Transfer Portal w IU Interest

[Stuhoo 89,645]

3 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

Sorry, I have not been following this thread as religiously as some. How in the world did we get to discussing Leal? Dude's already played five seasons. Who's next -- Al Durham? 

I'm a big Al Durham fan. If he had eligibility he'd be a 100% yes too.

[LamarCheeks 22,152]

Just now, Stuhoo said:

I'm a big Al Durham fan. If he had eligibility he'd be a 100% yes too.

You miss the days of Al driving haphazardly to the bucket and flinging up a shot against 3 bigger defenders and having no idea where it was going?

[Stuhoo 89,645]

3 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

You miss the days of Al driving haphazardly to the bucket and flinging up a shot against 3 bigger defenders and having no idea where it was going?

That was at IU under Archie. At Providence and away from Archie's offense he suddenly got pretty good!   ;) 

[Okram 56]

The Leal hate is wild. It’s one thing to point out the roster limitations, but he’s a good player and representative of the program. 

[Scotty R 3,747]

https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/aggies/2025/05/01/federiko-texas-am-aggies-red-raiders-sec/83400904007/

 

[Pagoda 4,698]

13 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Huh?

He's a Bloomington native who committed to Archie and stuck it out for 5 seasons while essentially riding the bench for 4.5 years before proving to be a pretty solid player.

He's as Hoosier as it gets. Laughable take. 

I didn't say he was not a Hoosier.

He's been here a long time.  I've heard plenty of stories about him good and bad.   IU has been very good to him, I wouldn't call it "sticking it out." He's not a bad guy, but he is also not someone I'd be clamoring to get one of the remaining roster spots.

To be clear, this is also not a freak out situation if he got another year.  I'm fine with whatever CDD decides, not that my opinion matters.

[AH1971 3,274]

3 minutes ago, Okram said:

The Leal hate is wild. It’s one thing to point out the roster limitations, but he’s a good player and representative of the program. 

The handwringing over Leal's comments over a year ago just further proves how insecure a sect of this fanbase really is. He wasn't lying either. 

[AH1971 3,274]

3 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I didn't say he was not a Hoosier.

He's been here a long time.  I've heard plenty of stories about him good and bad.   IU has been very good to him, I wouldn't call it "sticking it out." He's not a bad guy, but he is also not someone I'd be clamoring to get one of the remaining roster spots.

To be clear, this is also not a freak out situation if he got another year.  I'm fine with whatever CDD decides, not that my opinion matters.

You called him a "Woody guy", as if that's some kind of slight or insult.

No, he's very simply a Hoosier who cares deeply about this university.

[Hoosierfan2017 24,953]

The last thing this team needs is one of the ringleaders of the Mike Woodson grievance committee. DD seems to have brought in a bunch of guys with the opposite kind of mentality. Let’s stick to that and not start the new era off on the wrong foot. 

[Mopladysman 1,424]

4 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

The handwringing over Leal's comments over a year ago just further proves how insecure a sect of this fanbase really is. He wasn't lying either. 

I’m glad he was right.  Who does Woodson have lined up for us for next year?

[Hoosierfan1901 8,310]

Well, if Leal is back, I better see a grand slam Leal Deal. 

[Home Jersey 16,215]

16 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I didn't say he was not a Hoosier.

He's been here a long time.  I've heard plenty of stories about him good and bad.   IU has been very good to him, I wouldn't call it "sticking it out." He's not a bad guy, but he is also not someone I'd be clamoring to get one of the remaining roster spots.

To be clear, this is also not a freak out situation if he got another year.  I'm fine with whatever CDD decides, not that my opinion matters.

Since when do you get points for being a Bloomington native? Lol. Bringing him back would be very odd to me. Doesn’t fit the roster. Would give the appearance of undue influence from “stakeholders” around the program pushing their agenda and the coach being willing to go along. Maybe he really likes Leal that much and what he’d bring to the roster… but a fresh start for all seems reasonable. Focus on our guys with multiple years of eligibility? Leal is a smart player that doesn’t need the ball a lot to be effective. We haven’t seen a ton of that at IU recently. So I think people are wayyyy overestimating his value in basketball terms. Pass on having him in the locker room. I’m sure he’s a good guy personally. Just don’t find him exciting as a 5th or 6th year senior. Goode would be a nice add. 

[AH1971 3,274]

2 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Since when do you get points for being a Bloomington native?

I referenced him being a Bloomington native in response to a poster who essentially called him a Woody henchman. He's much more than that. He's been around IU and IU basketball since before he could walk. Trying to villainize players during the Woodson era because they didn't like the coach is a terrible look and frankly why this fan base sucks at times. And that is exactly what @Pagodawas doing with his post.

[Jet812 570]

1 minute ago, AH1971 said:

I referenced him being a Bloomington native in response to a poster who essentially called him a Woody henchman. He's much more than that. He's been around IU and IU basketball since before he could walk. Trying to villainize players during the Woodson era because they didn't like the coach is a terrible look and frankly why this fan base sucks at times. And that is exactly what @Pagodawas doing with his post.

Do you think Leal was a leader on last year’s team?

[Home Jersey 16,215]

1 minute ago, AH1971 said:

I referenced him being a Bloomington native in response to a poster who essentially called him a Woody henchman. He's much more than that. He's been around IU and IU basketball since before he could walk. Trying to villainize players during the Woodson era because they didn't like the coach is a terrible look and frankly why this fan base sucks at times. And that is exactly what @Pagodawas doing with his post.

Your personal feeling about Woody is clouding your view of Pagoda’s post IMO. I do agree some of the fanbase needs to take a step back and make their relationship with IUBB healthier though, lol. Just not getting that from Pagoda/his post. More rumors or something with legs? We will see. Two spots to fill. I’ll be excited (and very curious) for next year no matter what. 

[Pagoda 4,698]

21 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

You called him a "Woody guy", as if that's some kind of slight or insult.

No, he's very simply a Hoosier who cares deeply about this university.

Well it's not a good thing to be primarily coached and developed by Mike Woodson.  Mike is a terrible coach who also exhibited poor character here too.

I agree he is a Hoosier.  IU has been very good to him too.  I've got some insight into him (not senior night) and it leaves me not too excited about him returning.  But again, CDD knows best and if he returns that's fine.  I get you like him, probably from a distance, okay that's fine too.

6 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

I referenced him being a Bloomington native in response to a poster who essentially called him a Woody henchman. He's much more than that. He's been around IU and IU basketball since before he could walk. Trying to villainize players during the Woodson era because they didn't like the coach is a terrible look and frankly why this fan base sucks at times. And that is exactly what @Pagodawas doing with his post.

Ha.  What a strawman.  I didn't call him a henchman, nor did I villainize him.  What I'm saying is based on many stories I've heard about him over the years I'm not too thrilled about him returning.  Get a grip.

 

[Hoosierfan2017 24,953]

8 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

I referenced him being a Bloomington native in response to a poster who essentially called him a Woody henchman. He's much more than that. He's been around IU and IU basketball since before he could walk. Trying to villainize players during the Woodson era because they didn't like the coach is a terrible look and frankly why this fan base sucks at times. And that is exactly what @Pagodawas doing with his post.

Leal showed his loyalties when he took a payday to bash the fanbase (that was completely correct) for his crappy coach. He’s a Woody guy through and through. 

[AH1971 3,274]

1 minute ago, Jet812 said:

Do you think Leal was a leader on last year’s team?

Yes. And? Did he develop the offense? Did he recruit the portal? You really going to blame Leal for last year lol?

Leal turned down a world class education at Stanford to stay home. Could have transferred at any point the last 4 years to seek a better opportunity at playing. Yet, he put his head down, busted his @$$ for 5 years, and became a quality defender in this league all while he and his teammates were mercilessly dragged all year.

He deserved better. 

[AH1971 3,274]

4 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Leal showed his loyalties when he took a payday to bash the fanbase for his crappy coach. He’s a Woody guy through and through. 

Bash the fanbase lol.

Exhibit A of butthurt and insecure IU fan who gives this fanbase the reputation it has ^^^ 

You didn't even watch the games lol.

[Home Jersey 16,215]

5 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Leal showed his loyalties when he took a payday to bash the fanbase for his crappy coach. He’s a Woody guy through and through. 

Yeah… I don’t feel so terrible for them. Like @Stuhoo even said, him and Gallo knew Woody’s limitations better than ANYONE. They still made a conscious choice to play for him for a bag. They knew they wouldn’t go pro and it was too big a payday to turn down. Plus they love IU so much. Who wouldn’t as a student athlete with NIL money? Lol. They are Woody guys. I’d like a fresh start. Best for all parties.