Shocker in Big Ten circles as it looks like Caleb Swanigan will end up at Purdue instead of Michigan State. He committed to the Spartans on April 10th but never did sign and now will be visiting Purdue this weekend. His guardian, Roosevelt Barnes, played football and basketball in West Lafayette.
Purdue and Michigan State always seemed to make sense for him due to his desire to not have to play center. Makes you wonder if IU could have been more of a player here had the Bryant commitment come early instead of late. But strong Purdue ties and a crazy recruiting saga that maybe was best to avoid.
With Swanigan's switch, expect to see Indiana move up above Michigan State and into the No. 2 spot in many of the early projections for the Big Ten next season. Maryland the favorite. Purdue should move up if they get Swanigan but as things stand today have enough of a question mark at point guard to probably keep the Boilers out of the top three.
Wrote a small piece this morning on Isaiah Washington, a 2017 point guard from assistant Chuck Martin's alma mater (St Raymond in the Bronx). A couple other 2017 point guards to take note of. Again smaller guys but many of those have thrived under Coach Crean's system:
Markell Johnson - listed at 6'0, 165 and out of East Technical High in Cleveland. One of the most explosive points I have ever seen at his age. Amazing that he's not ranked yet. Not unusual for him to drive the baseline, rise up and flush it hard over a big forward. End to end speed reminds some of John Wall.
Isaiah Coleman-Lands - 5'11, 165, younger brother of Jalen, played well at the Run 'n Slam in Fort Wayne with his newer Illinois Wolves team. Still very skinny but developing quickly. Been at La Lumiere so he's had some very good competition to face in practice the last couple years.
Matt Coleman - 6'2, 170 - out of Norfolk, Virginia, same home area of Troy Williams and he plays for Troy's uncle and the Boo Williams EYBL team. Same program that Robert Johnson played for in his last year of AAU ball. No. 17 overall player in Rivals150 and has already visited UVa a couple times but some decent ties there.
Justin Roberts - led Pike to a big year including an upset win over Southport in the 4A sectionals. He's a bit like Yogi in that he's always in fifth gear. Only about 5'10 and another inch or two would do him wonders. Played well at times in Fort Wayne. Had 15 points in one half against the eventual 16U champs, the Michigan Mustangs. Plays now with Spiece Indy Heat after running with the Indy Hoosiers team with Scruggs, Wilkes, Gunn, etc. That team has had a little adjustment period w/o Roberts ability to push the ball.
Some 2016 notes:
6'5 Owensboro, Ky wing Eli Wright talked about how serious he was with Indiana at the aiddas Gauntlet Indy stop but came out with a list of 10 schools this week that did not list the Hoosiers.
On the other hand his good friend and sometimes AAU teammate Quentin Goodin may be back on the Indiana radar. Stay tuned on this 6-foot-2 point guard ranked No. 61 in the Rivals150.
Te'Jon Lucas - 5'11, 160 - from Washington High in Milwaukee. Had a good Jayhawk Invitational and told some media of IU interest. Probably more of a mid-major but has been under the radar playing with the lower profile Milwaukee Spartans AAU program.
Spoke to Tyrique Jones in Lexington last month and didn't seem like things had heated up with Indiana. He's a Vermont Academy teammate of Bruce Brown and therefore had been watched several times over the winter. A bit of an undersized post at 6'7, 235 but tough on the boards. Ranked No. 115 in the Rivals150.
Things have apparently heated up with another big forward from that class. Nick Rakocevic from Westchester (Ill.) St. Joseph's, a four-star from a school that IU has a lot of history.
The Herald-Times did a records request that discovered two December home non-conference opponents for Indiana. McNeese State on December 12th and Kennesaw State on December 22.
Just some quick notes on those teams that I posted on the boards:
McNeese State was middle of the pack in the Southland, going 15-16 and 8-10 in the league. Final Sagarin of No. 302
Kennesaw State has been on the schedule recently and this past season was 10-22 and was 4-10 in the Atlantic Sun. Placed No. 336 in the final Sagarin.
The other recent schedule note is ESPN's Andy Katz "speculating" that IU will play at Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Makes sense since Duke was at Wisconsin last year and IU hosted Pitt. He also guessed on a Maryland-UNC game. Since this is an ESPN deal, have to assume this wasn't wild guessing.
Here is a recap of what we know now about the Non-Conference Schedule: (home games in caps)
Nov. 19th - CREIGHTON (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
Nov 23-25 - Maui Invitational (IU, Chaminade, Kansas, UCLA, UNLV, St. John's, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest) - 3 games
Dec ? - at Duke? in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Dec 12 - McNEESE STATE
Dec. 19 - vs. Notre Dame at Crossroads Classic (Bankers Life FH)
Dec. 22 - KENNESAW STATE
So that is eight of the 13 games that are traditionally played in the non-conference schedule.
In regards to the Big Ten we only know who and where Indiana plays but no dates yet:
Home and Away: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Home only: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
Road only: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers
Not having to play at Maryland, Purdue and Ohio State would be the good news. Only getting Rutgers and Penn State once would be bad news but getting them on the road could be a real opportunity to build up those tough road victories.
--------
Purdue and Michigan State always seemed to make sense for him due to his desire to not have to play center. Makes you wonder if IU could have been more of a player here had the Bryant commitment come early instead of late. But strong Purdue ties and a crazy recruiting saga that maybe was best to avoid.
With Swanigan's switch, expect to see Indiana move up above Michigan State and into the No. 2 spot in many of the early projections for the Big Ten next season. Maryland the favorite. Purdue should move up if they get Swanigan but as things stand today have enough of a question mark at point guard to probably keep the Boilers out of the top three.
Wrote a small piece this morning on Isaiah Washington, a 2017 point guard from assistant Chuck Martin's alma mater (St Raymond in the Bronx). A couple other 2017 point guards to take note of. Again smaller guys but many of those have thrived under Coach Crean's system:
Markell Johnson - listed at 6'0, 165 and out of East Technical High in Cleveland. One of the most explosive points I have ever seen at his age. Amazing that he's not ranked yet. Not unusual for him to drive the baseline, rise up and flush it hard over a big forward. End to end speed reminds some of John Wall.
Isaiah Coleman-Lands - 5'11, 165, younger brother of Jalen, played well at the Run 'n Slam in Fort Wayne with his newer Illinois Wolves team. Still very skinny but developing quickly. Been at La Lumiere so he's had some very good competition to face in practice the last couple years.
Matt Coleman - 6'2, 170 - out of Norfolk, Virginia, same home area of Troy Williams and he plays for Troy's uncle and the Boo Williams EYBL team. Same program that Robert Johnson played for in his last year of AAU ball. No. 17 overall player in Rivals150 and has already visited UVa a couple times but some decent ties there.
Justin Roberts - led Pike to a big year including an upset win over Southport in the 4A sectionals. He's a bit like Yogi in that he's always in fifth gear. Only about 5'10 and another inch or two would do him wonders. Played well at times in Fort Wayne. Had 15 points in one half against the eventual 16U champs, the Michigan Mustangs. Plays now with Spiece Indy Heat after running with the Indy Hoosiers team with Scruggs, Wilkes, Gunn, etc. That team has had a little adjustment period w/o Roberts ability to push the ball.
Some 2016 notes:
6'5 Owensboro, Ky wing Eli Wright talked about how serious he was with Indiana at the aiddas Gauntlet Indy stop but came out with a list of 10 schools this week that did not list the Hoosiers.
On the other hand his good friend and sometimes AAU teammate Quentin Goodin may be back on the Indiana radar. Stay tuned on this 6-foot-2 point guard ranked No. 61 in the Rivals150.
Te'Jon Lucas - 5'11, 160 - from Washington High in Milwaukee. Had a good Jayhawk Invitational and told some media of IU interest. Probably more of a mid-major but has been under the radar playing with the lower profile Milwaukee Spartans AAU program.
Spoke to Tyrique Jones in Lexington last month and didn't seem like things had heated up with Indiana. He's a Vermont Academy teammate of Bruce Brown and therefore had been watched several times over the winter. A bit of an undersized post at 6'7, 235 but tough on the boards. Ranked No. 115 in the Rivals150.
Things have apparently heated up with another big forward from that class. Nick Rakocevic from Westchester (Ill.) St. Joseph's, a four-star from a school that IU has a lot of history.
The Herald-Times did a records request that discovered two December home non-conference opponents for Indiana. McNeese State on December 12th and Kennesaw State on December 22.
Just some quick notes on those teams that I posted on the boards:
McNeese State was middle of the pack in the Southland, going 15-16 and 8-10 in the league. Final Sagarin of No. 302
Kennesaw State has been on the schedule recently and this past season was 10-22 and was 4-10 in the Atlantic Sun. Placed No. 336 in the final Sagarin.
The other recent schedule note is ESPN's Andy Katz "speculating" that IU will play at Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Makes sense since Duke was at Wisconsin last year and IU hosted Pitt. He also guessed on a Maryland-UNC game. Since this is an ESPN deal, have to assume this wasn't wild guessing.
Here is a recap of what we know now about the Non-Conference Schedule: (home games in caps)
Nov. 19th - CREIGHTON (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
Nov 23-25 - Maui Invitational (IU, Chaminade, Kansas, UCLA, UNLV, St. John's, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest) - 3 games
Dec ? - at Duke? in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Dec 12 - McNEESE STATE
Dec. 19 - vs. Notre Dame at Crossroads Classic (Bankers Life FH)
Dec. 22 - KENNESAW STATE
So that is eight of the 13 games that are traditionally played in the non-conference schedule.
In regards to the Big Ten we only know who and where Indiana plays but no dates yet:
Home and Away: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Home only: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
Road only: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers
Not having to play at Maryland, Purdue and Ohio State would be the good news. Only getting Rutgers and Penn State once would be bad news but getting them on the road could be a real opportunity to build up those tough road victories.
--------
Last edited:
