2025-2026 IUBB Season Expectations

[IUCrazy2 2,977]

2 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Unless I interpreted these wrong, these sure seem like "Make the tournament or else" posts

 

 

The first one you got all wrong.  On the second you can think we have to make the tournament for him to ultimately be as successful as we want to be without saying you have to fire him if he doesn't.  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't believe he will get at least 4 years even if he misses every year.

I think he has to make it to flip the narrative on the program.  We cannot continue to be the squad that pays Ferrari prices for a Honda Civic.  We messed up keeping Woodson around too because we have done a stupendous job of surrounding ourselves with either really established programs who do recruit our state pretty well (Purdue, Michigan State) and some big time programs that made a hire a year before us who had breakout years (Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan).  Fending those schools off is already going to be a tall task and a failure to launch in year one could sink him before he starts.  He has to make a splash even if it is just a ripple.

[Hoosierfan2017 24,898]

39 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

I think making the tournament is more than doable, there's nothing wrong with expecting that. Firing a coach after year 1 of a 6 year contract who turned over the entire roster however is completely asinine. Who cares what IU's budget is? It doesn't mean or guarantee a damn thing. The headache of trying to get 13-15 new faces (and now millionaires) to gel in a single season is far greater than than an established coach with an established program making a 68 team tournament. 

I want to see DeVries lay some groundwork and start fostering and harboring a solid basketball culture in year 1 far more than I want him to see him be a 9 or 10 seed in the tournament. You're not going to erase 30 years of futility overnight. Once people stop looking at it that way, the faster and smoother this process goes. 

Luckily for DD, there’s a 0.00% chance of him being fired for missing the tournament next season. He’ll get 3-4 years at a minimum. I think he’s an above average coach. How far above average, I don’t know. We’ll find out. The easiest way to lay groundwork for the future is with a strong first season. Do that and the next portal season becomes much easier. 

As for the budget, sure, it doesn’t guarantee anything. But let’s not pretend that it isn’t a huge advantage for a brand new coach. The Whiz kid at Iowa has a much steeper hill to climb to the top than DD does at IU because of the huge differences in budgets. The IU brand + budget gets DD’s foot in doors for players that aren’t picking up the phone for BM. 

[Home Jersey 16,108]

“He won’t get that long” or “we HAVE to make the tournament in year 1” = “I’m really tired of IUBB sucking and don’t want to wait anymore.” 

We’re all in the same boat. Thank goodness we finally have a real CBB coach again. Gonna get IU back on track even if it takes a minute.

[IUCrazy2 2,977]

1 minute ago, Home Jersey said:

How on earth can you say that when Mike Woodson just got four years because Archie Miller got four years? DDV is probably getting at least four years too. Lmao. 

Gonna be a lot of handwringing today over hypothetically missing another tournament like we haven’t done that more often than not the last ten seasons. 

Mike Woodson got four years but I think pretty shortly into year 3 we knew he was toast.  The fanbase turns on you hard in year 3 if you aren't performing.  He would get all four years but if we miss the first two, he will need to pull off back to back stellar years to quiet people down.  We all know that and it doesn't matter whether that is fair, or right, or anything else.  It is just reality.

For what it is worth, I think he will meet the low bar of making the tournament and this whole conversation will be moot.

[AH1971 3,214]

2 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

The first one you got all wrong.  On the second you can think we have to make the tournament for him to ultimately be as successful as we want to be without saying you have to fire him if he doesn't.  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't believe he will get at least 4 years even if he misses every year.

I think he has to make it to flip the narrative on the program.  We cannot continue to be the squad that pays Ferrari prices for a Honda Civic.  We messed up keeping Woodson around too because we have done a stupendous job of surrounding ourselves with either really established programs who do recruit our state pretty well (Purdue, Michigan State) and some big time programs that made a hire a year before us who had breakout years (Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan).  Fending those schools off is already going to be a tall task and a failure to launch in year one could sink him before he starts.  He has to make a splash even if it is just a ripple.

Flip what narrative? IU is a has-been program in the eyes of everybody but this fanbase. That doesn't change overnight by simply making a 68 team tournament. IU has zero existing culture, zero existing foundation, and a brand that dies more and more each season. That isn't changing overnight no matter how much you want to will it in existence. 

[Home Jersey 16,108]

Just now, IUCrazy2 said:

Mike Woodson got four years but I think pretty shortly into year 3 we knew he was toast.  The fanbase turns on you hard in year 3 if you aren't performing.  He would get all four years but if we miss the first two, he will need to pull off back to back stellar years to quiet people down.  We all know that and it doesn't matter whether that is fair, or right, or anything else.  It is just reality.

For what it is worth, I think he will meet the low bar of making the tournament and this whole conversation will be moot.

We agree this is probably ultimately moot. And we do agree the fans pretty much make up their minds by year 3. Just saying, sometimes things can get off to a bumpy start and still be worth sticking it out. Like my marriage. Lol

[IUCrazy2 2,977]

3 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Flip what narrative? IU is a has-been program in the eyes of everybody but this fanbase. That doesn't change overnight by simply making a 68 team tournament. IU has zero existing culture, zero existing foundation, and a brand that dies more and more each season. That isn't changing overnight no matter how much you want to will it in existence. 

Speaking of will, you are willfully avoiding my point.

I know how this stuff devolves so I will just cut the back and forth off here.

[Juwan Moye 1,243]

2 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

We agree this is probably ultimately moot. And we do agree the fans pretty much make up their minds by year 3. Just saying, sometimes things can get off to a bumpy start and still be worth sticking it out. Like my marriage. Lol

I’m excited that, at a bare minimum, we get new problems to complain about. Not having shooters, watching buddy ball, and leaving opposing shooters wide open for 4 years got old.

[iu eyedoc 4,474]

8 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

He said he wanted to make the tournament.  That is a Top 40ish type of team.  That should be doable.

 

4 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

Did I miss something?  Did someone say fire him after one year if he doesn't make it?  I think people are saying that with Indiana's resources we SHOULD expect him to make the tournament.  Failure to do that should be viewed negatively.  That doesn't mean fire him after one year, but it is not a good start.  Not with a bunch of senior transfers which means you have to do the recruit thing again and at that point the honeymoon period for players is kind of over.

He should make the tournament (and as of right now I think he will) and we shouldn't expect anything less.  At a certain point this program needs to start living up to the expectations that the amount of money pumped into it should demand.  If it can't, then stop wasting that money and invest it elsewhere.

You are wanting your cake and wanting to  eat it too. You can't start on the penthouse before laying the foundation.  Everyone expecting a tourney team are actually asking for a top 40 team(OSU 41, Boise St 44, SMU 46, WVU 51didn't make it; UNC 36 Texas 39 were last 4)  all made from ashes(0 returning players) of the MW era.

I hope he starts to focus on HS recruiting, but there isn't much available at this point, so patience may be needed. As of now, of the 7 or 8(Goode) on next years roster 2 are returning for 26-27. That is not a receipt for sustained success.

[iu eyedoc 4,474]

18 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

He won't get that long.  I know that pisses you guys off and fans need to reset expectations and blah, blah, blah....but if he misses the tournament the first two years he is toast.  

I don't think we will have to worry about that but just dealing with reality.

If you think he may only get 2 seasons,  excluding a major program scandal, reality is not your friend and your nom de plume is spot on.

[AZ Hoosier 10,917]

1 hour ago, steubenhoosier said:

One thing I will take into consideration is that IU has scheduled some high level games, but they are all against programs more established than us, and all happen relatively early in the season. Based on past results, I have confidence that CDD is going to put together a well-coached and competitive team, but it’s going to take some time for a bunch of portal guys to develop a cohesive unit. The Marquette, UL, and UK games are considered marquee contests that can significantly improve the resumes when the tournament committee picks the seeds. I hope we play competitively in these games and can win at least one of them. However I fear that the fanbase is going to melt down if we struggle.

Regardless of the money and resources we have, none of that can blend a group of individuals into a team. Only time, coaching, and the willingness to work together will do so.

Long season. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Indeed. Recent history has taught is that even in February and March, they're still getting to know one another...

But seriously, I agree... new coach, new system, new players... it's a matter of how quickly CDD can get this team to gel... my confidence is high - he will get it done, and we'll have a decent season...

Did Coach get the overseas trip approved? That will help with the gelling,

[IUCrazy2 2,977]

2 minutes ago, iu eyedoc said:

 

You are wanting your cake and wanting to  eat it too. You can't start on the penthouse before laying the foundation.  Everyone expecting a tourney team are actually asking for a top 40 team(OSU 41, Boise St 44, SMU 46, WVU 51didn't make it; UNC 36 Texas 39 were last 4)  all made from ashes(0 returning players) of the MW era.

I hope he starts to focus on HS recruiting, but there isn't much available at this point, so patience may be needed. As of now, of the 7 or 8(Goode) on next years roster 2 are returning for 26-27. That is not a receipt for sustained success.

Making the tournament isn't penthouse level.  

I agree with your second paragraph which is why I think that making the tournament from jump is really important.  We fired Woodson for having bubble teams.

[iu eyedoc 4,474]

1 hour ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Then why shouldn’t a tournament appearance his first season be the expectation? 68 teams make the tournament. A fraction of them have bigger budgets than IU. Unless DD isn’t a top 50-60 coach, making the tournament should be entirely doable. 

Almost forgot, Rick Pitino also not a top 50-60 coach

[Hoosierfan2017 24,898]

30 minutes ago, iu eyedoc said:

 

Hurley started at UConn in 2018 the portal launched on October 15, 2018 so he still missed the tourney and had 3 seasons without a tourney win even with the portal. They also didn't have to replace all 15 players in their first season.

 

Oh and IU was 54 in Net. I don't imagine you won't be throwing a fit if IU is in the same boat as they were last season.

Drawing a pass fail line in the sand based on making the tournament is worthless. Everyone hopes for season 1 success, but building a culture, rebuilding in state recruiting ties, constantly trending upward is essential the first season or 2.

 

 

 

The portal launched in 2018, but the regulations allowing players to transfer and play immediately weren’t passed until 2021.

No one is saying that you absolutely need top NIL resources to succeed, but if you have top resources and don’t succeed then that’s a problem.  If you have top resources and don’t make the tournament, barring extraordinary circumstances, it’s concerning at the least. Making the tournament isn’t a Herculean feat. IU was a bad team last year and was the second team out. A decent out of conference showing and a .500 Big 10 record gives you a good shot at getting in. There’s no reason DD can’t deliver that next year.

[AH1971 3,214]

3 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

The portal launched in 2018, but the regulations allowing players to transfer and play immediately weren’t passed until 2021.

No one is saying that you absolutely need top NIL resources to succeed, but if you have top resources and don’t succeed then that’s a problem.  If you have top resources and don’t make the tournament, barring extraordinary circumstances, it’s concerning at the least. Making the tournament isn’t a Herculean feat. IU was a bad team last year and was the second team out. A decent out of conference showing and a .500 Big 10 record gives you a good shot at getting in. There’s no reason DD can’t deliver that next year.

Nobody disagrees that making the tournament in year 1 is some Herculean feat, rather DeVries shouldn't be coaching for his job in year 2 if it doesn't happen....which many have suggested should be the case. The last two title winning coaches didn't really start to hit the ground running until year 3. There is a process involved, especially at a school that has been largely irrelevant for the last 3 decades. 

[Hoosierfan2017 24,898]

7 minutes ago, iu eyedoc said:

Almost forgot, Rick Pitino also not a top 50-60 coach

Did St. John’s have top 10 money Pitino’s first year? They do now, but I’m guessing they didn’t his first season. It’s also easier to make the tournament from the Big 10 than the Big East because your margin for error is higher. 20-13, 11-9 and 5th in the conference didn’t get him a tournament spot from the Big East. Do you think Pitino would make the tournament this upcoming year if he was IU’s coach instead of DD? Because I certainly do. 

[go iu bb 9,639]

1 hour ago, steubenhoosier said:

One thing I will take into consideration is that IU has scheduled some high level games, but they are all against programs more established than us, and all happen relatively early in the season. Based on past results, I have confidence that CDD is going to put together a well-coached and competitive team, but it’s going to take some time for a bunch of portal guys to develop a cohesive unit. The Marquette, UL, and UK games are considered marquee contests that can significantly improve the resumes when the tournament committee picks the seeds. I hope we play competitively in these games and can win at least one of them. However I fear that the fanbase is going to melt down if we struggle.

Regardless of the money and resources we have, none of that can blend a group of individuals into a team. Only time, coaching, and the willingness to work together will do so.

Long season. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

They're working on an international trip to get some extra practices and games in during the offseason. That should help with early season cohesion. 

[Hoosierfan2017 24,898]

11 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Nobody disagrees that making the tournament in year 1 is some Herculean feat, rather DeVries shouldn't be coaching for his job in year 2 if it doesn't happen....which many have suggested should be the case. The last two title winning coaches didn't really start to hit the ground running until year 3. There is a process involved, especially at a school that has been largely irrelevant for the last 3 decades. 

At what point should a coach be coaching for his job? Archie arguably should’ve been canned after going 19-16 and having a conference stretch where he lost 12 of 13 games. In hindsight, IU would’ve been better off. Woodson should’ve been canned after year 3. Sometimes “giving a coach time” pays off, other times it only prolongs the inevitable. I think we’ll have a decent idea on DD at this point next year, but he’ll get 3-4 years from IU regardless of what his first season looks like.

[Uspshoosier 54,447]

Until IU makes a deep run in March any coach at IU is going to be under pressure to win and win now and win big.  Dark side of coaching at IU.   People can say all IU has to do is make the tourney in year X however it’s  never going to be enough until a deep run.   The minute he makes the tourney in year 1 it will shift to well that don’t count because it’s  the first 4 (B1G still gets a unit for a first 4 win and it goes in the record book),   Doesn’t count they didn’t beat a power 5 team they got lucky Y team got upset and so on.  It is what it is at IU.  Coach at IU has to make the tourney in every year he coaches.  If not even when some say he won’t have to that’s exactly what will need to happen because of the budget.  Plenty of schools will have a budget comparable to IUs.  Maybe not as much but enough to compete for the same players.   He willingly signed up for the job knowing the expectations. That should relieve some of you to have a coach that isn’t going to hide from expectations 

[iu eyedoc 4,474]

11 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Did St. John’s have top 10 money Pitino’s first year? They do now, but I’m guessing they didn’t his first season. It’s also easier to make the tournament from the Big 10 than the Big East because your margin for error is higher. 20-13, 11-9 and 5th in the conference didn’t get him a tournament spot from the Big East. Do you think Pitino would make the tournament this upcoming year if he was IU’s coach instead of DD? Because I certainly do.