwin Walton (Texas Tech)
- Chris Lockett (Boise State)
- Jaden Schutt (Duke)
- Matt Cross (UMass)
- Jordan Pope (Oregon State)
- Danny Wolf (Yale)
- TJ Power (Duke)
- Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State)
- Terrence Edwards (James Madison)
- Michael Eley (Siena)
- Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
- Nolan Hickman (Gonzaga)
- Zhuric Phelps (SMU)
- Langston Love (Baylor)
- Chris Johnson (Texas)
- Baye Fall (Arkansas)
- Lee Dort (Vandy)
- Trazerian White (UNC Wilmington)
- Terrance Arceneaux (Houston)
- Connor Essegian (Wisconsin)
- Rubin Jones (North Texas)
- Chaunce Jenkins (Old Dominion) 
- Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)
- Donovan Dent (New Mexico)
- Dug McDaniel (Michigan)
- Ezra Ausar (East Carolina)
- Achor Achor (Samford)
- CJ Gunn (Indiana)
- Tarris Reed (Michigan)
- Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
- Erik Reynolds (St. Joe’s)
- Khalil Brantley (La Salle)
- Brandon Angel (Stanford)
- Vasean Allete (Old Dominion) - entered 
- Riley Kugel (Florida)
- JaKobe Coles (TCU)
- Alston Mason (Missouri State)
- Xavier Booker (Michigan State)
- Ugonna Onyenso (Kentucky)
- Amari Williams (Drexel)
- Jonathan Mogbo (San Francisco)
- Will Tschetter (Michigan)
- Jalen Blackmon (Stetson)
- Jonathan Beagle (Albany)
- Layden Blocker (Arkansas)
- AJ Hoggard (Michigan State)
- Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
- Darlinstone Dubar (Hofstra)
- Kanye Clary (Penn State)
- Chaz Lanier (North Florida)
- Saint Thomas (Northern Colorado)
- BJ Omot (North Dakota)
- Dawson Garcia (Minnesota)
- Ish Leggett (Pitt)
- Frankie Collins (Arizona State)
- Roddy Gayle (Ohio State)
- Earl Timberlake (Bryant)
- AJ Storr (Wisconsin)
- Aden Holloway (Auburn)
- Kobe Sanders (Cal Poly)
- Sincere Parker (Saint Louis)
- Mawot Mag (Rutgers)
- Milos Uzan (Oklahoma)
- Kario Oquendo (Oregon)
- Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) - entered 
- Mekhi Mason (Rice)
- Kobe Johnson (USC)
- Daniel Batcho (Louisiana Tech)
- Elmarko Jackson (Kansas)
- Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt)

[AH1971]

I posted this in the other thread as well, but would agree it probably belongs here.

Along with Galloway and Leal who have already announced they’re coming back, I think Reneau, Cupps, Sparks, and Newton are definitely coming back. Mgbako is the wild card here and while I don’t think he’s a first round pick, he’s definitely played well enough the last couple of weeks to go through the draft process and really get honest feedback. From a monetary standpoint, if he returns to school he’s not going to have it any better than here.

 

For argument sake, say MM does return, that gives you 7 returning players with 6 available scholarships. Jalen Blackmon needs to be priority #1. I’d take a long hard look at Luke Goode as well who went through senior day at Illinois with the expectation of entering the portal. A backcourt of Blackmon, Goode, and Galloway is a good start and MM being able to slide over the 4 finally gives IU and Woodson their 1 in/4 out lineup combo (I’ll believe it when I see it). Get a rim protector to come off the bench that can play 20-25 mpg and another forward with athletic versatility and you at least have a competitive roster for next season. 

[JimmerNoe]

10 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Maybe a better fit for the transfer portal thread. But a little birdie told me these players might enter the portal. Wish I had the position listed. Hopefully a few guards we could nab. When the staff talks about having better portal connections this go around, I would really like to see some early announcements from the portal. Especially since that's apparently the only recruiting strategy we're going with. 

This is perfect for this thread. Would love to have a more targeted discussion on IU outlook including transfer stuff in addition to the transfer portal thread. It gets a little crowded in that thread with entries that will never matter to IU so I appreciate this!

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Blackmon, Thornton, Gayle, Wade Taylor

Let’s go 2 or 3 of them.

Not sure which 5 I want yet.


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[sirhoosierlot]

Would love Blackmon, Essegian, and Tschetterbob 

[JimmerNoe]

Would love if Bruce Thornton is available but I am sure he will be OSU new coach’s priority number one the second he walks in. Hopefully that doesn’t matter because we drop a bag lol 

[JimmerNoe]

Would be a little wild based on our recruiting discourse lately if we went and snagged Elmarko Jackson and Xavier Booker back, just a year later.

Maybe the plan will be to lightly recruit really good high school guys but only in order to get them after they transfer one year later as seasoned collegiate athletes 

[Alford Bailey]

Galloway and Leal coming back does not solve our problems.  We need better guards than that.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Would love Blackmon, Essegian, and Tschetterbob 

Not good enough. Their is a reason Essegian fell off the depth chart. Blackmon would be nice as a shooter. But you can’t have 2 guards that lack in defense like they do. To me, Blackmon is the better shooter by quite a bit.

Tschetter would be good in the Sparks role, but getting big minutes, again, not a winning formula.


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[WayneFleekHoosier]

Would be a little wild based on our recruiting discourse lately if we went and snagged Elmarko Jackson and Xavier Booker back, just a year later.
Maybe the plan will be to lightly recruit really good high school guys but only in order to get them after they transfer one year later as seasoned collegiate athletes 

Will be interesting to see some of the boomerang effect with the star freshman that don’t get run.


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[sirhoosierlot]

7 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Not good enough. Their is a reason Essegian fell off the depth chart. Blackmon would be nice as a shooter. But you can’t have 2 guards that lack in defense like they do. To me, Blackmon is the better shooter by quite a bit.

Tschetter would be good in the Sparks role, but getting big minutes, again, not a winning formula.


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Yeah definitely don’t see CE as a starter but I think he’s be way more productive than CJ this year. I love the energy Cheddar Bob plays with but see him as a bench guy too. I need to familiarize myself with starter potentials. I think Jalen is good enough on offense to make up for it. All up in the air right now anyway. 

[HoosierHoopster]

I think Bako is back. He’s not NBA ready but he could be after another season and he’s starting to shine and getting the minutes he deserves. I’d bet on hos testing waters now and going pro after next season. 
Very interested to see Newton next season. 
Blackmon definitely a guy we should recruit hard— 

We need lead guard and outside shooting in the portal. I dont want another big that’ll just turn into more play through the post BS. Walk the walk Woodson, talk is cheap. Land outside shooting and playmaking. Then use it

[Gnet550]

Bruce Thornton would be my number 1…..then Blackmon and Tschetter…..Essegian would be a nice shooting asset off the bench

[realTomCrean]

4 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

Maybe a better fit for the transfer portal thread. But a little birdie told me these players might enter the portal. Wish I had the position listed. Hopefully a few guards we could nab. When the staff talks about having better portal connections this go around, I would really like to see some early announcements from the portal. Especially since that's apparently the only recruiting strategy we're going with. 

- Brandon Gardner (USC)
- Dylan Cardwell (Auburn)
- KD Johnson (Auburn)
- Devin Askew (Cal)
- Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech)
- Kerwin Walton (Texas Tech)
- Chris Lockett (Boise State)
- Jaden Schutt (Duke)
- Matt Cross (UMass)
- Jordan Pope (Oregon State)
- Danny Wolf (Yale)
- TJ Power (Duke)
- Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State)
- Terrence Edwards (James Madison)
- Michael Eley (Siena)
- Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
- Nolan Hickman (Gonzaga)
- Zhuric Phelps (SMU)
- Langston Love (Baylor)
- Chris Johnson (Texas)
- Baye Fall (Arkansas)
- Lee Dort (Vandy)
- Trazerian White (UNC Wilmington)
- Terrance Arceneaux (Houston)
- Connor Essegian (Wisconsin)
- Rubin Jones (North Texas)
- Chaunce Jenkins (Old Dominion) 
- Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)
- Donovan Dent (New Mexico)
- Dug McDaniel (Michigan)
- Ezra Ausar (East Carolina)
- Achor Achor (Samford)
- CJ Gunn (Indiana)
- Tarris Reed (Michigan)
- Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
- Erik Reynolds (St. Joe’s)
- Khalil Brantley (La Salle)
- Brandon Angel (Stanford)
- Vasean Allete (Old Dominion) - entered 
- Riley Kugel (Florida)
- JaKobe Coles (TCU)
- Alston Mason (Missouri State)
- Xavier Booker (Michigan State)
- Ugonna Onyenso (Kentucky)
- Amari Williams (Drexel)
- Jonathan Mogbo (San Francisco)
- Will Tschetter (Michigan)
- Jalen Blackmon (Stetson)
- Jonathan Beagle (Albany)
- Layden Blocker (Arkansas)
- AJ Hoggard (Michigan State)
- Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
- Darlinstone Dubar (Hofstra)
- Kanye Clary (Penn State)
- Chaz Lanier (North Florida)
- Saint Thomas (Northern Colorado)
- BJ Omot (North Dakota)
- Dawson Garcia (Minnesota)
- Ish Leggett (Pitt)
- Frankie Collins (Arizona State)
- Roddy Gayle (Ohio State)
- Earl Timberlake (Bryant)
- AJ Storr (Wisconsin)
- Aden Holloway (Auburn)
- Kobe Sanders (Cal Poly)
- Sincere Parker (Saint Louis)
- Mawot Mag (Rutgers)
- Milos Uzan (Oklahoma)
- Kario Oquendo (Oregon)
- Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) - entered 
- Mekhi Mason (Rice)
- Kobe Johnson (USC)
- Daniel Batcho (Louisiana Tech)
- Elmarko Jackson (Kansas)
- Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt)

No biggie but your little birdie ctrl C + Ctrl V that list off of Trilly’s discord 

Wish list: Essegian, Elmarko Jackson, KD Johnson, Clary, Mcdaniel, Cross

Onyenso, Booker, Reed 

Get a few of these guys and roll the ball out

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Some real intriguing options on there. Huntley-Hatfield can play too.

Thornton, Blackmon definitely catch high interest but a lot of interesting ones.


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[SamIam]

4 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

- Brandon Gardner (USC)
- Dylan Cardwell (Auburn)
- KD Johnson (Auburn)
- Devin Askew (Cal)
- Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech)
- Kerwin Walton (Texas Tech)
- Chris Lockett (Boise State)
- Jaden Schutt (Duke)
- Matt Cross (UMass)
- Jordan Pope (Oregon State)
- Danny Wolf (Yale)
- TJ Power (Duke)
- Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State)
- Terrence Edwards (James Madison)
- Michael Eley (Siena)
- Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
- Nolan Hickman (Gonzaga)
- Zhuric Phelps (SMU)
- Langston Love (Baylor)
- Chris Johnson (Texas)
- Baye Fall (Arkansas)
- Lee Dort (Vandy)
- Trazerian White (UNC Wilmington)
- Terrance Arceneaux (Houston)
- Connor Essegian (Wisconsin)
- Rubin Jones (North Texas)
- Chaunce Jenkins (Old Dominion) 
- Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)
- Donovan Dent (New Mexico)
- Dug McDaniel (Michigan)
- Ezra Ausar (East Carolina)
- Achor Achor (Samford)
- CJ Gunn (Indiana)
- Tarris Reed (Michigan)
- Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
- Erik Reynolds (St. Joe’s)
- Khalil Brantley (La Salle)
- Brandon Angel (Stanford)
- Vasean Allete (Old Dominion) - entered 
- Riley Kugel (Florida)
- JaKobe Coles (TCU)
- Alston Mason (Missouri State)
- Xavier Booker (Michigan State)
- Ugonna Onyenso (Kentucky)
- Amari Williams (Drexel)
- Jonathan Mogbo (San Francisco)
- Will Tschetter (Michigan)
- Jalen Blackmon (Stetson)
- Jonathan Beagle (Albany)
- Layden Blocker (Arkansas)
- AJ Hoggard (Michigan State)
- Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
- Darlinstone Dubar (Hofstra)
- Kanye Clary (Penn State)
- Chaz Lanier (North Florida)
- Saint Thomas (Northern Colorado)
- BJ Omot (North Dakota)
- Dawson Garcia (Minnesota)
- Ish Leggett (Pitt)
- Frankie Collins (Arizona State)
- Roddy Gayle (Ohio State)
- Earl Timberlake (Bryant)
- AJ Storr (Wisconsin)
- Aden Holloway (Auburn)
- Kobe Sanders (Cal Poly)
- Sincere Parker (Saint Louis)
- Mawot Mag (Rutgers)
- Milos Uzan (Oklahoma)
- Kario Oquendo (Oregon)
- Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) - entered 
- Mekhi Mason (Rice)
- Kobe Johnson (USC)
- Daniel Batcho (Louisiana Tech)
- Elmarko Jackson (Kansas)
- Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt)

This list is honestly stacked. The transfer portal is nuts. 

- Guys I like: Thornton needs to be priority 1. Proven B1G starter, connection on staff, and 2 yrs left. Mawot Mag would be a great 4, one of the best defenders in the B1G already. 

- Guys you gotta at least offer: Jordan Pope is a great player. Aden Holloway was the #3 PG in the last class. Wade Taylor was one of the best players in the country last season, 1st team all SEC. 

- Indiana guys: I think you have to reach out to Essegian, Blackmon, and Booker if they hit the portal. I think Ware may end up being a very compelling selling point for Booker this summer. Essegian has had a down year but he has 2 yrs left, and we really only need him to be a spot up shooter. Blackmon is a microwave scorer and the family story would be fun.

This is good for IU, but goddamn they need to fix this 2 time transfer thing. Full on free agency will get very old very quick.