Transfer Portal w IU Interest

[lillurk]

18 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton were both 3* transfers on 247. How do they have Sam Alexis as a NR/0* transfer? He was more productive than either of them on a better team. lmao

https://247sports.com/player/sam-alexis-46133294/

@RaceToTheTop has a good response but it’s also a choice in methodology. I don’t know if any of the services really explain how they rank, but I know that for 247 football, they’re ranking based on potential/ceiling/projection, which makes some sense here.

Alexis is probably capped at “mid-major 2nd/3rd team and all-defense” or “high-major backup.” Cupps and Newton each have 3 years left and could conceivably get to, say, “plus high-major starter.”

[Home Jersey]

6 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Lol. In 11 minutes per game. You realize that stat is time based. And his coach could have played him any amount of minutes he chose. And he chose not to play him in the most Important games of the year.

He’s got some size, versatility, and probably a willing bench piece. They can’t all be starters. And that’s ok. Calling it like it is.


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Yes, agree. So how is that an "Oof" ?

I get he doesn't wow anyone but like you said they can't all be starters...

Seems like a kid who will play a limited role and help build a strong culture. That's a good thing IMO. 

[lillurk]

One note on Torvik and ceiling: if he does it anything like Pomeroy, there are minor program and coach adjustments to preseason rankings.

So e.g. the same roster UConn, DePaul, and Wisconsin-Whitewater might not be ranked identically.

All that to say there probably is a preseason ceiling for IU if there’s an adjustment based on the recent past.

[lillurk]

Like others I would be happy to see some underclassmen but I will caution everyone that I’m not sure the old way of thinking about roster building holds any more.

It would be nice to see some guys develop, and I think that with regional or in-state prospects that will still make some sense. But if IU pulls a frosh from the east coast, he plays minimally, but then Maryland is convinced he’s worth a mint after his freshman year? Well, all your development and the sunk costs of his year at IU benefit Maryland, maybe even if you’re willing to match his offer.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Yes, agree. So how is that an "Oof" ?
I get he doesn't wow anyone but like you said they can't all be starters...
Seems like a kid who will play a limited role and help build a strong culture. That's a good thing IMO. 

Because we lack good Bigs and have limited roster space at this time. Probably after this weekend it will make more sense. Just unspectacular in a “position of need”. As a bench guy it’s cool.


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[Home Jersey]

Just now, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Because we lack good Bigs and have limited roster space at this time. Probably after this weekend it will make more sense. Just unspectacular in a “position of need”. As a bench guy it’s cool.


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Curious your thoughts on the Baba Miller and Fed x2? Anyone else you've seen us in the mix with (or not) you'd prefer?

Genuinely asking because I respect your takes. 

[Hoosierfanyuh]

6 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Because we lack good Bigs and have limited roster space at this time. Probably after this weekend it will make more sense. Just unspectacular in a “position of need”. As a bench guy it’s cool.


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You don’t really get to pick the order of when people commit / visit lol 

[Okram]

10 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I’m sure that’s the vision. Alexis isn’t Hansberry. But if I squint my eyes I can see it.


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Just looked. By rankings, Hansberry in the portal this year looks very similar to Alexis in the portal last year. Hansberry looked better offensively and Alexis defensively especially as a shot blocker.  Alexis just happened to go to the best team in the country with a bounty of big men.
 

An interesting pick up seemingly out of nowhere. Bolsters the roster a bit depth wise and fills a need.  

Edited April 25, 2025 by Okram

[lillurk]

Old news now but I thought the Desmond Claude contact was interesting.

1. probably just due diligence

2. does indicate they probably still have quite a bit of dough to splash

3. wonder if the vision is/was a sort of Swiss Army knife 6th man.

4. more broadly, I think IU’s gonna play teams who’s best player is the best guy on the floor…but IU’s 4th or 5th best guy in most lineups doesn’t look likely to be very weak.

[Uspshoosier]

Transfer portal rankings

2024- Carlyle 15 

2025- Carlyle 313

Optics looked good in 2024 though 

[AZ Hoosier]

Just now, Uspshoosier said:

Transfer portal rankings

2024- Carlyle 15 

2025- Carlyle 313

Optics looked good in 2024 though 

Son of a b... that's gonna leave a mark.

[Scotty R]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I get sunshine pumping. But if University X put this roster together and we as Indiana fans looked at it from the outside we wouldn’t bat an eye. Doesn’t mean much, but it means something in its own right.

We clearly will need to outperform expectations for most of us to be happy.


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Can you ever show any optimism towards this program 

 

[sirhoosierlot]

People care more about how we’re perceived Twitter than on the basketball court. Plum wild. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

People care more about how we’re perceived Twitter than on the basketball court. Plum wild. 

Care about all of it. A great season this season would help future seasons as far as trust in coach by me and everyone. Big year upcoming. Program momentum is year to year these days. Top ten money. Let’s get results.


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[AH1971]

52 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I’m sure that’s the vision. Alexis isn’t Hansberry. But if I squint my eyes I can see it.


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What vision were you looking for out of a 15 mpg depth piece?

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Transfer portal rankings
2024- Carlyle 15 
2025- Carlyle 313
Optics looked good in 2024 though 

Not by me. Didn’t like the pickup. I liked Ballo a ton. Liked Rice but not nearly as much as the board and was a complete wait and see on Carlyle. Wanted a proven shooter at SG.


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[WayneFleekHoosier]

Can you ever show any optimism towards this program 
 

I do in spurts. My spider senses have been incredibly accurate through the years. I’ve said I think this approach has a lot of hope. I like the courage to do it his way. Take some chances, etc. I like the more secret approach. Not cowering to the media. I like the focus on shooting. I’ve said all these things. I think we need a really good center and a sold back up. Alexis is undersized. The B1G doesn’t play. We will see if Alexis can handle the 5 in the B1G. I’ve got doubts.

I personally want to be top 25 to start the season. That’s a personal goal I think Indiana should achieve every season if the program wants to be taken seriously. Id like that this year. We may have to earn that. That’s ok. So long as we do. We can’t be hovering in the 40’s and 50’s. We need to eventually separate ourselves and be back on the big stage.

I can’t wait to see more aesthetically pleasing basketball and I’m at least convinced the ball will be more palatable to watch this season.


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[go iu bb]

Rabby says that since IU is now at 10 on the roster, they're looking for another big or maybe adding another really good player if given the chance then moving to HS players. The staff feels good about the roster now.

He also says, again, that he feels good about IU's chance to land Dezmon Briscoe if they want him.

Going by that, it looks as though they see Bailey playing as a 5.

[RaceToTheTop]

5 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I do in spurts. My spider senses have been incredibly accurate through the years. I’ve said I think this approach has a lot of hope. I like the courage to do it his way. Take some chances, etc. I like the more secret approach. Not cowering to the media. I like the focus on shooting. I’ve said all these things. I think we need a really good center and a sold back up. Alexis is undersized. The B1G doesn’t play. We will see if Alexis can handle the 5 in the B1G. I’ve got doubts.

I personally want to be top 25 to start the season. That’s a personal goal I think Indiana should achieve every season if the program wants to be taken seriously. Id like that this year. We may have to earn that. That’s ok. So long as we do. We can’t be hovering in the 40’s and 50’s. We need to eventually separate ourselves and be back on the big stage.

I can’t wait to see more aesthetically pleasing basketball and I’m at least convinced the ball will be more palatable to watch this season.


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You do show optimism in spurts, but can you admit that the DNPs you stated that Alexis had were from injury and not your suggestion that it was because of his play?

https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-gators/news/sam-alexis-injury-update-when-will-the-florida-forward-be-back/

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Curious your thoughts on the Baba Miller and Fed x2? Anyone else you've seen us in the mix with (or not) you'd prefer?
Genuinely asking because I respect your takes. 

Thomas Sorber was my dream shot.

I think Baba Miller better fits what DeVries is trying to do. Getting size with both. Miller is much more versatile. More fluid. More skilled. Fed2 is solid but he has some major deficiencies. Gives rim protection and lob threats. He’s great on lobs and solid on blocks but not great. He’s fast as a 5. Both can play. I think I prefer Miller. Neither are the missing piece to a top 5 team. But we need length and these seem like the best options in the portal as far as I see. Some other teams are grabbing up Euro bigs that have been intriguing. Not sure that avenue has any gems left?




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