2025-2026 IU Roster

[Stuhoo]

Woody kinda sucked, but Woody>Archie

[Pagoda]

I go back and forth on this one.  

Archie was terrible.  Woody did broadly speaking take Archie's guys and year 1 limped into the tourney.  Woody's year 2 was far better than anything Archie did at IU.  Was this Woody's coaching (lol)?  Was it landing JHS (though that may have been a fluke recruitment)?  Or was a lot of this just TJD being awesome and improving?  Once TJD left, the wheels came off the wagon, and the wagon exploded.  It was probably some mix of all these factors.  Keeping TJD was probably the best thing Woody did, of course it helped he could pay him.

But Archie never had the top-20 NIL Woody had in year 3 or the top-5 NIL Woody had in year 4.  Would Archie miss the tournament with $6M of payroll for the roster?  I kinda think he wouldn't, but I can't say for sure.

Archie did leave a better program for the next coach.  He wasn't the toxic nightmare Woody was.

I don't know the answer on who is better or worse -- I get both arguments.  At the end of the day, it's amazing how bad they both were. 

Thankfully they're gone and we’ve got a 100% brand new program from top to bottom.

[HoosierHoopster]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

I go back and forth on this one.  

Archie was terrible.  Woody did broadly speaking take Archie's guys and year 1 limped into the tourney.  Woody's year 2 was far better than anything Archie did at IU.  Was this Woody's coaching (lol)?  Was it landing JHS (though that may have been a fluke recruitment)?  Or was a lot of this just TJD being awesome and improving?  Once TJD left, the wheels came off the wagon, and the wagon exploded.  It was probably some mix of all these factors.  Keeping TJD was probably the best thing Woody did, of course it helped he could pay him.

But Archie never had the top-20 NIL Woody had in year 3 or the top-5 NIL Woody had in year 4.  Would Archie miss the tournament with $6M of payroll for the roster?  I kinda think he wouldn't, but I can't say for sure.

Archie did leave a better program for the next coach.  He wasn't the toxic nightmare Woody was.

I don't know the answer on who is better or worse -- I get both arguments.  At the end of the day, it's amazing how bad they both were. 

Thankfully they're gone and we’ve got a 100% brand new program from top to bottom.

Largely how I see the two as well. CAM made the tourney but for Covid — pretty much everyone recognized we were in it. Would we have lost in the 1st round? Who knows. Woody rode TJD, he was completely incapable of adjusting his “system,” he did nothing to improve and instead brought in a top 10 NIL class and then bombed. I hated CAM’s system, but on coaching ability I tend to think Woodson was the worst coach I’ve ever watched in college.
They were both terrible. How does one objectively compare terrible? I’m just glad they’re both gone and the U has finally hired a legit proven basketball mind. I don’t know if we’ll win now at the level we all want, but I’m confident we’ll be well coached, and the style of basketball will be fun to watch. It’s been a long time coming 

[go iu bb]

Oh good, the "Which of our last 2 terrible coaches was worse?" conversation again. They both sucked and got more time at IU than was warranted. I'm glad they're gone, along with pretty much everyone that was in the program under either one of them.

[HoosierHoopster]

6 hours ago, go iu bb said:

Oh good, the "Which of our last 2 terrible coaches was worse?" conversation again. They both sucked and got more time at IU than was warranted. I'm glad they're gone, along with pretty much everyone that was in the program under either one of them.

Yeah yeah, but who was worse?

 

:)

[68Hoosier]

So now that we know the return of Leal and Goode will not happen what's everyone's thoughts on the last spot.  I get the feeling that CDD is still working to fill it based on his comments.  Is there still a potential rotation person or bench spot for practice help out there?  What are the changes for a late add?

What's everyone's thoughts?  

[Home Jersey]

2 minutes ago, 68Hoosier said:

So now that we know the return of Leal and Goode will not happen what's everyone's thoughts on the last spot.  I get the feeling that CDD is still working to fill it based on his comments.  Is there still a potential rotation person or bench spot for practice help out there?  What are the changes for a late add?

What's everyone's thoughts?  

Pure speculation, but I'd guess either another Euro prospect or maybe a Nijai Hines re-class. I'd be surprised if there are many "impact" players left to add for next year, but hopeful DDV has something up his sleeve for us. 

[68Hoosier]

2 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Pure speculation, but I'd guess either another Euro prospect or maybe a Nijai Hines re-class. I'd be surprised if there are many "impact" players left to add for next year, but hopeful DDV has something up his sleeve for us. 

Agreed, in terms of "impact" players, I don't think there are any to still bring on board. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Basket Under Review podcast does a good job summing of my thoughts I’ve expressed here all offseason to the consternation of many. 
 

Id recommend a listen.  Indiana assessment starts at about 18 mins in. 

Edited July 21 by WayneFleekHoosier

[Pagoda]

31 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Bucket Under Review podcast does a good job summing of my thoughts I’ve expressed here all offseason to the consternation of many. 

Id recommend a listen.  

*Basket Under Review.  Pointing out since it will help people who search for it.

Update after listening:  Broadly speaking they're not sure we got enough for ~$10M.  Maybe that's right, maybe that's wrong.  We'll see.

But comparing us to Tennessee last year doesn't make sense.  Okay the Vols' roster cost $5M and it was better than IU's current roster, but that's a pre-rev share year, making that $5M not comparable to this year.

Furthermore, they have to acknowledge UT was a stable program coming off an SEC title and E8 appearance.  We just brought in a whole new team because Woody torched the program.  That's a different situation, exactly what that means we can debate, but bringing in a whole new team is not ideal.

C'mon Eamonn*! 

I'm not taking sides, I don't know if they're right or wrong, but I think that context matters.

* Eamonn is fine, I'm sure some people here have met him or know him.

[ebridges24]

19 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Basket Under Review podcast does a good job summing of my thoughts I’ve expressed here all offseason to the consternation of many. 
 

Id recommend a listen.  Indiana assessment starts at about 18 mins in. 

Hey, I don't have problems doing a number 2.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

*Basket Under Review.  Pointing out since it will help people who search for it.
Update after listening:  Broadly speaking they're not sure we got enough for ~$10M.  Maybe that's right, maybe that's wrong.  We'll see.
But comparing us to Tennessee last year doesn't make sense.  Okay the Vols' roster cost $5M and it was better than IU's current roster, but that's a pre-rev share year, making that $5M not comparable to this year.
Furthermore, they have to acknowledge UT was a stable program coming off an SEC title and E8 appearance.  We just brought in a whole new team.  That's a different situation.
C'mon Eamonn*! 
I'm not taking sides, I don't know if they're right or wrong, but I think that context matters.
* Some of us know Eamonn it's all good.

We get to find out if DeVries is smarter and better than the room. And some think he might be.

They mention DeVries, Wilkerson, Conerway, Bailey. Also mention Alexis (he’s interesting to me. TikTok guy. Got a nice watch. Lol).

Said we are basically West Virginia from last year without Javon Small.

I’m excited to see it in action. Hoping we can prove the skeptics, including myself, wrong.


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[Pagoda]

27 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

We get to find out if DeVries is smarter and better than the room. And some think he might be.

We need him to be.  If not, his time here won't go very well.  

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

 

We get to find out if DeVries is smarter and better than the room. And some think he might be.

They mention DeVries, Wilkerson, Conerway, Bailey. Also mention Alexis (he’s interesting to me. TikTok guy. Got a nice watch. Lol).

Said we are basically West Virginia from last year without Javon Small.

I’m excited to see it in action. Hoping we can prove the skeptics, including myself, wrong.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

 

Well Javon Small wasn’t Javon Small until he played for Devries. He had ‘kinda good’ years as a sophomore and jr, but a great year with Devries. And that led to him being the 48th pick—not exactly a dominant talent.

So we’re WV without Small, but with WV’s arguably best player (that was out once they were 6-1), and with two mid-major conference players of the year.  We have a better roster than WVU did last year before Tucker got hurt.

We don’t have a top ten roster, but we have plenty of roster to comfortably make the tournament and to finish in the top half of the B1G. Will we? Who the hell knows. But Devries and Bergen can coach ball. And Clark, Adams, and Kenny can really recruit. So there is some legitimate cause for optimism.
 

[str8baller]

2 hours ago, Pagoda said:

But comparing us to Tennessee last year doesn't make sense.  Okay the Vols' roster cost $5M and it was better than IU's current roster, but that's a pre-rev share year, making that $5M not comparable to this year.

It doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense. If one  doesn’t understand by now that it is cheaper to keep your own talent than buy on the open market, you can’t be helped. 
 

UK and Arkansas spent a ton last year. And they had coaches bringing over some previous talent. In Arkansas’s case quite a few. UK also loaded up on mid major guys. UK had great metrics but was obviously capped out at a S16 team. Arkansas was a 10 seed. 
 

Add in UM and Lville and adjust your expectations accordingly. People or podcasts telling you to expect top 10 based on our spend aren’t cogent enough analysts to waste your time listening to, imo.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Well Javon Small wasn’t Javon Small until he played for Devries. He had ‘kinda good’ years as a sophomore and jr, but a great year with Devries. And that led to him being the 48th pick—not exactly a dominant talent.
So we’re WV without Small, but with WV’s arguably best player (that was out once they were 6-1), and with two mid-major conference players of the year.  We have a better roster than WVU did last year before Tucker got hurt.
We don’t have a top ten roster, but we have plenty of roster to comfortably make the tournament and to finish in the top half of the B1G. Will we? Who the hell knows. But Devries and Bergen can coach ball. And Clark, Adams, and Kenny can really recruit. So there is some legitimate cause for optimism.
 

Meh. Javon Small had a very solid Junior year. I remember wanting him at Indiana after watching video and checking stats at Oklahoma state. Then he was better at WV. With all due respect, you’ve been the eternal optimist since I’ve known you on the message boards, which has often led to some bad takes. Woodson hire to boot. Love you Stu and clearly, so does everyone else. No one likes a pessimist or realist. I get that. It’s kinda wild because outside of this forum our roster is completely underwhelming by everyone that evaluates such things. Me voicing that off and on throughout the off-season on here has led to some bitterness. It’s a bit of a Twilight Zone effect going on.

I do agree with you, on liking the staff and the recruiting chops. I think it’ll be awesome if we can get towards top 15-20 this year. I think it all boils down to my expectations for the program, I guess being unrealistic. We’ve been told for years we are going to compete for conference championships and national championships. We’ve been told we have top 10 NIl the past couple years. To me, things aren’t adding up. I think we spent 6 last year and that put us near top 10. I think we thought 10 would really catapult us this season but other programs tripled down. So our top 10 went to a top 25 and we had the build it the most expensive way possible through the portal, so you end up with a Roster that doesn’t compute.

Anyway, love all of you regardless. BTB is home no matter how much I’m disagreed with. Let’s Cignetti this season with attitude and know how and hope to finally start building something special.


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[RaceToTheTop]

27 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Meh. Javon Small had a very solid Junior year. I remember wanting him at Indiana after watching video and checking stats at Oklahoma state. Then he was better at WV. With all due respect, you’ve been the eternal optimist since I’ve known you on the message boards, which has often led to some bad takes. Woodson hire to boot. Love you Stu and clearly, so does everyone else. No one likes a pessimist or realist. I get that. It’s kinda wild because outside of this forum our roster is completely underwhelming by everyone that evaluates such things. Me voicing that off and on throughout the off-season on here has led to some bitterness. It’s a bit of a Twilight Zone effect going on.

I do agree with you, on liking the staff and the recruiting chops. I think it’ll be awesome if we can get towards top 15-20 this year. I think it all boils down to my expectations for the program, I guess being unrealistic. We’ve been told for years we are going to compete for conference championships and national championships. We’ve been told we have top 10 NIl the past couple years. To me, things aren’t adding up. I think we spent 6 last year and that put us near top 10. I think we thought 10 would really catapult us this season but other programs tripled down. So our top 10 went to a top 25 and we had the build it the most expensive way possible through the portal, so you end up with a Roster that doesn’t compute.

Anyway, love all of you regardless. BTB is home no matter how much I’m disagreed with. Let’s Cignetti this season with attitude and know how and hope to finally start building something special.


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IMO Tucker DeVries is a better college player than Javon Small.  So when you say that IU is 'West Virginia without Javon Small', I don't get it.

DeVries > Small

Wilkerson > anybody you wish to list second at West Virginia last year.

[AH1971]

11 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

We’ve been told we have top 10 NIl the past couple years. To me, things aren’t adding up. I think we spent 6 last year and that put us near top 10. I think we thought 10 would really catapult us this season but other programs tripled down. So our top 10 went to a top 25 and we had the build it the most expensive way possible through the portal, so you end up with a Roster that doesn’t compute.

It does add up once you get your head out of the sand. As you've been repeatedly told, you get much more bang for your buck when you retain your own players rather than going out and buying and building a brand new roster from scratch. 

[sirhoosierlot]

Looks like the NIL goal for men's basketball is $40,000 short if anybody has NIL concerns! https://www.inforindiana.com/

[RaceToTheTop]

5 hours ago, AH1971 said:

It does add up once you get your head out of the sand.

Having a different opinion doesn't equal having your head in the sand.