Ben McCollum?

[Harry Hondo]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

 

[IUNorth]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

I'm sure Dolson is watching him very closely. Actually...I hope he's conversing with him and his people. It'll be interesting how his team finishes the season out. But even if they don't make the NCAA, and/or get bounced early, he's already proven capable of post season success. And it appears his program has proven it can step up in competition levels, and succeed.

As of today, projecting who I think are probably actually realistic candidates, he'd be my number 1 choice. As an added bonus with him, I'd assume he'd bring Bennett Stirtz with him. And he's a really good guard, that followed him from D2 to Drake, and is thriving at the D1 level.

 

[Tammany Hall]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

Could be. Scott has to figure out if he fits here. I’d be excited if he was the pick.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

Sounds like exactly the kind of guy we need. After Crean, Archie & Woody first & foremost we need someone who can coach. Let the boosters get the players.

 

[IUNorth]

Could be. Scott has to figure out if he fits here. I’d be excited if he was the pick.

Good point. He does need to flush out if he feels McCollum can handle the IU frying pan.

 

[Bligedy]

Sounds like exactly the kind of guy we need. After Crean, Archie & Woody first & foremost we need someone who can coach. Let the boosters get the players.

Let the coach get the players that he wants and if the boosters can help with that, so be it.

 

[Gage Fu]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

I'm intrigued. I'd go after Shaka Smart or T.J. Otzelberger (sp?) first, though. Those guys are more proven at high level bball.

 

[dbmhoosier]

He’s clearly a good coach but runs a boring system. He would likely be a solid hire but I doubt the blue chip recruits would want to play for him.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

He’s clearly a good coach but runs a boring system. He would likely be a solid hire but I doubt the blue chip recruits would want to play for him.

Very boring.

 

[dbmhoosier]

Very boring.

If we go the unproven route again it should be Bucky imo.

 

[ndhuntington]

I don't think Dolson can take that chance after the Miller failure.

 

[ams66]

I don't think Dolson can take that chance after the Miller failure.

Miller just didn't work out. It happens. Not everyone can make the leap to a bigger stage. Even successful coaches can struggle at a new school (Matta). But Miller was a reasonable hire at the time.

But, I would agree that we don't try that again, at this time. We need a home run.

 

[dbmhoosier]

I don't think Dolson can take that chance after the Miller failure.

If it's not Brad, Beard, or Drew he's taking a chance.

 

[Gage Fu]

If it's not Brad, Beard, or Drew he's taking a chance.

Shaka Smart or T.J. Ostelberger are my top 2.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

If it's not Brad, Beard, or Drew he's taking a chance.

No way Drew is a candidate. For many reasons. Drew is a strange cat. He turned UK down and toyed with them. He’s never leaving Waco. He’s built a compound for his whole family. Parents…in-laws…etc.

 

[dbmhoosier]

No way Drew is a candidate. For many reasons. Drew is a strange cat. He turned UK down and toyed with them. He’s never leaving Waco. He’s built a compound for his whole family. Parents…in-laws…etc.

Goodman is very tight with Drew and he said he's the first guy Dolson should contact.

And it's been rumored for a while that much like for Pearl it's a dream job for Drew. Graduated from Butler when Bobby had IU basketball absolutely rolling and spent over 15 years living in Indiana. Deep ties. He was never going to UK.

 

[mrhighlife]

The NIL era changed so much. The jury is obviously still out on who is the "best" coach in this era. So I'll stay safe and say Coach K for both.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Shaka Smart or T.J. Ostelberger are my top 2.

Put me down for a NO.

 

[dbmhoosier]

Put me down for a NO.

Shaka would be a horrible fit and TJ has a near $20M buyout. Not happening.

 

[IUgradman]

This is the time to go big. Screw up this hire and it’s over.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Goodman is very tight with Drew and he said he's the first guy Dolson should contact.

And it's been rumored for a while that much like for Pearl it's a dream job for Drew. Graduated from Butler when Bobby had IU basketball absolutely rolling and spent over 15 years living in Indiana. Deep ties. He was never going to UK.

The alumni deal happened. Drew isn’t welcome. He’s not leaving Waco. Goodman is a dumbass. Don’t be one either.

 

[IUNorth]

Very boring.

The pace is slower, for certain...but I've watched a handful of extended minutes of Drake, and it doesn't come across as "boring" to me. And I bore pretty easily with traditionally slower paced programs like UVA and the old Wisconsin stuff.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Shaka would be a horrible fit and TJ has a near $20M buyout. Not happening.

Shaka and TJ…lmao.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

The pace is slower, for certain...but I've watched a handful of extended minutes of Drake, and it doesn't come across as "boring" to me. And I bore pretty easily with traditionally slower paced programs like UVA and the old Wisconsin stuff.

I’m speaking like a casual IU fan. Those teams typically can’t score enough. It is a boring type of ball.

 

[Battimi]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

We had a good discussion a couple of months ago on him. I like him. I think I would be happy with that hire.

Then you have a segment of people who are pounding the table for Brad Brownell. So you have that camp.

I don't know, but we have gotten it wrong for one reason or another for 5 times in row. Hopefully this time we nail it.

 

[Battimi]

Very boring.

I want to be bored with wins. I would love it. That would be a high class problem to have a team that wins conferences titles and goes deep in the NCAA, but is boring.

 

[IUNorth]

I’m speaking like a casual IU fan. Those teams typically can’t score enough. It is a boring type of ball.

I'm on record as openly not wanting a slower, methodical paced coach either. For some reason, McCollum's Drake team doesn't jump out at me as boring, though. And after reading up on him, and his philosophies, he's probably the only slower paced coach I've ever been intrigued with.

But that does bring up a valid, and interesting question... does/would his style translate to high major basketball?

 

[IUNorth]

I want to be bored with wins. I would love it. That would be a high class problem to have a team that wins conferences titles and goes deep in the NCAA, but is boring.

Dolson, and people a lot smarter than us, should be flushing out whether or not McCollum's specific slower style would likely translate to P4 level players and competition.

I wish Jim Crutchfield wasn't 69 years old. Maybe he'd be open to coming and being an assistant coach for 4-5 years with Bucky McMillan? Similar overall philosophies. He could probably make 3-4 times + as much as he's making now. Those 2 fellas would be on the opposite end of the pace/style spectrum from McCollum.

 

[Gage Fu]

And w

Shaka and TJ…lmao.

And who do you want?

 

[kmathum]

No way Drew is a candidate. For many reasons. Drew is a strange cat. He turned UK down and toyed with them. He’s never leaving Waco. He’s built a compound for his whole family. Parents…in-laws…etc.

A compound in Waco? That's scary.

 

[Pazhoosier85]

Miller just didn't work out. It happens. Not everyone can make the leap to a bigger stage. Even successful coaches can struggle at a new school (Matta). But Miller was a reasonable hire at the time.

But, I would agree that we don't try that again, at this time. We need a home run.

Agreed. Nate Oats was at Buffalo when Archie was hired and look how he turned out. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.

I have more confidence in Dolson being able to find the right guy seeing what he did which Cignetti on the football side.

 

[T.M.P.]

But that does bring up a valid, and interesting question... does/would his style translate to high major basketball?

No one knows the answer until it happens. More coaches that move up fail than succeed. It's almost always a low probability gamble. Style, offense, defense, tempo ... those are not the traits that make them successful.

Leadership, competent management, ability to motivate and teach, is ..

It's a different ballgame with high level talent and the egos that come with it. Dealing with, developing and motivating that talent is the main trait we're looking for and there's no possible way to know beforehand.

 

[T.M.P.]

I have more confidence in Dolson being able to find the right guy seeing what he did which Cignetti on the football side.

Mostly luck ..

 

[Univee2]

Good point. He does need to flush out if he feels McCollum can handle the IU frying pan.

But, but, but, I keep hearing IU is just a middling, middle-of-the-road program with nothing going for it.

 

[kmathum]

Mostly luck ..

Don't believe in luck.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

And w

And who do you want?

I’m not “wanting” anyone but those two…? Seriously?

 

[UncleMark]

He’s clearly a good coach but runs a boring system. He would likely be a solid hire but I doubt the blue chip recruits would want to play for him.

The pace is slower, for certain...but I've watched a handful of extended minutes of Drake, and it doesn't come across as "boring" to me. And I bore pretty easily with traditionally slower paced programs like UVA and the old Wisconsin stuff.

Knight's defense first approach and methodical offense took some flack early on from the Hurryin' Hoosiers' fans. Winning cured that.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Shaka Smart or T.J. Ostelberger are my top 2.

Shaka Smart has been a head coach for 16 years...and hasn't coached more than 6 years at any program. So he is averaging between 5 and 6 years per gig. These changes haven't been an upward trend exclusively. Is that what IU needs? I don't think so.

 

[Univee2]

Knight's defense first approach and methodical offense took some flack early on from the Hurryin' Hoosiers' fans. Winning cured that.

There’s the famous Bootsie White quote: “Don’t worry, Chief, I don’t hear them.”

IU against Kansas early in Knight’s first year. The crowd was anxious about IU’s offense (we were coming out of the Hurryin’ Hoosiers era) and some loud fans at Assembly Hall were yelling, “Shoot!!”

Bootsie dribbled close to the bench and delivered possibly the best line ever. Likely the only person who could get away with calling Knight “Chief.”

 

[T.M.P.]

Knight's defense first approach and methodical offense

The last championship in 87 was neither.