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Posted

The strategy for resurrecting the program is what I'd really like to know.  As has been bandied around in this thread, why would the cream of the crop (portal & HS) players want to come here?  Even with Woodson there was a track record of reviving big guys, there's nothing like that with the current staff.  With a lackluster first season this past year we have nothing but some $ and PT.

From where I sit, our best route is to do it with talent identification, finding under the radar young players AND then being able to develop them.  Honestly, it's a tough row to hoe.

I've stated before that I believe CDD will get his full 4 years but he really needs a solid strategy not a bandaid, quick fix approach.

Posted
43 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Money, money, money, stage, and Indiana does a tremendous job of taking care of these kids, plus playing time. 
 

Money is the biggest factor, although granted not the only factor. We put ourselves behind the 8 ball with the season we had this year which was a major flaw in the plan to begin with. They counted on DeVries coaching  to be able to cobble enough wins to have a acceptable year.  They needed to aim higher but many factors were in play. I get it. 
We are at the point we have to grossly overspend and rely on “built in” connections to attract the talent until winning can add the third element.

We really need to find a way to overspend for 2 or 3 key pieces. But it’s a crapshoot. Injuries, etc.  we have a huge staff, we need to relay those connections plus extra money to do what we should have done in year 1.  Now it’s harder.

I know you can’t have a superstar at every position.  We need 3 to be ultimately successful. And 1 being at the 1 and 5 are the hugest returns in wins.  I won’t get as upset by the wing spots. 

While I understand what you are saying, players of top caliber can get money and stage almost anywhere.  Until we get this thing rolling (assuming CDD is the guy), I really don't see the highest of talent coming to IU just for money especially if they want to go to the NBA (granted Carr has that bridge now but we have to have a coach that can coach/develop them to get there).  Some may be interested in solely money and like I said are those the guys we really want to build this thing with?

Ben McCollum doesn't have the money IU has and still got a team to buy in and coached them to the elite 8.  Personally, i think the first step is going to be to assemble a team that can get to the tournament safely and win games we are supposed to (see NW).  Once he can do that yearly, then I believe the talent will come and we can start to compete at the top of the conference again.  But IMO the best we can hope for at this point is a yearly tournament team to start attracting more talent.  Even in the NIL era, I just don't see how this will be a fast fix even with money to spend given the state of our program.

I completely agree with your take and our needs.  I just think a realistic view of what we want vs what we can get are two different things.  I hope we get there. I hope they swing for the fences and get a couple guys.  I just do not see that as the realistic possibility so if we get a starter from UL that fits what we need it's a start and hopefully an upgrade to what we saw last season.

Posted
19 minutes ago, pumpfake said:

The strategy for resurrecting the program is what I'd really like to know.  As has been bandied around in this thread, why would the cream of the crop (portal & HS) players want to come here?  Even with Woodson there was a track record of reviving big guys, there's nothing like that with the current staff.  With a lackluster first season this past year we have nothing but some $ and PT.

From where I sit, our best route is to do it with talent identification, finding under the radar young players AND then being able to develop them.  Honestly, it's a tough row to hoe.

I've stated before that I believe CDD will get his full 4 years but he really needs a solid strategy not a bandaid, quick fix approach.

This is it.  Buying a roster rarely works, and doesn't work long term.  You have to identify and develop.  Hopefully that is what Ryan Carr is there for -- do the grunt work to identify the talent.  Then CDD and staff can try fitting the pieces together and developing them from there.  

Posted
8 minutes ago, skhoosier2 said:

While I understand what you are saying, players of top caliber can get money and stage almost anywhere.  Until we get this thing rolling (assuming CDD is the guy), I really don't see the highest of talent coming to IU just for money especially if they want to go to the NBA (granted Carr has that bridge now but we have to have a coach that can coach/develop them to get there).  Some may be interested in solely money and like I said are those the guys we really want to build this thing with?

Ben McCollum doesn't have the money IU has and still got a team to buy in and coached them to the elite 8.  Personally, i think the first step is going to be to assemble a team that can get to the tournament safely and win games we are supposed to (see NW).  Once he can do that yearly, then I believe the talent will come and we can start to compete at the top of the conference again.  But IMO the best we can hope for at this point is a yearly tournament team to start attracting more talent.  Even in the NIL era, I just don't see how this will be a fast fix even with money to spend given the state of our program.

I completely agree with your take and our needs.  I just think a realistic view of what we want vs what we can get are two different things.  I hope we get there. I hope they swing for the fences and get a couple guys.  I just do not see that as the realistic possibility so if we get a starter from UL that fits what we need it's a start and hopefully an upgrade to what we saw last season.

McCollum had multiple guys from his Drake team that followed him to Iowa.  Just a point to consider.

Posted
6 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yep.  Our own Coach cig did as well. 
 

I’ve always said it was concerning that the only guy to follow DD was his son 

Only concerning if there were identifiable players that were suitable to bring with him. I'm not sure there really were any.

Posted
1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

Only concerning if there were identifiable players that were suitable to bring with him. I'm not sure there really were any.

Amani Hansberry was probably the one guy we needed. He was tied at the hip to Chester Frazier who recruited him to Illinois and has followed him since. Jayden Stone ended up having a good year for Missouri but didn't play a single minute at West Virginia due to injury and was even questionable if he could play this year.

Posted
3 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Only concerning if there were identifiable players that were suitable to bring with him. I'm not sure there really were any.

Hansberry absolutely was.... buuuuuut... I don't think Hansberry wanted to leave that "area" again.. he went from Morgantown to Blacksburg (and only ended up an hour further from home)... 

10 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yep.  Our own Coach cig did as well. 
 

I’ve always said it was concerning that the only guy to follow DD was his son 

Could argue Enright

Posted
6 minutes ago, rayl456 said:

McCollum had multiple guys from his Drake team that followed him to Iowa.  Just a point to consider.

I am aware.  He was just an example of someone that did it with less money and coached his players/developed his culture.  He put a foundation in place his first year to attract the players he wants to compete with.  I believe that's what we need to do this season in order to get to where we want to go.  Last year was a disappointment and a waste in regards to program building.  The narrative that CDD had no time/no staff is an excuse.  Other programs hired their coaches later and did more.  That's fully on CDD for dragging his feet on staff(yes I know he was waiting on higher level assistants he ultimately did not get) and not knowing what kind of roster he needed to compete in the B1G.  I am not giving up on the guy, but I am calling it what it is.  He's got a GM now to help with talent evaluation.  My expectations are tournament or bust.  Roster construction is key to program building and taking the program in an upward trajectory.  If he cannot get to the tournament next season, he will deserve to be on the hot seat.  I am not expecting high major talent.  I am expecting a better roster construction, better coaching, and an upward trajectory to see a path to getting better talent where we can be at the top of the conference again.  That doesn't happen if we cannot make the tournament yearly and win games we should win to get there.

Posted
8 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Not really. The only person from last years WVU team really tied to DeVries was his son. Everyone else was either out of eligibility or were tied to the assistants he hired, that team was thrown together in a hurry like this years team. He didn't bring any of his assistants with him other than Norton. 

If Stone and TDV stay healthy at WVU.... that's a pretty interesting squad and a team that easily could have made a run in March. It intrigues me he could build that roster. 

He's 1/2 in roster building in a one year time frame. 

Posted
21 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Only concerning if there were identifiable players that were suitable to bring with him. I'm not sure there really were any.

He brought in plenty of unsuitable players.  No reason they couldn’t have been from a previous stop 

Posted
12 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

He brought in plenty of unsuitable players.  No reason they couldn’t have been from a previous stop 

You would have been happier if he'd brought in known unsuitable players from a previous stops rather than rolling the dice on unknowns?

That's weird. lol

Posted
16 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

He brought in plenty of unsuitable players.  No reason they couldn’t have been from a previous stop 

then it would have been why the heck did he bring these unsuitable players with him from WV.    He should have known what he had and he brought them anyway.    That’s on him.  Unacceptable for a place like IU that has only had 1 time with back  to back winning conference records in 18 years 

Posted
14 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

He brought in plenty of unsuitable players.  No reason they couldn’t have been from a previous stop 

who, though?

Hansberry stayed in the area/stayed with Frazier

Stone--who knows what his status was going to be/Do you get Wilkerson if you recruit Stone? 

 

Powell would have been basically the only other one. 

 

Yesufu, Andre, Okani, Small were all out of eligibiltiy.

KJ Tenner couldn't start at Murray State... Harris was a bench player for Cinci. 

Posted
48 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

You would have been happier if he'd brought in known unsuitable players from a previous stops rather than rolling the dice on unknowns?

That's weird. lol

I wouldn’t be happy with unsuitable players.  But it’s a telling sign that no players wanted to follow him. And if he was going to get unsuitable players anyway. Why not ones that know his system already. 
 

Good to see people are consistent.  Grasping at straws to defend the soon to be disastrous tenure of DD same way they did Davis, Crean, Archie and Woodson. 
 

Honestly I am impressed that anybody who had the guts to defend the Woodson hire as anything more than an absolute joke is still posting. 

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