Ben McCollum

[str8baller 5,208]

2 hours ago, MikeRoberts said:

What am I missing about Duke and Scheyer? He is an alumn and seems to be doing well. Why would he or they move on?

In the past I think those hires eventually fizzled because of recruiting. But with NIL and Nike, Duke is going to be a too 5 talented team every year.  I haven’t watched him close enough to have a good read on him, but he seems confident enough to keep the ship pointed in the right direction.
 

i’d say he’s there a good 6 to 8 years without a final four or 10 years without a title before his seat gets warm. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

[coonhounds 8,881]

Don’t know much about Him, but I’d still prefer Dusty May . 

You are 1 year 2 late! That ship sailed

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[Ryno6284 2,643]

7 hours ago, HoosierCoop said:

All of this has rolled me into a huge ball of emotion.

• I am excited to know that there is an option out there for us that could be a huge uplift for this program.
• I am anxious because if we don't move on him this year, I fear that we will lose a huge opportunity.
• I am disheartened to know that we have to sit through another grinder season to get to this point.
• I am frustrated to see how the pre-season hype has panned out to a season full of apprehension.

Please somebody tell me how to feel!!! Lol!

Have a few drinks, take our lumps this year, and get back to me in April!

[HinnyHoosier 4,885]

8 hours ago, HoosierTrav said:

I make my case for Ben McCollum as Indiana Head Coach:

Why Indiana Basketball Should Give Strong Consideration to Ben McCollum When the Time Comes

 

Indiana University basketball has long stood as one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. But decades of missteps, questionable hires, and missed opportunities have left the program chasing its past rather than setting the standard for the future. One such missed opportunity haunts IU fans to this day: failing to land Brad Stevens. There was a window—brief though it may have been—when Stevens, an Indiana native and basketball visionary, could have been persuaded to return home. That window closed, and Stevens went on to cement his legacy at Butler and in the NBA.

 

Now, another golden opportunity is presenting itself, and Indiana cannot afford to miss it. Ben McCollum, the first-year head coach at Drake University, is proving that he is a transformative figure in college basketball. If Indiana wants to reclaim its seat among the blue bloods, McCollum should be at the top of the list when the time comes to make a change.

 

McCollum’s Proven Track Record of Winning

 

Ben McCollum is not a newcomer to success. Before arriving at Drake, he built Northwest Missouri State into a Division II powerhouse, winning four national championships. His teams were models of tactical brilliance, discipline, and unrelenting execution. Critics often question whether a coach can replicate that success at higher levels, but McCollum has already begun answering that question emphatically.

 

In just his first season at Drake, McCollum has the Bulldogs off to a 6-0 start, including a dominant win over Miami and legendary coach Jim Larrañaga. That victory wasn’t just a fluke—it was a masterclass in preparation and tactical superiority. What makes it even more remarkable is that McCollum is achieving these results with a significant talent gap. Four of his five starters are Division II transfers, competing against Miami’s ACC-level roster. Yet, McCollum outthought and outmaneuvered one of the most respected coaches in college basketball, turning what should have been a mismatch into a statement win.

 

Why McCollum Fits IU Basketball Perfectly

 

    1.    Tactical Genius in a Basketball Fishbowl

Indiana’s fanbase is among the most knowledgeable and passionate in the sport. This isn’t a job where weaknesses can be hidden; poor in-game decisions or flawed systems will be dissected and magnified by fans and media alike. McCollum thrives under scrutiny. His ability to break down opponents, adapt on the fly, and elevate his players’ performance is exactly what IU needs.

    2.    Proven Ability to Maximize Resources

At Northwest Missouri State, McCollum didn’t have the resources of Power 5 programs, yet he dominated. At Drake, he’s already proven capable of leveraging modest resources to achieve outsized results. Imagine what he could do with Indiana’s NIL opportunities, facilities, and recruiting pipelines. The upside is astronomical.

    3.    Championship Pedigree

McCollum is not just a winner—he’s a championship-caliber leader. His track record shows that he knows how to build a program from the ground up and sustain success. That’s the type of coach who can restore Indiana basketball’s luster and bring banners back to Bloomington.

    4.    Ability to Develop Talent

McCollum’s success with Division II transfers underscores his ability to maximize player potential. While other coaches rely on elite talent to win, McCollum wins by elevating his players through meticulous preparation, skill development, and team cohesion. This is exactly the kind of approach that wins championships in today’s college basketball landscape.

 

Why the Time Is Now

 

McCollum is not going to remain under the radar for long. He’s already proving his ability to succeed in Division I, and it’s only a matter of time before a top-10 program hires him. Once he’s in one of those jobs, the window for IU to land him will likely close forever, just as it did with Brad Stevens.

 

The risk of waiting is too great. Programs like Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke didn’t ascend to the top by playing it safe or waiting too long to make bold moves. Indiana has the resources, history, and potential to reclaim its spot among the elites, but only if it acts decisively.

 

Mitigating the Risk

 

The only real question surrounding McCollum is his ability to recruit at an elite level. But that risk is easily mitigated. With Indiana’s NIL resources, top-tier facilities, and storied tradition, the program virtually recruits itself when paired with a capable leader. Moreover, McCollum’s track record of developing talent ensures that even if he doesn’t land the absolute best recruits, he’ll get the most out of the players he brings in.

 

A Vision for the Future

 

Indiana basketball is at a crossroads. The next coaching hire will either be the move that restores the program’s greatness or solidifies its slide into mediocrity. Ben McCollum represents everything IU needs: tactical brilliance, championship pedigree, and an unmatched ability to develop players.

 

The window of opportunity is open now, but it won’t stay that way forever. McCollum’s ascent to the pinnacle of college basketball is inevitable. The only question is whether Indiana will be the program that gives him the resources to thrive—or the one left watching him win championships elsewhere.

 

The time to act is coming, and Indiana cannot afford another missed opportunity. McCollum is a rare talent, and he is exactly the kind of leader who can bring the banners back to Bloomington. The decision is simple: hire McCollum and let the rest of the college basketball world try to catch up.

 

 

Email this to Dolson every week.

[sirhoosierlot 2,728]

Drake plays Valpo tonight at 7 on ESPN+ 

[sirhoosierlot 2,728]

7 hours ago, sirhoosierlot said:

Drake plays Valpo tonight at 7 on ESPN+ 

I swear it said 7 yesterday lol but I guess it’s actually 8 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

Here we go!

This ESPN+ crew for Drake Valpo has got to be the D team… F team… Z team…

[Hovadipo 55,741]

3 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Here we go!

This ESPN+ crew for Drake Valpo has got to be the D team… F team… Z team…

Pretty much always local guys for Valley games on ESPN+. I think Valpo’s guys are notoriously bad if I remember correctly. May be UIC I’m thinking of though. 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

4 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Pretty much always local guys for Valley games on ESPN+. I think Valpo’s guys are notoriously bad if I remember correctly. May be UIC I’m thinking of though. 

That makes sense. A few minutes into the game and it turns out they’re not the worst… just extremely goofy looking and sounding lol

[Magnanimous 4,571]

He’s down 7-4. I’m deleting this thread. Sorry everyone, false alarm..

[Hovadipo 55,741]

1 minute ago, Home Jersey said:

That makes sense. A few minutes into the game and it turns out they’re not the worst… just extremely goofy looking and sounding lol

It’s definitely UIC. It’s worth catching a game this year just to hear them rooting on the Flames through thick and thin (and it’s a LOT of thin).

[sirhoosierlot 2,728]

I wonder what his teams would look like with more talent. These kids have a lot of buy in on both ends of the floor. 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

8 minutes ago, sirhoosierlot said:

I wonder what his teams would look like with more talent. These kids have a lot of buy in on both ends of the floor. 

Yeah, they had stretches where they looked like 4/5 of their starters played D2 last year. They were still leading by 13 close to the end of the half before Valpo cut it to 9. They are getting so many good looks from 3, just didn’t fall that half. Valpo looks pretty decent and well coached too. The valley is fun. Also been fun seeing him on the sidelines… intense 

[sirhoosierlot 2,728]

4 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Yeah, they had stretches where they looked like 4/5 of their starters played D2 last year. They were still leading by 13 close to the end of the half before Valpo cut it to 9. They are getting so many good looks from 3, just didn’t fall that half. Valpo looks pretty decent and well coached too. The valley is fun. Also been fun seeing him on the sidelines… intense 

They are really methodical. When he gets up to this level I can’t imagine that the play style won’t get a little looser because there will be dudes that can just go make plays. 
Also cool seeing AJ Moye on the sidelines. 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

1 minute ago, sirhoosierlot said:

They are really methodical. When he gets up to this level I can’t imagine that the play style won’t get a little looser because there will be dudes that can just go make plays. 
Also cool seeing AJ Moye on the sidelines. 

Completely agree. I've been doing some reading on him and it seems he's had no problems as a recruiter.

Probably decided it made sense to jump this year knowing he could basically take his team with him. 

Have a good year... restore a blue blood the next...? Please Dolson. 

I'm beyond sold on this guy.

[sirhoosierlot 2,728]

I do think they go way too deep into the shot clock 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

12 minutes ago, sirhoosierlot said:

I do think they go way too deep into the shot clock 

I was thinking about the commentator's remark that they shorten the game with these long possessions. 

They only play 7 guys I believe. Could see that being a necessary style choice this year. 

I think in terms of metrics his teams are always very slow tempo.

That doesn't bother me as much as others as long as they get into transition a decent amount. 

Like you said, I'd love to see him coaching a team with real talent on it. 

[tyappleg 3,070]

Picking apart an early December game between Drake and Valpo because of a possible coaching candidate for a job that may or may not be open.  We are absolute psychos.  Love it. 

[Home Jersey 7,163]

My stream is very pixelated but I could clearly see McCollum acting like Danny Hurley at that shot clock violation call telling them to go look at the replay lmao

[Unexpectedflash 1,055]

Maybe i caught a bad game but this second half offense has been gross. Only 14 3s and the snails pace would have me doing too much projection to feel comfortable. Even just comparing him to like Bucky McMillan at least i know Bucky has the right idea for offense