2026-27 Roster/Portal/how to fix the roster?

[Asha’man]

5 minutes ago, Jeff Flabjohns said:

A talent like Lendeborg has no reason to come play for Darian Devries at this time anyway.
 

Money for that guy would be everywhere, and there are far more proven coaching staffs to hitch your wagon to. 

Yeah. It would be a waste of time to try when they can go get someone that’s an upgrade and attainable. Next year win 22+ games then go again. 

[Unexpectedflash]

30 minutes ago, Asha’man said:

Watching this MSU/Mich game and it has me wondering about our roster building. We won’t have an ideal roster next year either, imo. So get a top end 1,2,&3. Then get big athletic 4 &5 is my wishlist. Guys on the wing who can create their own shot and also hit it from deep. Then the bigs to play defense and clean up the glass. Ideally a few guys with 2 years experience but if not available get the 1 and done. 

I hope we do take a page out of Dusty’s playbook and focus on recruits from power 5 conferences. I feel like the jump from mid major is really big and unless you’re a guaranteed first rounder like yaxel it’s not worth the risk. Their roster is littered with talented  players that showed something but weren’t stars at their former schools and took the next step with dusty. 

[8bucks]

2 hours ago, Unexpectedflash said:

I hope we do take a page out of Dusty’s playbook and focus on recruits from power 5 conferences. I feel like the jump from mid major is really big and unless you’re a guaranteed first rounder like yaxel it’s not worth the risk. Their roster is littered with talented  players that showed something but weren’t stars at their former schools and took the next step with dusty. 

I agree. In the last few years there is data that shows most guys that jump up a level struggle. I think you still get some but not most of your starters. Grabbing P6 guys that are starter quality is going to require an infusion of $. I expect we will have to over pay for some of the top guys next year and then hope our success follows and our new gm can also build depth. 

[HoosierDevils]

We are entering the season of decommits. First up is Quentin Coleman, a top 35 SG who requested release from Wake Forest. He is rumored to have interest from IU, KU, and TTU.  

[Asha’man]

16 minutes ago, HoosierDevils said:

We are entering the season of decommits. First up is Quentin Coleman, a top 35 SG who requested release from Wake Forest. He is rumored to have interest from IU, KU, and TTU.  

If they can get him then get him. Multiyear piece that can be very good. Not sure he is starter ready as a freshman to start the year. But I’m comfortable rolling with the backups being young next year if needed. 

[Uspshoosier]

 

[Stuhoo]

I'm reasonably sure that there is a roster building plan in place that will satisfy all but the most jaded.

If I'm wrong? So be it. But the odds of a pretty strong roster build are very good.

[68Hoosier]

19 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I'm reasonably sure that there is a roster building plan in place that will satisfy all but the most jaded.

If I'm wrong? So be it. But the odds of a pretty strong roster build are very good.

Man, I hope you are right.  I am becoming more and more on the jaded side each year.  Tired of the bubble watch and the need to win a game to get in.

[Stuhoo]

1 minute ago, 68Hoosier said:

Man, I hope you are right.  I am becoming more and more on the jaded side each year.  Tired of the bubble watch and the need to win a game to get in.

Your hope needs to include the caveat that you have reasonable expectations.

For instance; our current incoming class of three kids all of whom are composite ranked from 51-80 should 100% exceed reasonable expectations. I'd be hard-pressed to find another mediocre program with that kind of incoming haul.

[68Hoosier]

2 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Your hope needs to include the caveat that you have reasonable expectations.

For instance; our current incoming class of three kids all of whom are composite ranked from 51-80 should 100% exceed reasonable expectations. I'd be hard-pressed to find another mediocre program with that kind of incoming haul.

I feel like my expectations have been reasonable the past 10 years.  For this year I wanted to see a team that competed with a better style of team play (Not the NBA make my own shot style), Finish in the top half of the BIG and make the tourney. Then build on that for the following year.    

I do feel that the incoming class is solid for next year, but we are still missing what I would consider a true point guard and BIG10 type center.  Hopefully the staff is evaluating that for the offseason portal free for all.

 

[Stuhoo]

8 minutes ago, 68Hoosier said:

I feel like my expectations have been reasonable the past 10 years.  For this year I wanted to see a team that competed with a better style of team play (Not the NBA make my own shot style), Finish in the top half of the BIG and make the tourney. Then build on that for the following year.    

I do feel that the incoming class is solid for next year, but we are still missing what I would consider a true point guard and BIG10 type center.  Hopefully the staff is evaluating that for the offseason portal free for all.

 

Just saying... based on @Uspshoosier reminding us that IUBB has 4 above .500 conference finishes in the B1G in the past 18 years, a top half finish with a late-stage roster grab was a pretty lofty expectation. 

A better style of team play and future recruits with skills and character is where I agree with you. Generally I'm seeing that but time will tell.

And yes; gotta go get that 22 year old point guard and some physical bigs for next year.

[RaceToTheTop]

16 hours ago, Unexpectedflash said:

I hope we do take a page out of Dusty’s playbook and focus on recruits from power 5 conferences. I feel like the jump from mid major is really big and unless you’re a guaranteed first rounder like yaxel it’s not worth the risk. Their roster is littered with talented  players that showed something but weren’t stars at their former schools and took the next step with dusty. 

Probably the three biggest difference makers that Dusty brought in the last two years were not power 5 players.  Yaxel (UAB), Goldin (FAU), and Wolf (Yale)

[str8baller]

11 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Just saying... based on @Uspshoosier reminding us that IUBB has 4 above .500 conference finishes in the B1G in the past 18 years, a top half finish with a late-stage roster grab was a pretty lofty expectation. 

I’m going to keep reminding people then that we're a program that spends top 10-15 level resources and we’re in an era where resources matter more than history.  
 

Byington is going to finish top half in the SEC and so is Odom in the admittedly weaker ACC.  
 

Devries just did a poor job this year. It’s ok to admit it. If he lands one of the best portal guards of all-time and two pro-level bigs this offseason, maybe he’ll turn into Todd Golden. 

[ziggyiu]

7 minutes ago, str8baller said:

I’m going to keep reminding people then that we're a program that spends top 10-15 level resources and we’re in an era where resources matter more than history.  
 

Byington is going to finish top half in the SEC and so is Odom in the admittedly weaker ACC.  
 

Devries just did a poor job this year. It’s ok to admit it. If he lands one of the best portal guards of all-time and two pro-level bigs this offseason, maybe he’ll turn into Todd Golden. 

I don't know that IU was a top 10 - 15 resource program in the past year. That's been thrown around a lot about IU basketball since the NIL era began. In some years that was accurate, but not in all years.

Certainly IU had better resources than our record shows though. 

[Stuhoo]

10 minutes ago, str8baller said:

I’m going to keep reminding people then that we're a program that spends top 10-15 level resources and we’re in an era where resources matter more than history.  
 

Byington is going to finish top half in the SEC and so is Odom in the admittedly weaker ACC.  
 

Devries just did a poor job this year. It’s ok to admit it. If he lands one of the best portal guards of all-time and two pro-level bigs this offseason, maybe he’ll turn into Todd Golden. 

I can admit that because roster and staff acquisition was one of his primary initial tasks, and neither went especially well.

i like the in-game stuff though.

[Home Jersey]

1 hour ago, str8baller said:

Devries just did a poor job this year. It’s ok to admit it.

Yeah. You can acknowledge there were factors working against DDV in the portal last year and still admit that even with those factors in mind, this was not a good year.

Money isn't everything, but to have as many resources as we do and not make the field of 68 is really, really bad. Easier said than done but he is one of the highest paid coaches in the sport, he's supposed to get it done.

Year 1 didn't have to be a showstopper of a year. The minimum was making the tournament and that seems unlikely to happen. And we don't have much returning talent to speak of, so we have to hit the portal hard again, which is probably a blessing and a curse.

It's not impossible at all to bounce back from this start, but it didn't get any momentum going like you'd hope to see. Based on results alone, I don't see how our regular season is any better than a D+ or C- most generously.

If we want to convince ourselves a program is being built, we've gotta pay what it takes to land 3 studs and then nail the scout on 2 or 3 multi year guys IMO

[str8baller]

32 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

i like the in-game stuff though.

Really? That’s been the worst part for me…lol. Defense is in an absolute free-fall and just looks incoherent at times.  Defensive PPP has just been absurd in some of the games down the stretch.  Trouble with presses. Late game collapses. Inconsistent effort.  Swapping out two starters throughout out the season shows a willingness to adapt, at least, but you have to wonder what was going on to get to that point—especially Bailey over Alexis.  
 

I have no doubt Carr can get the roster straightened out and with IU’s resources they can get to the tourney. I mean every coach we’ve had could do that when the roster fell right for them including Davis, Archie and Woody.
 

You kind of have to wonder where we go from there.  I certainly like some things—sound defensive philosophy (even if execution has been crap), good set plays and oob Xs and Os. But overall, at our lowest he’s looked as lost as Archie and Woody.  
 

For my own personal happiness, I’m joining you in the optimist club. Everyone gets a second chance and next year will be huge. So we’ll bank on Devries positive attributes really flourishing once the other duties like roster construction are taken over by Carr.  I’m ignoring the little part of my brain that says we’ve basically done this dance with every other bad coach we’ve had where we say “if only he were good at [insert important skill that almost all great coaches have] he could be successful here.” Maybe it’ll be true this time. 
 

Step 0 - slip into tourney this year

 Step 1 - Carr builds bullet-proof tourney roster

 Step 2 - Devries stewards them well next year  

Step 3 - ???

Step 4 - Banner #6  

(A plan so simple a caveman could do it!) 

[Stuhoo]

23 minutes ago, str8baller said:

Really? That’s been the worst part for me…lol. Defense is in an absolute free-fall and just looks incoherent at times.  Defensive PPP has just been absurd in some of the games down the stretch.  Trouble with presses. Late game collapses. Inconsistent effort.  Swapping out two starters throughout out the season shows a willingness to adapt, at least, but you have to wonder what was going on to get to that point—especially Bailey over Alexis.  
 

I have no doubt Carr can get the roster straightened out and with IU’s resources they can get to the tourney. I mean every coach we’ve had could do that when the roster fell right for them including Davis, Archie and Woody.
 

You kind of have to wonder where we go from there.  I certainly like some things—sound defensive philosophy (even if execution has been crap), good set plays and oob Xs and Os. But overall, at our lowest he’s looked as lost as Archie and Woody.  
 

For my own personal happiness, I’m joining you in the optimist club. Everyone gets a second chance and next year will be huge. So we’ll bank on Devries positive attributes really flourishing once the other duties like roster construction are taken over by Carr.  I’m ignoring the little part of my brain that says we’ve basically done this dance with every other bad coach we’ve had where we say “if only he were good at [insert important skill that almost all great coaches have] he could be successful here.” Maybe it’ll be true this time. 
 

Step 0 - slip into tourney this year

 Step 1 - Carr builds bullet-proof tourney roster

 Step 2 - Devries stewards them well next year  

Step 3 - ???

Step 4 - Banner #6  

(A plan so simple a caveman could do it!) 

I was more focused on offense, which has sucked for eight years. 

Better spacing, more movement, emphasis on open threes/inside out when available. But for an offense like that to succeed there needs to be a lengthy, physical big that rebounds long misses outside of his immediate space, and there needs to be a guard that can get in the lane and finish, thereby opening up kick out opportunities. When Enright penetrates no one leaves their man.

[spe317]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

I was more focused on offense, which has sucked for eight years. 

Better spacing, more movement, emphasis on open threes/inside out when available. But for an offense like that to succeed there needs to be a lengthy, physical big that rebounds long misses outside of his immediate space, and there needs to be a guard that can get in the lane and finish, thereby opening up kick out opportunities. When Enright penetrates no one leaves their man.

Am I the only who reads that…surely someone else here has the mind of a teenage boy…

In other news, I’m excited to see the type of player that, when all things are considered, Coach pursues. 

[Golfman25]

4 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

I'm reasonably sure that there is a roster building plan in place that will satisfy all but the most jaded.

If I'm wrong? So be it. But the odds of a pretty strong roster build are very good.

The only thing I am worried about is CDDv admission that he misjudged the Big10.  That is simply an epic fail.  I just don't know how you do that.  Hopefully he gets it right this time with the help of Ryan Carr.