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Is it too soon for the 2025 coach thread?

Psst...last year is over. It's a new roster. A roster that has addressed a lot of the talent issues IU had last year. It's pretty dumb, to critique this year's team, because of last year, when the players are different.
Orrrr....maybe its dumb to discount reoccurring bad tendencies that have crossed over multiple different rosters under Woody?

Or maybe it isn't dumb to have thoughts, concerns, praises, opinions either way?
 
Ok. We get it that the base is decidedly split. As an exercise for thought, what are names that you would keep an eye on should this season not go well?

*On a purely hypothetical basis because the quality of basketball we have seen over the last few years is obviously beyond reproach.
 
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It was the 2nd game of the season. 54-18 in the 2nd half. I didn't say there aren't things to work on. But the game thread during the first half was absolutely hilariously dumb. Not sorry.

And yes...this one is on the free site...but the next may not be...I have to cover all bases.

Just out of curiosity, how old are you?
 
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Orrrr....maybe its dumb to discount reoccurring bad tendencies that have crossed over multiple different rosters under Woody?

Or maybe it isn't dumb to have thoughts, concerns, praises, opinions either way?

I wouldn't bother with him and some of the others, North. If they were making interesting points it'd be one thing, but their points, frankly, are dumb and the logic they make to use them is even dumber. I hate to go that route here, but let's call it what it is. There's really no critical thinking taking place here.
 
Psst...last year is over. It's a new roster. A roster that has addressed a lot of the talent issues IU had last year. It's pretty dumb, to critique this year's team, because of last year, when the players are different.
What are you talking about? Coaches are entirely critiqued on what they do year after year with different rosters. Why do you think coaches get fired?
 
LOTS of losses in Woody's tenure because of long stretches of poor play. This teams' "good" does appear to be better than what we've seen out of his other teams. So hopefully they build on yesterday's 2nd half, and squeeze out the poor stretches with longer good stretches. This team could be REALLY good if they can do that.

Until they do, having 20+ minutes of play like they had yesterday, against a glorified D2 team, is just as noteworthy as the 15 minutes of really, really good play.

Those first half stretches are how we get blown out by Nebraska multiple times last year. How we've been owned by NW and PSU in recent years. I'd like for those things to not happen any more. That doesn't even mention how I'd like to compete with Purdue and Illinois for B10 titles.

Gotta cut out the stagnant offense, and poor defensive rotations...stretches, for any of the good stuff to consistently happen.

I agree with you, and I honestly think this is the main point.

This team has immense talent, plenty enough to compete for a B1G title. The issue is the last 2 teams were also talented enough to do that and we know what those results were. Naturally we're going to question whether or not the staff can do something different than the past has shown and mold this team into a championship contender.

It's still early and anything can happen but it's not shocking that people are worried that we're down at half to an Eastern Illinois team that just lost by 50+pts to Illinois last week.
 
Orrrr....maybe its dumb to discount reoccurring bad tendencies that have crossed over multiple different rosters under Woody?

Or maybe it isn't dumb to have thoughts, concerns, praises, opinions either way?
3 rosters had talent challenges in the backcourt and perimeter in general...this one doesn't. Poof...there's the difference all of you seem to be ignoring. Let it play out. I have said many times...if he doesn't win at a high level this year, he should and will be gone. Again..not the same roster...not the same challenges in the backcourt.
 
What are you talking about? Coaches are entirely critiqued on what they do year after year with different rosters. Why do you think coaches get fired?
That's the point...it has been the same as far as construction, for 3 years. Extremely heavy in the frontcourt, and mediocre at best, in the backcourt. That is no longer the case. That wasn't hard...I feel like anyone with any kind of objection could easily see that. Also the point.
 
That's the point...it has been the same as far as construction, for 3 years. Extremely heavy in the frontcourt, and mediocre at best, in the backcourt. That is no longer the case. That wasn't hard...I feel like anyone with any kind of objection could easily see that. Also the point.
I think the consternation is a result of the system not changing with the talent upgrade in the back court. You can put a new motor on a boat, but you still aren’t getting to where you need if the navigation is busted. I’m taking a wait and see approach, but the lack of changing what I’ve seen to be a failed strategy is concerning. In many ways his choice to stick with the same approach undermines the logic I was promoting alongside you just this summer regarding the upgrade in talent at the guard spots.
 
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I think the consternation is a result of the system not changing with the talent upgrade in the back court. You can put a new motor on a boat, but you still aren’t getting to where you need if the navigation is busted. I’m taking a wait and see approach, but the lack of changing what I’ve seen to be a failed strategy is concerning. In many ways his choice to stick with the same approach undermines the logic I was promoting alongside you just this summer regarding the upgrade in talent at the guard spots.
We are 2 games in....with 8 new faces, and the system looked pretty damn good in the 2nd half. Wait and see is the key, I think.
 
That's the point...it has been the same as far as construction, for 3 years. Extremely heavy in the frontcourt, and mediocre at best, in the backcourt. That is no longer the case. That wasn't hard...I feel like anyone with any kind of objection could easily see that. Also the point.
But, our back court players were playing in the first half of the game, right?

I'm not someone who has blown up over the first half swoon, but it does fit a pattern of CMW teams not showing up ready and getting blown out. Now, in this case they righted the ship, but it's still concerning to have a very talented roster be lackluster and let a much less talented team get the better of them for a half. Great that they righted it, but I 100% understand folks concern.
 
But, our back court players were playing in the first half of the game, right?

I'm not someone who has blown up over the first half swoon, but it does fit a pattern of CMW teams not showing up ready and getting blown out. Now, in this case they righted the ship, but it's still concerning to have a very talented roster be lackluster and let a much less talented team get the better of them for a half. Great that they righted it, but I 100% understand folks concern.
If thats all it was, that would be a different story. Go read the thread. It was all about "last year" and "his system" and "Woody can't coach"...all emotional reactions to last year. Not 1 thing talking about what THIS YEARS CURRENT team needs to do,all immature knee jerk reactions by a bunch of spoiled whine ass so called "fans". Still not sorry
 
Ultimately an easy win over a bad team. Fans are stupid. If every coach was fired for a bad half, not a single coach in the country would make it through the season.

It was the 2nd game of the season. 54-18 in the 2nd half. I didn't say there aren't things to work on. But the game thread during the first half was absolutely hilariously dumb. Not sorry.

And yes...this one is on the free site...but the next may not be...I have to cover all bases.
Nah. We’ve seen this movie the past 3?years. 10-10 in the BIG on the bubble in March.
 
Nah. We’ve seen this movie the past 3?years. 10-10 in the BIG on the bubble in March.
Pssst...it's different movie bro...pay attention.

This is exactly what I mean. It's like none of you can comprehend that if you give a chef, shitty ingredients, he might be able to make an ok meal...but if you give him good ingredients, the chances of good a really good meal, go up exponentially. This is not difficult. You all sound bitter,and childish. If you can't see differences in the gameplay,that's on you.

There's 0 chance they don't win 13 BIG10 games...barring major injury.
 
Pssst...it's different movie bro...pay attention.

This is exactly what I mean. It's like none of you can comprehend that if you give a chef, shitty ingredients, he might be able to make an ok meal...but if you give him good ingredients, the chances of good a really good meal, go up exponentially. This is not difficult. You all sound bitter,and childish. If you can't see differences in the gameplay,that's on you.

There's 0 chance they don't win 13 BIG10 games...barring major injury.
But, the question I have, and I think many others, how many would this team win with a Dusty May, Bill Self, Mark Few, or Micah Shrewsberry as Coach. Or, how many should this team/roster win? The Sleepers guy said he thinks IU should win the conference by 3 games with this roster, but doesn't expect them to win it at all... because of the coach. I 100% agree with you that the roster has been upgraded tremendously and I also expected some uneven performances/stretches. Being down at half to Eastern IL isn't unforgiveable, but it shouldn't happen to this team. Just as last year, we shouldn't have struggled so mightily with our non-con opponents, and yet we did.
 
But, the question I have, and I think many others, how many would this team win with a Dusty May, Bill Self, Mark Few, or Micah Shrewsberry as Coach. Or, how many should this team/roster win? The Sleepers guy said he thinks IU should win the conference by 3 games with this roster, but doesn't expect them to win it at all... because of the coach. I 100% agree with you that the roster has been upgraded tremendously and I also expected some uneven performances/stretches. Being down at half to Eastern IL isn't unforgiveable, but it shouldn't happen to this team. Just as last year, we shouldn't have struggled so mightily with our non-con opponents, and yet we did.
Michigan just lost to Wake Forest...there's 0 chance of Self or Few ever being the coach at IU, so I'm not sure why you would ponder that. Few has turned it down in the past, and is still rolling at Gonzaga,where he will forever be a legend. He's not coming here. There's no reason for Self to leave KU for IU(and not sure why anyone would want him anyway, with all of his violations and rule breaking). So that leaves 2 guys on your list...Shrewsbury seems to be good...but hasn't proven anything more than Woodson, and May had 1 tournament run in how many years as a coach? Be careful what you wish for.
 
But, the question I have, and I think many others, how many would this team win with a Dusty May, Bill Self, Mark Few, or Micah Shrewsberry as Coach. Or, how many should this team/roster win? The Sleepers guy said he thinks IU should win the conference by 3 games with this roster, but doesn't expect them to win it at all... because of the coach. I 100% agree with you that the roster has been upgraded tremendously and I also expected some uneven performances/stretches. Being down at half to Eastern IL isn't unforgiveable, but it shouldn't happen to this team. Just as last year, we shouldn't have struggled so mightily with our non-con opponents, and yet we did.
Did you watch the game? You do realize EIU had multiple shots go in that they threw up as a prayer with the shot clock winding down, right? That helped them shoot 60% in the first half. With that, and the fact that IU wasn't playing well at the time, and they were down 1 at the break. If you were worried at that point, you probably haven't watched much basketball. The 2nd half started...they got into a rhythm 3-4 minutes in and blew the doors off them the rest of the way. The overall team playmaking is UP in a big way. The ball moves quicker, and more decisively. You can see the vast jump both Reneau and Mbako have made in the weight room, and there's no questioning MM's development as a player. Give it 8-10 games atleast before you jump to conclusions because of your ptsd from last year. That's all I'm saying.
 
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Did you watch the game? You do realize EIU had multiple shots go in that they threw up as a prayer with the shot clock winding down, right? That helped them shoot 60% in the first half. With that, and the fact that IU wasn't playing well at the time, and they were down 1 at the break. If you were worried at that point, you probably haven't watched much basketball. The 2nd half started...they got into a rhythm 3-4 minutes in and blew the doors off them the rest of the way. The overall team playmaking is UP in a big way. The ball moves quicker, and more decisively. You can see the vast jump both Reneau and Mbako have made in the weight room, and there's no questioning MM's development as a player. Give it 8-10 games atleast before you jump to conclusions because of your ptsd from last year. That's all I'm saying.
I agree with you and don’t understand the whole we look the same as always take of many. The first two years we understandably played through the post. TJD was our best offensive player by a country mile. Last year Ware and Reneau were our only consistent offensive threats. We had terrible luck with X’s injuries or we likely win 2-4 more games each of the last two years. This year we are barely playing through the post at all and we have playmakers on the perimeter. Seems like a very different team to me.
 
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@hookyIU1990 every time you respond like that I know I have shut you up. Thank you
You're hilarious. That's why you the reaction.

You said they had to force up a bunch of bad shots late in the clock and they luckily went in to allow them to shoot 60%.

That shit's funny. Do you even read the contradicting garbage excuses you type?

Gonna quote it for future mockery.
You do realize EIU had multiple shots go in that they threw up as a prayer with the shot clock winding down, right? That helped them shoot 60% in the first half.
 
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You're hilarious. That's why you the reaction.

You said they had to force up a bunch of bad shots late in the clock and they luckily went in to allow them to shoot 60%.

That shit's funny. Do you even read the contradicting garbage excuses you type?

Gonna quote it for future mockery.
Lol...see my actual words compared to what you said?..."helped"...and "IU wasn't playing well at the time"...it's amazing what the brain will fail to read or comprehend when it was decided prior...dumbass
 
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You're hilarious. That's why you the reaction.

You said they had to force up a bunch of bad shots late in the clock and they luckily went in to allow them to shoot 60%.

That shit's funny. Do you even read the contradicting garbage excuses you type?

Gonna quote it for future mockery.
See how you changed "helped" to "allow" for the benefit of your pathetic argument?... 😆

Maybe that's the difference...maybe most of you haters just aren't good at details, so you throw out the first thing that comes to mind,regardless of how stupid it makes you sound, or whether it is based on logic or not. Still not sorry.
 
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Lol...see my actual words compared to what you said?..."helped"...and "IU wasn't playing well at the time"...it's amazing what the brain will fail to read or comprehend when it was decided prior...dumbass

See how you changed "helped" to "allow" for the benefit of your pathetic argument?... 😆

Maybe that's the difference...maybe most of you haters just aren't good at details, so you throw out the first thing that comes to mind,regardless of how stupid it makes you sound, or whether it is based on logic or not. Still not sorry.
Heard ya the first time, Einstein.
 
Really dumbass? Would that team shoot out of their minds for one half,and then come back to reality,too? Also...even if they were down 20...they would have still won by 15. You sound stupid
A dude that writes at a 4th grade level calling virtually every poster here (sans her butt-licking buddy willdoggystyle) dumbass is priceless. Thank you for your awesome contributions here Mrs. Woodson. Now get back to your homework.
 
A dude that writes at a 4th grade level calling virtually every poster here (sans her butt-licking buddy willdoggystyle) dumbass is priceless. Thank you for your awesome contributions here Mrs. Woodson. Now get back to your homework.
That's the best you could do?.... take some time...think something out, have someone else listen to it, and then try again.
 
Is Woody's cigar/Hennessy game still on point?

I'm just playing, but he does suck at coaching sportsball.


Woody probably won't pan out, but most you guys whining about him loved Tom Crean, so...

You probably also thought it was cool when Tim and Karen sold their T Tech gear on Banta and Southport during or 2002 F4 run.

****ing traitors.
 
Michigan just lost to Wake Forest...there's 0 chance of Self or Few ever being the coach at IU, so I'm not sure why you would ponder that. Few has turned it down in the past, and is still rolling at Gonzaga,where he will forever be a legend. He's not coming here. There's no reason for Self to leave KU for IU(and not sure why anyone would want him anyway, with all of his violations and rule breaking). So that leaves 2 guys on your list...Shrewsbury seems to be good...but hasn't proven anything more than Woodson, and May had 1 tournament run in how many years as a coach? Be careful what you wish for.
So many of the same old stale arguments: pointing to other teams that lost (UM isn't as good a roster as IU, and Wake is a much better opponent, btw) and saying we can't get this guy or that guy. I'm not "wishing" for any of those guys in particular, and I recognize that some of them would never come to IU, but my question is: "do we have the right coach for IU bball?" No one was thinking about Cignetti as coach for IU football, and yet it's obvious what a great coach we got. Hiring the right coach is not my job, but that doesn't mean I and others can't question if we have the right coach when we have repetitive issues in an offense that bogs down, rebounding, defending the 3, lack of effort, especially on D. I didn't watch the game, I'm just saying I understand why others are frustrated with the repetitive nature of problems. And, yes, I get that this is a better roster and CMW certainly gets credit for assembling that, but when the same problems plague different rosters, what does that point to?
 
So many of the same old stale arguments: pointing to other teams that lost (UM isn't as good a roster as IU, and Wake is a much better opponent, btw) and saying we can't get this guy or that guy. I'm not "wishing" for any of those guys in particular, and I recognize that some of them would never come to IU, but my question is: "do we have the right coach for IU bball?" No one was thinking about Cignetti as coach for IU football, and yet it's obvious what a great coach we got. Hiring the right coach is not my job, but that doesn't mean I and others can't question if we have the right coach when we have repetitive issues in an offense that bogs down, rebounding, defending the 3, lack of effort, especially on D. I didn't watch the game, I'm just saying I understand why others are frustrated with the repetitive nature of problems. And, yes, I get that this is a better roster and CMW certainly gets credit for assembling that, but when the same problems plague different rosters, what does that point to?
Shhh. The ministry of information doesn’t like posts questioning our coach. “Haters” are “dumb”.
 
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So many of the same old stale arguments: pointing to other teams that lost (UM isn't as good a roster as IU, and Wake is a much better opponent, btw) and saying we can't get this guy or that guy. I'm not "wishing" for any of those guys in particular, and I recognize that some of them would never come to IU, but my question is: "do we have the right coach for IU bball?" No one was thinking about Cignetti as coach for IU football, and yet it's obvious what a great coach we got. Hiring the right coach is not my job, but that doesn't mean I and others can't question if we have the right coach when we have repetitive issues in an offense that bogs down, rebounding, defending the 3, lack of effort, especially on D. I didn't watch the game, I'm just saying I understand why others are frustrated with the repetitive nature of problems. And, yes, I get that this is a better roster and CMW certainly gets credit for assembling that, but when the same problems plague different rosters, what does that point to?
We are 2 games in.....they won by 35 and played the best half of basketball in over a year. Woodson is the coach for the season(at minimum). Are they going to fire him because of a sub par half? We all know the answer is no. And speaking of repetitive issues...how does it help, to come on here and bitch and moan and complain, saying the same things (whether true or not) because you don't like the style?(not you specifically). As I said...2 games in...we don't even know yet if the style will be the same. There definitely are aspect that you can see an improvement in already. So why be so repetitive,and act like everything is the same as last year? Do you think Mike Woodson was at the top of the wish list when they fired Archie Miller? I'm gonna go out on a limb,and say no. So what makes anyone think they are going to be able to get a top tier coach, now? 10 games in...if they are bad,I will say they are bad. There are things I wish would be done differently too, but getting on here a crying about it like a little bitch constantly,isn't going to change anything. I'm sorry...but IU basketball has shit "fans". Out of touch, criticism based on emotion rather than intelligence, and a constant barrage of dumb, every game. I'm ashamed to be lumped in with these idiots. They are embarrassing, and bring down all the true fans. Like I said...there's a reason the players hated the fans last year, and it's evident it will be the same this year, when we are already bitching after 2 wins. It's absolutely pathetic, and serves 0 purpose other than to let all these old,fat, half drunk, half witted couch coach morons who couldn't get to the same level,have something to bitch about other than their pathetically sad, and useless lives.
 
They shouldn't be bad. Too much talent to be bad. Underachieving? Possibly. Poorly coached? Probably.

They come out in a half and play the way they did against that 300+ squad, they'll get buried in a hole that they can't get out of when it's a quality team.

That was exact game flow for what happened in Atlanta last year. Dumb mass substitution, big Auburn run and never had a chance to dig out of the hole.
 
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We are 2 games in.....they won by 35 and played the best half of basketball in over a year. Woodson is the coach for the season(at minimum). Are they going to fire him because of a sub par half? We all know the answer is no. And speaking of repetitive issues...how does it help, to come on here and bitch and moan and complain, saying the same things (whether true or not) because you don't like the style?(not you specifically). As I said...2 games in...we don't even know yet if the style will be the same. There definitely are aspect that you can see an improvement in already. So why be so repetitive,and act like everything is the same as last year? Do you think Mike Woodson was at the top of the wish list when they fired Archie Miller? I'm gonna go out on a limb,and say no. So what makes anyone think they are going to be able to get a top tier coach, now? 10 games in...if they are bad,I will say they are bad. There are things I wish would be done differently too, but getting on here a crying about it like a little bitch constantly,isn't going to change anything. I'm sorry...but IU basketball has shit "fans". Out of touch, criticism based on emotion rather than intelligence, and a constant barrage of dumb, every game. I'm ashamed to be lumped in with these idiots. They are embarrassing, and bring down all the true fans. Like I said...there's a reason the players hated the fans last year, and it's evident it will be the same this year, when we are already bitching after 2 wins. It's absolutely pathetic, and serves 0 purpose other than to let all these old,fat, half drunk, half witted couch coach morons who couldn't get to the same level,have something to bitch about other than their pathetically sad, and useless lives.
Orrr..... We're 105 games in to Woodson's career at IU. And the excitement that we all have for this new roster...which, by the way, does have quite a lot of returning experience and talent...but anyways, it is an upgraded roster, and Woodson did make mention in the offseason about needing to focus on more guard play...ALL of that increased the anticipation for this season to FINALLY be the one that Woodson shakes off his older, stubborn, plodding offensive principles, and steps in to the 2020s with a more open, movement based offense. And that this different roster would be better defensively, more athletic and better on the boards...

ALL of that created renewed excitement and buzz coming in to the season. Then came the exhibitions, saw some new wrinkles, but largely the same ISO centric stuff. The defense in those exhibitions did look better. But the offense...that damn stagnant offense... still there. Its o.k....just exhibitions...he wouldn't want to show any new stuff in the exhibitions anyway...I'm sure he'll open it up more when the games count.

What you're reading now, from me anyways, is frustration over the new realization that this is how Woodson's teams will always play. He's had since August to change things around to maximize guys like Rice, Carlyle, Tucker, etc... Heck, even maximize Ballo. But what he's doing, is merely plugging them in to largely the exact same principles and plays he's ran since day 1 in Bloomington.

Our buddy up in West Lafayette had to completely change his entire offense around because Edey left. They're running crazy new stuff like inverted ball screens...and they're a top 10 offense early in the year. We have thoroughbreds, standing flat footed around the perimeter, watching Ballo work in post ISOs, for more than a few possessions each game.

He's had lots of different kinds of talent. He's had dominant bigs. He's had NBA level guards. The constant in his time at IU, through his ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE games, is they're up and down effort and intensity wise, they don't consistently move much on offense, they're bad in defensive rotations, and they put themselves in bad positions within games, and within seasons, and need to "change", or "improve", or explode and have good halves or stretches of games.

But...you are right...it is early... and we did put our first 2 opponents away, which is different and better than what we did last year. South Carolina and UNC Greensboro will be obvious steps up in competition level. Excited to see how we respond, and what we do differently in those games.
 
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