Odds/Thoughts on building top 25 preseason

[realTomCrean]

BANNER #6 KNOCKIN ON YOUR DOOR 

[realTomCrean]

Unlike you other schools, we got history
Kinda like your girl does when she visits uh, me
Oh my I can't see because the trophy case be shining
And my optometrist told me not to look
Cause I could go blind, even better I could taste it
Follow (Tom Crean)Darian Devries, he gon' take us back to greatness
Face it, embrace it, like it's 76

[Hoosier987]

We’ll be preseason top 25. Rothstein updated his rankings this morning and has us at #15. DeVries and Staff have done a fantastic job. Also, it shouldn’t go unnoticed but each of our transfer players have multi years left of eligibility (assuming Burton gets a medical waiver).

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 hour ago, Hoosier987 said:

We’ll be preseason top 25. Rothstein updated his rankings this morning and has us at #15. DeVries and Staff have done a fantastic job. Also, it shouldn’t go unnoticed but each of our transfer players have multi years left of eligibility (assuming Burton gets a medical waiver).

Saw that. I know most you don’t care but this stuff is important for a variety of reasons. Have to follow up with enough on court success too, of course. But changing of narratives need to happen and you have to start somewhere. Offseason winning is the first step. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

On 3/22/2026 at 12:14 PM, WayneFleekHoosier said:

This was on ongoing debate I had and wanted from last season. Lots of it is trusting programs and trusting coaches.  Indiana and DeVries rightfully will get none of that. 
 

I know it’s not important to most, and it’s how you finish.  While I’ll agree, it sets a ceiling based on Analytics, metrics, and thoughts. 
 

If we want to make a statement make a statement. We didn’t make a statement last preseason or end of season. We did get ranked for 1 or 2 weeks early. 
 

To me it’s important. It’s important for morale, recruiting, swagger, momentum, etc and etc. it’s also important because it says we have a great roster on paper.  And last year, we never did.  It was pretty clear a lot of things needed to go our way. We built a bubble team and performed like one. Go freaking figure. 
 

Odds this season?  Woof. 
 

We have a top 20 freshman class with no one that projects to be real impact makers. We return 2 or 3 guys who don’t project to be difference makers. We likely need 5-6 playable guys and 2-3 stars. 
 

my odds of preseason 25 with a top 20 Nil?

20 percent. 

Moving my 20 percent to 85 percent. Other teams will make moves to move up but it seems we will have enough. I hope.  At least we have the caliber of team to be considered.  And that is more important at the heart of things. 

[AZ Hoosier]

22 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Saw that. I know most you don’t care but this stuff is important for a variety of reasons. Have to follow up with enough on court success too, of course. But changing of narratives need to happen and you have to start somewhere. Offseason winning is the first step. 

True, but how many times did we win the offseason only to crash and burn when the ball was tipped? The differentiating factor was most definitely coaching, and I think we have that covered this time around... I am encouraged by what DeVries, Carr and the staff have done, but no trophy is awarded "on paper"... 

[DChoosier]

39 minutes ago, AZ Hoosier said:

True, but how many times did we win the offseason only to crash and burn when the ball was tipped? The differentiating factor was most definitely coaching, and I think we have that covered this time around... I am encouraged by what DeVries, Carr and the staff have done, but no trophy is awarded "on paper"... 

True that. I googled Indiana BB portal class to see what some of the media was reporting. An old article popped up showing us with the number one portal class with……..Ballo, Rice etc. LOL, LOL.

That being said I feel good that DD will get better results with this class.

[Pagoda]

I'll of course take a preseason ranking if we get it.  It certainly doesn't hurt!

But, to get the lasting narrative change we want, we need to string together several good seasons with appearances in the second week of the tourney.  Remind the CBB world we exist.

For me, this strong portal means the aforementioned good season is possible for '26-27.  That's what I care about most. 

Good stuff, onwards and upwards!

[WayneFleekHoosier]

6 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

True that. I googled Indiana BB portal class to see what some of the media was reporting. An old article popped up showing us with the number one portal class with……..Ballo, Rice etc. LOL, LOL.

That being said I feel good that DD will get better results with this class.

Rice and K9 really let that class down.  Plus the coaching.  But the guards on that team were terrible.  We ultimately ended up being better with Gallo/Leal/Goode.  I can kinda see how the scout missed Rice.  He should have been better.  K9 never looked good to me.  He was mocked NBA draft by some that transfer off season.  Strange.  Plus the team and coaches weren't on the same page.  

 

I'm a little nervous about our guards in this portal class.  But Burton>>>Rice even during "scout timing" and Mustaf>K9.  With Lindsay and Harris being more the wildcards to me.  

[realTomCrean]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Rice and K9 really let that class down.  Plus the coaching.  But the guards on that team were terrible.  We ultimately ended up being better with Gallo/Leal/Goode.  I can kinda see how the scout missed Rice.  He should have been better.  K9 never looked good to me.  He was mocked NBA draft by some that transfer off season.  Strange.  Plus the team and coaches weren't on the same page.  

 

I'm a little nervous about our guards in this portal class.  But Burton>>>Rice even during "scout timing" and Mustaf>K9.  With Lindsay and Harris being more the wildcards to me.  

We're the future national champs and there's no way around it

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Evan Miya only has us at 35.  I think returning minutes/stats are a factor  and coaching. Lower than I’d guess though. 

[Uspshoosier]

 

[IU Prof]

6 minutes ago, Uspshoosier said:

 

Isn't Kansas down to just two players, presently? If so, that must be one hell of a combo to rank in the Top 25.

[J34]

2 minutes ago, Uspshoosier said:

 

How is Purdue ranked so high, after losing their top 4 scorers? I know Painter is a good coach, but he's replacing 3 legacy players. 

[Hoosier987]

50 minutes ago, J34 said:

How is Purdue ranked so high, after losing their top 4 scorers? I know Painter is a good coach, but he's replacing 3 legacy players. 

They’re will be mid 

[J34]

40 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

They’re will be mid 

Agree. The new age of NIL and portal will end up catching up to him. Coaching can only take you so far. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

4 minutes ago, J34 said:

Agree. The new age of NIL and portal will end up catching up to him. Coaching can only take you so far. 

I’m not convinced they will be mid.  Sometimes names get all the hype. But Cox, Harris, Mayer, Benter, Jacobsen.  They can all play. They have a little guard that resshirted that Painter is really high on.  Said he would lead scrimmages in scoring this season even.  Antoine West, I believe.  They will be well coached and guys will be better than their name implies. But man, I hope they fall down a few notches. 

[Pagoda]

Matt is very good and will keep them competitive.  I thought they would fall further after Edey due to their meh NIL and they didn’t.  Now I think they’ll slide again after losing all these seniors, but it will probably be less than I hope.

As long as they’re not competing to win the B1G or making serious tourney runs, that’s fine for me — they can be ranked #15-25 all year as long as they’re not threatening to win big prizes.

That combined with their crap football team is a Purdue athletic dept that works pretty well for me.