IUWBB vs. South Carolina -- Sunday, 03.23.25 @ 3 p.m. on ABC

[Aaron 4,445]

Anyone who did not hear today's presser from Moren needs to check it out.

For anyone who thinks this program is not supported and can't recruit this will be therapeutic. It is clear this program is in good hands and anyone who thinks otherwise or the resources are not there are just being negative. Moren recruits exactly who she wants that fits her culture and going away from that for elite talent is a terrible idea. She stressed they want to be more athletic though as everyone has wanted and Navaeh Caffey coming in is a big piece in that directions.

Moren has made this bigger then any players and will continue to win at this level minimum if not higher just fine. She is a class act as is Dawn Staley and both coaches clearly have great admiration for each other.

Not every program can be South Carolina or UConn but it can be what Teri Moren has made from nothing and this is just fine for IU. So proud of team today and this era of women's bball!!!

 

[schoosier 3,723]

50 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

What I conspire? I'm verbatim telling you... her outfit made her look like the pregnant gf from Coach Carter. Staley looked incredibly unprofessional today. Does it REALLY matter? Nope, doesn't change that it's true. 

You have to be blind or purposely ignoring the absolute blatant differences in those outfits. 

Track jackets!?!?! 

Track pants!?!?! 

Dude. Just wow. You are literally trying to be bias FOR Staley. 

She wears something like this every game. $$$$ outfits and backs it up with winning. I actually like this over the team coaches outfitted 1/4 zips every game but to each their own.

[JerryYeagley23 5,151]

2 hours ago, WeeDerkaNaut said:

I know I just think tournament games should be neutral site. 

While I don’t totally disagree, I was at the games and Friday when we were on a “neutral” court against Utah, there were probably 1500 people there. Casual fans from the region don’t go to women’s games and not enough programs travel. We have great support and probably had 7-800 people in the stadium Friday. 

[TTT 1,294]

T. Moren is very well aware of what players are needed to pursue in the 2025 transfer portal and to recruit in high school.

I suspect 3 transfer portal recruits for 2025-2026.

It will be interesting to see if one or more if any enter the transfer portal from the IU Ladies.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,422]

Nice season wrap-up.

https://www.assemblycall.com/p/womens-basketball-has-seemingly-taken

[HoosierHoopster 8,016]

1 hour ago, Aaron said:

Anyone who did not hear today's presser from Moren needs to check it out.

For anyone who thinks this program is not supported and can't recruit this will be therapeutic. It is clear this program is in good hands and anyone who thinks otherwise or the resources are not there are just being negative. Moren recruits exactly who she wants that fits her culture and going away from that for elite talent is a terrible idea. She stressed they want to be more athletic though as everyone has wanted and Navaeh Caffey coming in is a big piece in that directions.

Moren has made this bigger then any players and will continue to win at this level minimum if not higher just fine. She is a class act as is Dawn Staley and both coaches clearly have great admiration for each other.

Not every program can be South Carolina or UConn but it can be what Teri Moren has made from nothing and this is just fine for IU. So proud of team today and this era of women's bball!!!

 

Such a great coach. 
And yes she clearly gets it. First and foremost continue to build the program with the hardworking team-first players that define her program, but as the sport has developed and grown grow with it— bigger, more athletic players- she specifically noted that. I have every confidence she is an excellent steward of the program on top of being an excellent coach and representative of the U.

[LamarCheeks 21,850]

From some of the things I've read here, Woody was very dismissive of women's basketball. 

Hoping to see DeVries be more supportive of CTM and her program. 

Always nice to coaches from different programs be in synch. I recall Teri almost seemed heartbroken when Crean was fired, as he was very welcoming to her and very supportive of her. He even went to a big game at SSAH after he was terminated (maybe the WNIT championship?). 

Just makes sense and creates a better atmosphere if the two basketball programs can move in lockstep with each other.  

[TTT 1,294]

As good as G. Berger and Holmes were…IU Ladies had some other outstanding players the last few years….Gulbe, Patberg, and Cardano-Hillary immediately come to mind.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,422]

This year may have been one of CTM's best given the talent we lost last season; Lilly's failure to develop as hoped/expected; moving Striplin into the starter's slot over Lilly; losing Beaumont for the season; Parrish missing some games with injury.

[HoosierHoopster 8,016]

4 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

This year may have been one of CTM's best given the talent we lost last season; Lilly's failure to develop as hoped/expected; moving Striplin into the starter's slot over Lilly; losing Beaumont for the season; Parrish missing some games with injury.

The lawyer in me would just strike "may have been" and replace it with "was". :) Start of the season had a bunch of pessimistic expectations. I think she's now vey much proven to be one of the better coaches in Women's bball.

[mickey one 63]

Just need to seal the deal on recruiting. I am assuming Mikayla Blakes and Avery Howell are great people--IU just missed on them. IU plays great with what it has . . .but it would be nice to recruit on the level of a Texas, or Notre Dame, or USC. How did USC become such a magnet? They don't really have the history (other than Cheryl Miller ages ago). Was it just the coach? 

[Banksyrules 5,327]

On 3/23/2025 at 6:19 PM, Aaron said:

Anyone who did not hear today's presser from Moren needs to check it out.

For anyone who thinks this program is not supported and can't recruit this will be therapeutic. It is clear this program is in good hands and anyone who thinks otherwise or the resources are not there are just being negative. Moren recruits exactly who she wants that fits her culture and going away from that for elite talent is a terrible idea. She stressed they want to be more athletic though as everyone has wanted and Navaeh Caffey coming in is a big piece in that directions.

Moren has made this bigger then any players and will continue to win at this level minimum if not higher just fine. She is a class act as is Dawn Staley and both coaches clearly have great admiration for each other.

Not every program can be South Carolina or UConn but it can be what Teri Moren has made from nothing and this is just fine for IU. So proud of team today and this era of women's bball!!!

 

This is just plane wrong. I get that you’re complacent with how the women’s team been doing but there’s nothing wrong with raising the standard further.  The coach is outstanding but we’re just a sweet sixteen program. To you and others that’s enough, great. To actually compete and to compete for a national championship you need  top 20 recruits (at best three at worst 1). 

I think it will help that Woodson is gone but it wouldn’t hurt to raise the NIL further to make a real run at it or Coach needs to change her philosophy a smudge. Don’t settle for “it’s OK’ be ok with it if it happens but nothing wrong with raising the bar. 

That being said I hear that the incoming recruits are legit. Honestly the only thing that’s stopping us is getting our share of top recruits.  The only reason South Carolina beat  us the last two years is because of their plethora of star recruits.  I would take our coach over anyone but we need to recognize that and really go all in. 

[TadQueasy 2,388]

*plain 

[HoosierHoopster 8,016]

16 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

This is just plane wrong. I get that you’re complacent with how the women’s team been doing but there’s nothing wrong with raising the standard further.  The coach is outstanding but we’re just a sweet sixteen program. To you and others that’s enough, great. To actually compete and to compete for a national championship you need  top 20 recruits (at best three at worst 1). 

I think it will help that Woodson is gone but it wouldn’t hurt to raise the NIL further to make a real run at it or Coach needs to change her philosophy a smudge. Don’t settle for “it’s OK’ be ok with it if it happens but nothing wrong with raising the bar. 

That being said I hear that the incoming recruits are legit. Honestly the only thing that’s stopping us is getting our share of top recruits.  The only reason South Carolina beat  us the last two years is because of their plethora of star recruits.  I would take our coach over anyone but we need to recognize that and really go all in. 

Did you actually watch the presser? I don't think you did based on this post. Moren discussed her team building and recruiting philosophy at length - candidly - and towards the end, directly addressing the question, said that as the women's game has grown IU needs to grow with it, and that includes recruiting bigger and more athletic players. That's exactly what's needed and she clearly gets it -- her caveat as part of that is that her program is built on players who want to work and play for each other as a team, who are proven winners coming in, and she runs a defense - first team. She won't recruit for stars just because they're highly ranked she wants buy in, and her philosophy has IU in the NCAA tourney basically every year for a decade and competing at the top and with the best programs. Add more size and athleticism, and they'll get to the next level, and that's clearly what she intends.

[Banksyrules 5,327]

5 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Did you actually watch the presser? I don't think you did based on this post. Moren discussed her team building and recruiting philosophy at length - candidly - and towards the end, directly addressing the question, said that as the women's game has grown IU needs to grow with it, and that includes recruiting bigger and more athletic players. That's exactly what's needed and she clearly gets it -- her caveat as part of that is that her program is built on players who want to work and play for each other as a team, who are proven winners coming in, and she runs a defense - first team. She won't recruit for stars just because they're highly ranked she wants buy in, and her philosophy has IU in the NCAA tourney basically every year for a decade and competing at the top and with the best programs. Add more size and athleticism, and they'll get to the next level, and that's clearly what she intends.

I get what she said. It has to fit Indiana. Right now Indiana has been a sweet sixteen program. Now comparatively to our past that’s awesome and if that’s it then fine. However you have to recruit top 20 kids. It’s that simple if you want to one day win a national championship.  Her system is great but even then it has it’s limitations and she has to decide if she wants to adjust a little.  

Even the teams with Holmes and Berger were out matched with more talent physical specimens. 

[HoosierHoopster 8,016]

16 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

I get what she said. It has to fit Indiana. Right now Indiana has been a sweet sixteen program. Now comparatively to our past that’s awesome and if that’s it then fine. However you have to recruit top 20 kids. It’s that simple if you want to one day win a national championship.  Her system is great but even then it has it’s limitations and she has to decide if she wants to adjust a little.  

Even the teams with Holmes and Berger were out matched with more talent physical specimens. 

I understand where you're coming from. My thinking -- as a program, we're already close, already competing with the top programs, a SW16 - level program without the size and athleticism that Moren recognizes the team needs to grow with. She's already recruiting highly ranked players. Hopefully she lands some more -- and I agree generally a team needs a player like a Holmes plus others to compete for a NC -- but add size and athleticism in her system and I absolutely think she can take the team beyond SW16 finishes.

A couple added points there --

1) South Carolina just barely beat the Holmes team (by 4) -- that team, under Moren, could have won a NC, it was right there, so just labeling it a SW16 team is just not fair. 

2) As Moren also pointed out in her presser, one of the issues in Women's bball right now is the home court advantage the current NCAA tourney affords teams, the regional breakout for the men's tourney is the better system (not that it's not without it's own flaws). We just had to play SC on its floor. That's ridiculous, but this team -- without ANY top flight / top ranked player -- still played SC within 9 points, won or matched them for 3 quarters, on their floor. 

I don't think we're just a SW16 program under Moren (who has of course been to the Elite Eight), I think the program is really, really close to a NC competitive team.

[Banksyrules 5,327]

2 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I understand where you're coming from. My thinking -- as a program, we're already close, already competing with the top programs, a SW16 - level program without the size and athleticism that Moren recognizes the team needs to grow with. She's already recruiting highly ranked players. Hopefully she lands some more -- and I agree generally a team needs a player like a Holmes plus others to compete for a NC -- but add size and athleticism in her system and I absolutely think she can take the team beyond SW16 finishes.

A couple added points there --

1) South Carolina just barely beat the Holmes team (by 4) -- that team, under Moren, could have won a NC, it was right there, so just labeling it a SW16 team is just not fair. 

2) As Moren also pointed out in her presser, one of the issues in Women's bball right now is the home court advantage the current NCAA tourney affords teams, the regional breakout for the men's tourney is the better system (not that it's not without it's own flaws). We just had to play SC on its floor. That's ridiculous, but this team -- without ANY top flight / top ranked player -- still played SC within 9 points, won or matched them for 3 quarters, on their floor. 

I don't think we're just a SW16 program under Moren (who has of course been to the Elite Eight), I think the program is really, really close to a NC competitive team.

I understand that through her system have given great teams the tough fights.  We’re a good program. I just believe to get through the gauntlet of the tournament it’s those top ranked recruits ( who are tall and athletic ) to help u avoid a surprise Miami loss or just helps us own a team like South Carolina.  I don’t want her abandon her philosophy just be ok that if she find  an overpowering player u just take bullet and win. Just one. 
 

 Can u imagine if we added a Clark or Watkins in our team? …… unstoppable 

[Aaron 4,445]

8 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

I understand that through her system have given great teams the tough fights.  We’re a good program. I just believe to get through the gauntlet of the tournament it’s those top ranked recruits ( who are tall and athletic ) to help u avoid a surprise Miami loss or just helps us own a team like South Carolina.  I don’t want her abandon her philosophy just be ok that if she find  an overpowering player u just take bullet and win. Just one. 
 

 Can u imagine if we added a Clark or Watkins in our team? …… unstoppable 

Or getting top players could cause her whole system to crash just like it did for Steve Pikiell last year and Matt Painter and Jay Wright a decade ago or more.

Not saying it would, but have to recruit and run what you are comfortable with and if getting top players collapses the whole foundation as it did in these three cases, you have done more harm then good and have to pivot back to comfortability as Painter has and Wright did and assume Pikiell will have to now. 

[Banksyrules 5,327]

1 minute ago, Aaron said:

Or getting top players could cause her whole system to crash just like it did for Steve Pikiell last year and Matt Painter and Jay Wright a decade ago or more.

Not saying it would, but have to recruit and run what you are comfortable with and if getting top players collapses the whole foundation as it did in these two cases, you have done more harm then good and have to pivot back to comfortability as Painter has and Wright did. 

Everything is a balancing game. As long as they don’t do anything bad outside court, I think it’s ok under this context to get someone she doesn’t typically recruit if they or just freakishly talented or a physical specimen.

As a Giants fan I have seen the benefits when they do this. Tom Coughlin before winning the superbowls was a coaching journeyman. He was tough as nails demanding constant crazy practices and was no nonsense guy ( famously demanding players be 15 minutes early at meetings). Then the players told him to relax a little and get plexico ( a guy was freaking lazy but just gifted). He finally gave in. Won two superbowls. Two things can be true . U can be genius like Coach Moren but also need a little adjustment to get you over the mountain top. 

[Aaron 4,445]

28 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

Everything is a balancing game. As long as they don’t do anything bad outside court, I think it’s ok under this context to get someone she doesn’t typically recruit if they or just freakishly talented or a physical specimen.

As a Giants fan I have seen the benefits when they do this. Tom Coughlin before winning the superbowls was a coaching journeyman. He was tough as nails demanding constant crazy practices and was no nonsense guy ( famously demanding players be 15 minutes early at meetings). Then the players told him to relax a little and get plexico ( a guy was freaking lazy but just gifted). He finally gave in. Won two superbowls. Two things can be true . U can be genius like Coach Moren but also need a little adjustment to get you over the mountain top. 

Don't disagree. Just make sure you are comfortable with elite talent so you don't become Steve Pikiell of this season. If she feels she can comfortably get top talent go for it. If she doesn't feel she can make that work and will do more harm than good, avoid it. 

I trust her however she does it, and who she brings in will tell us where she stands on all of this. Presser makes it sounds like she gets it.