Transfer Portal w IU Interest

[IU5355 888]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:20 PM, go iu bb said:

Time for this or still too early? 

I changed my post. Looks like one player and an assistant. Maybe not panic yet. 

[go iu bb 9,807]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:20 PM, Scotty R said:

I am saying no matter who is wearing those uniforms it will sell because fans have been buying it for years. The individual players aren't why people are buying the product or going to games. I have been a fan of IU for 50 years and players have come and gone but IU is still there.

Would you say that fan engagement is the same as what it was 30 years ago? 20? 10? I wouldn't. Why is that? It's because the program hasn't had much success in that timeframe, certainly not consistent success. That was due to bad coaching hires which lead to bad teams, often comprised of bad players.

Coaching matters. Players matter.

[steubenhoosier 1,906]

  On 4/15/2025 at 3:56 PM, Jet812 said:

Either of those things could absolutely be true.  It’s ok for people to discuss & acknowledge shortcomings, failures, concerns, etc., just as it’s ok to be positive & optimistic.  Ships need sails & anchors.  It’s also ok for people to sit out the big boy conversations if they’re too fragile to handle some well-founded pessimism, pragmatism or realistic assessments that suggest everything isn’t peachy.  I’ll bet my dollars to your dimes that each group is going to be right & wrong, especially when it comes to recruiting.

What’s not ok is portraying those people as taking pleasure from IU’s failures or suggesting that’s what they want to happen.  That’s just stupid.

Just as a point of reference. There were multiple people here who took pleasure in IU’s failures in order to get Woodson fired.

Could be why there’s a degree of skepticism when the criticism ramps up about a coach who has been here less than a month 

[go iu bb 9,807]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:19 PM, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

That's my issue. I absolutely agree. 

Nope can't agree with that. 

It's Duke? of course it was. 

 

They still made the FF and had a chance at the NC. The fans/boosters probably look at it as they got robbed.

If it truly was championship or bust, Scheyer's seat would be at least warm. It isn't. Those boosters aren't going to withhold funding, either.

So I disagree, I think they probably still believe it was a good investment.

[Jeff Flabjohns 2,790]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:20 PM, Scotty R said:

I am saying no matter who is wearing those uniforms it will sell because fans have been buying it for years. The individual players aren't why people are buying the product or going to games. I have been a fan of IU for 50 years and players have come and gone but IU is still there.

I think it’s commendable you’re able to shove the length of your fandom into just about any point you’re making. 
But…you’re missing the main tenets of this discussion.

Most big schools are making massive amounts of money on TV deals, revenue sharing as well as ticket sales, merchandise, etc. 
They make MORE money when their teams do well. There is more fan interest and donations when the teams perform better. The value of the brand grows. Their teams do well when they attract better coaching/talent. That requires paying those individuals more. 

[MrBBall 983]

Feeling good about Wilkerson 

[AH1971 3,317]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:20 PM, Scotty R said:

I am saying no matter who is wearing those uniforms it will sell because fans have been buying it for years. The individual players aren't why people are buying the product or going to games. I have been a fan of IU for 50 years and players have come and gone but IU is still there.

Duke built its brand by consistently winning. How do you win consistently? By having the best players. Those players, up until the last few years, weren't compensated anywhere close to their fair market value.

If Duke decided one day they only wanted to admit athletes who fit their admissions standards, they would lose their brand and lose it rather quickly. We know that will never happen though.

[lillurk 5,151]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:21 PM, IU5355 said:

I changed my post. Looks like one player and an assistant. Maybe not panic yet. 

He’s also following senior IU walkon Jaden Bobbett… not sure I’d make much of it yet.

[IU5355 888]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:30 PM, MrBBall said:

Feeling good about Wilkerson 

Any "soft chatter" to report or just a hunch?

[DChoosier 9,848]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:03 PM, Scotty R said:

I disagree because the name in the front of the jersey is what sells in college sports. It doesn't matter who is on the team as long as they are winning for fan bases to buy the product or go to games.

Your “front of the jersey” argument isn’t just college as it applies to 90% of NBA/MLB/NFL etc players.

 

 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 12,113]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:21 PM, IU5355 said:

I changed my post. Looks like one player and an assistant. Maybe not panic yet. 

uuuu muddaaafaakker 

[go iu bb 9,807]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Flabjohns said:

I think it’s commendable you’re able to shove the length of your fandom into just about any point you’re making. 
But…you’re missing the main tenets of this discussion.

Most big schools are making massive amounts of money on TV deals, revenue sharing as well as ticket sales, merchandise, etc. 
They make MORE money when their teams do well. Theirs more fan interest and donations when the teams perform better. Their teams do well when they attract better coaching/talent. That requires paying those individuals more. 

To add on to this: it's a cycle. Attracting better coaching and talent leads to more success, which results in more fan interest and, therefore, more money coming in. Which means they can get even better talent and on and on.

Established examples: Duke, UK, Kansas

Newer examples: UConn, Alabama

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 12,113]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:33 PM, DChoosier said:

Your “front of the jersey” argument isn’t just college as it applies to 90% of NBA/MLB/NFL etc players.

 

 

There are 32 NFL teams, 30 MLB, 30 NBA..... compare that to the number of NCAA teams. 

It does not apply 

[Scotty R 3,766]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Flabjohns said:

I think it’s commendable you’re able to shove the length of your fandom into just about any point you’re making. 
But…you’re missing the main tenets of this discussion.

Most big schools are making massive amounts of money on TV deals, revenue sharing as well as ticket sales, merchandise, etc. 
They make MORE money when their teams do well. Theirs more fan interest and donations when the teams perform better. Their teams do well when they attract better coaching/talent. That requires paying those individuals more. 

Of course it is better when you are winning but as long as you are winning it doesn't matter the name of the player. Say you take the top 150 players out of college basketball and the top level of players are mid major players. If those players put the UK uniform on and wins the fans will buy the product.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 12,113]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:31 PM, lillurk said:

He’s also following senior IU walkon Jaden Bobbett… not sure I’d make much of it yet.

gotta have a hot sister

[MikeRoberts 7,996]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:08 PM, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

no lol to Duke? hell no. 

WAYYYY more. Duke is a brand and basketball is the window into the institution. They are world famous for basketball and academics. Cooper Flagg is THE biggest ambassador to the brand they have currently and that will carry on for a long time. Players like him help with viewership, butts in seats, apparel, merchandise, contract with Nike, donations, rev sharing, tournament payouts, licensing, applications/enrollment etc etc. 

[steubenhoosier 1,906]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:34 PM, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

gotta have a hot sister

Hopefully not the Bobbett who took a knife to her husband’s member

[Pagoda 4,846]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:15 PM, go iu bb said:

Much of that $4.8M came from fans, mostly very rich fans. They're not trying to make money on him, they're trying to win games and possibly a championship.

Is he worth that much to the fans that are paying? Yes, since that is what he got paid.

Was it a good investment? Yes, unless the mindset was championship or bust.

The rest that didn't come from fans was from companies. They got good visibility (I know I saw his lame commercials many times during the NCAAT). Probably worth it to them.

As many times as Cooper Flagg was the reason Duke was brought up on ESPN and other national programs -- he was probably worth a few million in media exposure alone.

Part of what makes investing in Cig and football so logical is the exposure.  GameDay and Big Noon were big ads for IU, it was incredible.  I've seen estimates that IUFB's run was worth $10-25M in media exposure alone (obviously a wide range of estimates).  Of course we also get a pop in game day revenue, donations, etc. 

There is a lot of value in having the most talked about player in CBB.

[Scotty R 3,766]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:31 PM, AH1971 said:

Duke built its brand by consistently winning. How do you win consistently? By having the best players. Those players, up until the last few years, weren't compensated anywhere close to their fair market value.

If Duke decided one day they only wanted to admit athletes who fit their admissions standards, they would lose their brand and lose it rather quickly. We know that will never happen though.

Let's put it this way if Cooper Flagg put on the Indiana Mad Ants uniform would his brand be as valuable than him playing for Duke. No it is because he is wearing the Duke uniform 

[hotjawns 80]

  On 4/15/2025 at 6:20 PM, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

what

like?

just go off on these insane tangents and it makes finding info impossible lol … getting outta hand