Ben McCollum

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,185]

13 minutes ago, Asha’man said:

They will win the conference regular season and tournament in year 1. If they get to the second weekend of the NCAA’s, then I think Dolson has to seriously consider McCollum. We missed out on the last wunderkind. Archie wasn’t a wunderkind, there were plenty of us who doubted.  

Good chance Dolson will already have his new coach in place by the second weekend.

[Hornsby 3,539]

Good chance Dolson will already have his new coach in place by the second weekend.

Sure hope so I want no part of a guy with one year of d1 experience

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[Magnanimous 4,898]

10 minutes ago, Hornsby said:

Sure hope so I want no part of a guy with one year of d1 experience

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Watch McCollum go further in this year’s tournament than any IU coach has in >20 years, with four D2 transfers in his starting lineup. 

[Ryno6284 3,746]

4 minutes ago, Magnanimous said:

Watch McCollum go further in this year’s tournament than any IU coach has in >20 years, with four D2 transfers in his starting lineup. 

I could see it, but it will depend on the draw. I know, captain obvious take right there!

[Hornsby 3,539]

Watch McCollum go further in this year’s tournament than any IU coach has in >20 years, with four D2 transfers in his starting lineup. 

We shall see if he does I may reconsider but right now I'm not convinced he just hasn't proven it yet on a high level.

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[BA47591 548]

His Wikipedia page is insane. He just won his 11th straight conference championship. 13 in 17 years of coaching I think. If he could come in and win over I70 to The Ohio River early he would buy himself the necessary time to build it. 

[Hornsby 3,539]

His Wikipedia page is insane. He just won his 11th straight conference championship. 13 in 17 years of coaching I think. If he could come in and win over I70 to The Ohio River early he would buy himself the necessary time to build it. 

I think we are all out of patience at this point. He needs to win right away especially with nil.

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[Hornsby 3,539]

I actually saw someone say let's hire mccollum but it will take him a few years to get it going but that's OK. Yeah patience is all it takes. We have lots of patience left!!

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[lillurk 4,584]

I think he’ll succeed Fran at Iowa and I’m really interested to watch. Obviously a good coach; Iowa is a tough job and maybe it’s time for Fran to wrap up.

One thing I’m curious to learn more about: one of McC’s fans around here said he likes to play slow because tournament hoops are slower. I think it’s valuable to have a good half court offense, of course, but if that’s really McC’s opinion it seems to me he has the logic backwards — transition O is still important.

[str8baller 6,749]

This is my first time watching the venerable Ben McCollum. I’ve resisted so far because I want to believe IU will make a bigger hire. But the game was on when I got home, so…

My thoughts after watching exactly one whole game:

-D is very good in the Bo Ryan/Bennett school of optimizing position, getting your hands up and forcing the opposing team into low efficiency shots, contesting them and hoping they miss. Very good rotations.
 

-O …honestly I expected a little more wizardry from an X’s and O’s “genius.” Lots of 4 out spread high ball screen action. Some good cutting off the ball but not a ton of other action off the ball most of the time. Definitely not Ryan’s swing or Bennett's mover blocker continuity type offenses that help chew up the shot clock. There’s nothing wrong with it tho. Tons of coaches use a lot of 4 out ball screen offense. McCollum relies on his players to be smart and willing passers, which certainly could be a reflection of his coaching. Hard for me to separate players from coach in that regard when they’ve all been together for 4 years tho. 
 

-Pace is like most teams that finish low. They don’t ever get out in transition. At least they didn’t this game. They don’t take dumb shots early in the clock. That’s about all it takes to keep you at the bottom versus something more average-ish. 
 

Seems like a talented coach. Would be a risky hire at IU from what very little I’ve seen and read here. If he continues to do well at Drake a post-Fran Iowa seems like the obvious move, no? 
 

[Hornsby 3,539]

This is my first time watching the venerable Ben McCollum. I’ve resisted so far because I want to believe IU will make a bigger hire. But the game was on when I got home, so…
My thoughts after watching exactly one whole game:
-D is very good in the Bo Ryan/Bennett school of optimizing position, getting your hands up and forcing the opposing team into low efficiency shots, contesting them and hoping they miss. Very good rotations.
 
-O …honestly I expected a little more wizardry from an X’s and O’s “genius.” Lots of 4 out spread high ball screen action. Some good cutting off the ball but not a ton of other action off the ball most of the time. Definitely not Ryan’s swing or Bennett's mover blocker continuity type offenses that help chew up the shot clock. There’s nothing wrong with it tho. Tons of coaches use a lot of 4 out ball screen offense. McCollum relies on his players to be smart and willing passers, which certainly could be a reflection of his coaching. Hard for me to separate players from coach in that regard when they’ve all been together for 4 years tho. 
 
-Pace is like most teams that finish low. They don’t ever get out in transition. At least they didn’t this game. They don’t take dumb shots early in the clock. That’s about all it takes to keep you at the bottom versus something more average-ish. 
 
Seems like a talented coach. Would be a risky hire at IU from what very little I’ve seen and read here. If he continues to do well at Drake a post-Fran Iowa seems like the obvious move, no? 
 

Just saw the end the man who walks on water and is the second coming needs a lifetime contract at iu.

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[Magnanimous 4,898]

Congrats to Coach McCollum on punching his ticket to the NCAAT after winning the MVC tournament today. 30-3 so far on the season.

[Lebowski 3,051]

Another championship on his resume. 

I just hope he doesn't end up in the Big Ten, unless he's in Bloomington of course.  Eventually, every point guard on the planet will consider playing for this coach.  

[HoosierTrav 8,175]

Generational. We will regret not getting this guy. Brad isn’t walking through that door. 

[Magnanimous 4,898]

5 minutes ago, Hornsby said:

Just saw the end the man who walks on water and is the second coming needs a lifetime contract at iu.

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Glad to see you’re finally coming around. 

[Hornsby 3,539]

Generational. We will regret not getting this guy. Brad isn’t walking through that door. 

Once a lifetime coach. Probably the next coach k or John wooden. Might be the biggest sure thing home run hire I've ever seen.  Give him 10 years and 95 million.

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[HoosierTrav 8,175]

2 minutes ago, Hornsby said:

Once a lifetime coach. Probably the next coach k or John wooden. Might be the biggest sure thing home run hire I've ever seen.  Give him 10 years and 95 million.

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Are you a child? 

[Ryno6284 3,746]

1 hour ago, Hornsby said:

I actually saw someone say let's hire mccollum but it will take him a few years to get it going but that's OK. Yeah patience is all it takes. We have lots of patience left!!

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If the teams show anything fundamental wise we will give time! Ben knows how to coach, can he handle IU? That is the million dollar question!

[Motley's 452]

1 hour ago, lillurk said:

I think he’ll succeed Fran at Iowa and I’m really interested to watch. Obviously a good coach; Iowa is a tough job and maybe it’s time for Fran to wrap up.

One thing I’m curious to learn more about: one of McC’s fans around here said he likes to play slow because tournament hoops are slower. I think it’s valuable to have a good half court offense, of course, but if that’s really McC’s opinion it seems to me he has the logic backwards — transition O is still important.

He doesn't even practice transition offense because he believes that better teams and tournament teams don't allow transition baskets. It's out there in podcasts. 

[Ryno6284 3,746]

48 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Another championship on his resume. 

I just hope he doesn't end up in the Big Ten, unless he's in Bloomington of course.  Eventually, every point guard on the planet will consider playing for this coach.  

He will end up at Iowa and will be like Bo Ryan at Wisconsin! We won't win at Carver-hawkeye for 25 years!