Transfer Portal w IU Interest

[HoosierSadaseci 3,005]

  On 4/28/2025 at 12:14 PM, mike vannice said:

My big fear is how we would match up with Purdue and all of their bigs. I think TKR, Cluff and Jacobson would dominate and score at will against our current roster.

I hope coach has a plan for teams that have an advantage in the paint...which will be many at this point...

[SlamaJamaSisley 3,625]

  On 4/28/2025 at 12:42 PM, HoosierSadaseci said:

I hope coach has a plan for teams that have an advantage in the paint...which will be many at this point...

I think we will all need to adjust to the approach that 3 > 2 and we have a team that can actually shoot.   Teams will have to adjust to a smaller IU team as well.  

[Home Jersey 16,310]

Yeah I don’t think at this point in the portal we are going to add a big man that inspires much confidence against Cluff. He is a beast on the boards and has really good advanced stats. I think SlamaJamaSisley is spot on that we’re taking a 3>2 approach to roster construction. Jacobsen and TKR I think can probably be guarded by Bailey and Alexis serviceably. Fed2 is probably the best realistic prospect to match up with Cluff but even that isn’t really an equalizer for that match up. IMO

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 12,109]

  On 4/28/2025 at 12:14 PM, mike vannice said:

My big fear is how we would match up with Purdue and all of their bigs. I think TKR, Cluff and Jacobson would dominate and score at will against our current roster.

How would any of them guard him on the other end? 

  On 4/28/2025 at 1:01 PM, Home Jersey said:

Yeah I don’t think at this point in the portal we are going to add a big man that inspires much confidence against Cluff. He is a beast on the boards and has really good advanced stats. I think SlamaJamaSisley is spot on that we’re taking a 3>2 approach to roster construction. Jacobsen and TKR I think can probably be guarded by Bailey and Alexis serviceably. Fed2 is probably the best realistic prospect to match up with Cluff but even that isn’t really an equalizer for that match up. IMO

Cluff didn't do much in his one year in a P5 conference. He dominated a Mickey Mouse league last year. 

[sirhoosierlot 3,860]

  On 4/28/2025 at 12:55 PM, SlamaJamaSisley said:

I think we will all need to adjust to the approach that 3 > 2 and we have a team that can actually shoot.   Teams will have to adjust to a smaller IU team as well.  

We’re going to play very fast too. I’m not worried about the possibility of losing a couple games because of a team’s post game. I want to win in March. I think we get another 5 anyway. 

[dwtaylor1055 1,988]

Guards win games in March plain and simple

[Juwan Moye 1,314]

We had big advantages in the post last year with Ballo/Reneau, how’d that work out?

Gonna take some getting used to but the gross post-centric basketball we’ve seen for the last 8 years is going to be a thing of the past. Teams with less size managed to slow us down somehow and beat us from outside.

[AH1971 3,314]

  On 4/28/2025 at 1:44 PM, Juwan Moye said:

We had big advantages in the post last year with Ballo/Reneau, how’d that work out?

Gonna take some getting used to but the gross post-centric basketball we’ve seen for the last 8 years is going to be a thing of the past. Teams with less size managed to slow us down somehow and beat us from outside.

Again, I think the concern with the 5 spot this coming year is entirely based on the defensive end. Not every good 5 is a high usage, post centric player and there are plenty of bigs with size who can defend the interior and protect the rim without demanding a paint touch every time down. 

[Okram 65]

  On 4/26/2025 at 3:58 PM, WayneFleekHoosier said:

The test of optimism continues.  Definitely a different approach.  Taking multiple players from a mid major that was terrible is another interesting approach.  
 

It could all work, we’ve got some talent and definitely some guys that want to prove things.  
 

Let’s see 

Justin Smith was often wedged into playing the 3 at Indiana, and then thrived as the 4 and often the 5 at Arkansas on an elite 8 team. 

I’d like to pick up another post player, but it appears even if they get another one this is going to be a big departure from the last 8 years. Maybe it won’t work going with more ball handlers/shooters and less size inside defensively, but I’m willing to give it a shot. This kind of roster construction and style change is long overdue. 

[Hoosierfanyuh 7,041]

Like someone said a few days ago B1G is slowly going away from the center focused league especially with the 4 new coaches that just came in. In my head I can really only think of Purdue and Michigan who will have good centers that they will depend on a lot 

[Hoosierfanyuh 7,041]

Also Sam Alexis can definitely hold his own vs tougher centers. He’s a force lol

[hotjawns 80]

  On 4/28/2025 at 12:07 PM, Hoosierfanyuh said:

I think Bailey starts at the 5 as things stand today 

seems like this will be the case - hope we’ll be ok vs serious post players 

Edited April 28 by hotjawns

[AH1971 3,314]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:10 PM, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Also Sam Alexis can definitely hold his own vs tougher centers. He’s a force lol

He was the odd man out in an albeit very good Florida front court rotation last season coming off a lower leg injury which is always a lingering concern with big men. I wouldn't feel comfortable with just Alexis and Bailey as the only two experienced front court players and then having to rely on someone like Leo Curtis to log major minutes in the event of an injury. There is a very serious sell of ~20 mpg to guys like Federiko and Miller, which is right in their wheelhouse. Unless we're out of money, would be disappointing not to land one of them or someone of a similar skillset.

[Hoosierfanyuh 7,041]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:20 PM, AH1971 said:

He was the odd man out in an albeit very good Florida front court rotation last season coming off a lower leg injury which is always a lingering concern with big men. I wouldn't feel comfortable with just Alexis and Bailey as the only two experienced front court players and then having to rely on someone like Leo Curtis to log major minutes in the event of an injury. There is a very serious sell of ~20 mpg to guys like Federiko and Miller, which is right in their wheelhouse. Unless we're out of money, would be disappointing not to land one of them. 

Agreed. Definitely need one more experienced/playable big for depth reasons alone anything else is just icing on the cake 

[Ghost of Rick Majerus 2,015]

Some of you complain about the Big Ten not being able to compete in the tournament due to antiquated style of play. But as soon as you have a coach that is attempting to run a more modern style of play with a modern roster you begin to complain about the lack of big men. It doesn't make sense. 

Let Coach worry about who is playing what position. If we see issues next year, we can voice our complaints in the "Fire Coach Devries" thread. :)

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 12,109]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:16 PM, hotjawns said:

seems like this will be the case - hope we’ll be ok vs serious post players 

I can't imagine who could have stated this 

[Stuhoo 89,832]

  On 4/28/2025 at 1:22 PM, dwtaylor1055 said:

Guards win games in March plain and simple

Guards win games in November, December, January, February, March, and April.

[AH1971 3,314]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:38 PM, Ghost of Rick Majerus said:

Some of you complain about the Big Ten not being able to compete in the tournament due to antiquated style of play. But as soon as you have a coach that is attempting to run a more modern style of play with a modern roster you begin to complain about the lack of big men. It doesn't make sense. 

Let Coach worry about who is playing what position. If we see issues next year, we can voice our complaints in the "Fire Coach Devries" thread. :)

Lol.

You can still play a modern offense and have rim protector big(s) who can rebound on both ends of the floor (see the national champion Florida Gators)

[skhoosier2 161]

  On 4/28/2025 at 1:49 PM, AH1971 said:

Again, I think the concern with the 5 spot this coming year is entirely based on the defensive end. Not every good 5 is a high usage, post centric player and there are plenty of bigs with size who can defend the interior and protect the rim without demanding a paint touch every time down. 

Yes exactly.  It's not about back to the basket 5, it's really just a defense issue as to who is going to guard the Purdues/Michigans that have multiple big men that will dominate us inside the paint if we don't have anyone that can guard them.  I look forward to the new type of play we will be seeing.  I am just hoping we get another big or two that can protect the rim but doesn't need the ball in their hands a ton.

[68Hoosier 1,298]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:43 PM, Stuhoo said:

Guards win games in November, December, January, February, March, and April.

Wait, there are games in late March and April.   ;)