Is there any downside in replacing CMW immediately?

[Bippy]

I ask this seriously.
We are looking at an absolute shit show. A team with more innate talent then anyone else in the B10 and we keep getting blown out, or perhaps the best spin is that we play to level of our opponents, the ones that suck (thank you for that line Hysterics).
None of the players would walk because the money is too good. And even a mediocre coach couldn't do any worse than this. Let Ya or Walsh be an interim coach and with this amount of talent they have, their performance would only improve. And if either did OK, we'd have an excellent young hire. I suspect most of the hired guns would stay for the NIL.
The risk/reward equation is clear. There is zero risk in canning him immediately as I really can't see a downside other than wasting a bunch of $$$ with a buy out.
Is there a downside?

 

[hickorytree1]

I ask this seriously.
We are looking at an absolute shit show. A team with more innate talent then anyone else in the B10 and we keep getting blown out, or perhaps the best spin is that we play to level of our opponents, the ones that suck (thank you for that line Hysterics).
None of the players would walk because the money is too good. And even a mediocre coach couldn't do any worse than this. Let Ya or Walsh be an interim coach and with this amount of talent they have, their performance would only improve. And if either did OK, we'd have an excellent young hire. I suspect most of the hired guns would stay for the NIL.
The risk/reward equation is clear. There is zero risk in canning him immediately as I really can't see a downside other than wasting a bunch of $$$ with a buy out.
Is there a downside?

"with this amount of talent they have". Are you serious? Regardless, these are Woodson's players and is accountable for the roster construction.

 

[kmathum]

I ask this seriously.
We are looking at an absolute shit show. A team with more innate talent then anyone else in the B10 and we keep getting blown out, or perhaps the best spin is that we play to level of our opponents, the ones that suck (thank you for that line Hysterics).
None of the players would walk because the money is too good. And even a mediocre coach couldn't do any worse than this. Let Ya or Walsh be an interim coach and with this amount of talent they have, their performance would only improve. And if either did OK, we'd have an excellent young hire. I suspect most of the hired guns would stay for the NIL.
The risk/reward equation is clear. There is zero risk in canning him immediately as I really can't see a downside other than wasting a bunch of $$$ with a buy out.
Is there a downside?

You want to be stuck with Ya or Walsh?

 

[Escalibore]

If we have a home run hire lined up, then by all means, fire CMW post haste. If not, they had better be vetting their candidates quickly to minimize negative fallout on the recruiting trail.

 

[bdhman]

I’d vote for Woody stepping down now, but don’t replace him until after the season (unless Dolson gets Brad or Jay Wright to accept).

 

[wi_hoosier]

If we have a home run hire lined up, then by all means, fire CMW post haste. If not, they had better be vetting their candidates quickly to minimize negative fallout on the recruiting trail.

What recruiting trail? We have one, one, HS player signed for the second straight year. Heck, even last year's one signee jumped ship early before we got a replacement in the summer.

 

[Hank Reardon]

Schools don’t fire coaches who are 13-4 and 4-2 in conference in January. There is zero upside and the optics would be terrible. Not to mention what might happen if some interim coach had some success over a 16 game stretch. Nothing good would come of terminating Woodson, other than making a bunch of message board posters happy.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Schools don’t fire coaches who are 13-4 and 4-2 in conference in January. There is zero upside and the optics would be terrible. Not to mention what might happen if some interim coach had some success over a 16 game stretch. Nothing good would come of terminating Woodson, other than making a bunch of message board posters happy.

Some schools would fire their coach with that record...when the wins are mostly cupcakes....and the losses are all blowouts. UNC or Kentucky would make a move like that. Having said that....IU would never do it. He will be here until the season is over. IU is about like the Colts...it isn't about wins and losses...its about having friends in high places. CMW is Chris Ballard.

 

[bsmitty08]

If we have a home run hire lined up, then by all means, fire CMW post haste. If not, they had better be vetting their candidates quickly to minimize negative fallout on the recruiting trail.

What recruiting trail?

 

[Harpo Marxist]

There is no home run hire....just like there is no recruiting trail. All there is is this egotistical old has-been who is allowed to stick his chest out and bark how he knows what he's doing while looking down his nose. Recruiting is beneath him....and he thinks he's the home run hire. IU is lucky that he is willing to hang around and collect 9 million dollars a year. He knows how to work the portal to paint the picture of success. After that.....its your problem, not his.

 

[OneWayStreet]

I really like the way Mike White's teams play. But I'm not sure he likes the spotlight.

 

[IUNorth]

Mainly that it would be really, really bad optics. It’s obvious to US that we’re not likely an NCAA team…but we are sitting at 4-2 in the conference…13-4 or whatever we are overall. If we look up and find ourselves 5-9 in B10, or something like that, with another blowout loss or two…then maybe.

But now isn’t the time. Especially with Malik out.

 

[Al Bino]

Schools don’t fire coaches who are 13-4 and 4-2 in conference in January. There is zero upside and the optics would be terrible. Not to mention what might happen if some interim coach had some success over a 16 game stretch. Nothing good would come of terminating Woodson, other than making a bunch of message board posters happy.

I disagree. I think either getting him to step down or if not that then firing him would indicate that IU is now serious about their Bball program. What optics would be terrible?
Whoever takes over, Dolson should make it public that they are just a interim and there WILL be a search done at the end of the year.

 

[Al Bino]

Mainly that it would be really, really bad optics.

Why? Examples?

 

[IUNorth]

Why? Examples?

Examples of what?

 

[kurt cloverdales]

I would hire Kenny Payne on an interim basis, wouldn't be any controversy on keeping him, mike Woodson once tricked him

 

[stollcpa]

I ask this seriously.
We are looking at an absolute shit show. A team with more innate talent then anyone else in the B10 and we keep getting blown out, or perhaps the best spin is that we play to level of our opponents, the ones that suck (thank you for that line Hysterics).
None of the players would walk because the money is too good. And even a mediocre coach couldn't do any worse than this. Let Ya or Walsh be an interim coach and with this amount of talent they have, their performance would only improve. And if either did OK, we'd have an excellent young hire. I suspect most of the hired guns would stay for the NIL.
The risk/reward equation is clear. There is zero risk in canning him immediately as I really can't see a downside other than wasting a bunch of $$$ with a buy out.
Is there a downside?

Only downside is if we don’t make it plain the replacement is Interim, PERIOD.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

I ask this seriously.
We are looking at an absolute shit show. A team with more innate talent then anyone else in the B10 and we keep getting blown out, or perhaps the best spin is that we play to level of our opponents, the ones that suck (thank you for that line Hysterics).
None of the players would walk because the money is too good. And even a mediocre coach couldn't do any worse than this. Let Ya or Walsh be an interim coach and with this amount of talent they have, their performance would only improve. And if either did OK, we'd have an excellent young hire. I suspect most of the hired guns would stay for the NIL.
The risk/reward equation is clear. There is zero risk in canning him immediately as I really can't see a downside other than wasting a bunch of $$$ with a buy out.
Is there a downside?

If you hire an intern and he saves the season, so to speak, what is the likelihood you are stuck with said intern instead of hiring a more capable coach. I wouldn’t put it past the Indiana BoD.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

I really like the way Mike White's teams play. But I'm not sure he likes the spotlight.

What he’s done at Florida is impressive. Took my Cats to the line in an all out brawl.

 

[WhyisIUBBcursed]

There is no downside to stopping the 💩 show immediately. Optics shmoptics. We need to get serious…. This season is a throwaway anyhow. Make a move now and start planning for the replacement. Who cares if Ya or Walsh or Hunter takes over now? We’re a disaster anyhow so how much worse could it be??

 

[OneWayStreet]

What he’s done at Florida is impressive. Took my Cats to the line in an all out brawl.

You probably know he's at Georgia now, and that is a fun team to watch, believe it or not. Have taken down #6 UK and # 17 Oklahoma in a week.

 

[Bippy]

"with this amount of talent they have". Are you serious? Regardless, these are Woodson's players and is accountable for the roster construction.

Are you suggesting they don’t have a ton of talent?

 

[Bippy]

You want to be stuck with Ya or Walsh?

I just don’t wanna be stuck with CMW. Anything would be an improvement. If they canned his ass right now, who else would they put in his place?

 

[Bippy]

I disagree. I think either getting him to step down or if not that then firing him would indicate that IU is now serious about their Bball program. What optics would be terrible?
Whoever takes over, Dolson should make it public that they are just an interim and there WILL be a search done at the end of the year.

Exactly

 

[Bippy]

Only downside is if we don’t make it plain the replacement is Interim, PERIOD.

And if the interim coach was very successful, would you not even explore keeping him?

 

[Bippy]

There is no downside to stopping the 💩 show immediately. Optics shmoptics. We need to get serious…. This season is a throwaway anyhow. Make a move now and start planning for the replacement. Who cares if Ya or Walsh or Hunter takes over now? We’re a disaster anyhow so how much worse could it be??

Exactly my point

 

[stollcpa]

And if the interim coach was very successful, would you not even explore keeping him?

NO!

 

[TR32]

Schools don’t fire coaches who are 13-4 and 4-2 in conference in January. There is zero upside and the optics would be terrible. Not to mention what might happen if some interim coach had some success over a 16 game stretch. Nothing good would come of terminating Woodson, other than making a bunch of message board posters happy.

another good post. Couldn't agree more.

Now, related to the reality of the situation...if they lose at home to Illinois things may start to slide quickly because their next 2 are on the road and then it gets tougher.

 

[Bippy]

another good post. Couldn't agree more.

Now, related to the reality of the situation...if they lose at home to Illinois things may start to slide quickly because their next 2 are on the road and then it gets tougher.

Start to slide? 13 wins and a dozen of them are not quad 1.
So all good so far eh? Only if we lose a couple more should I start to be concerned?

 

[IUfan1957]

Yes, you are talking of terminating a coach with a winning record, mid-season # four. Coaches, especially of the caliber IU deserves would have reservation working with that administration's decision. I remember the glory days of Coach Knight. I was a junior when we won our last championship. I'm as disappointed as anyone in the state of our basketball program over the past two decades. If we want an up-and-coming young coach like BK was, to choose IU. That coach will need to know that they would have the time to build their vision. Let's take the time to get this one right.

 

[Al Bino]

Examples of what?

Of what I quoted you saying.

"Mainly that it would be really, really bad optics."

How is firing Woodson or getting him to "retire" midseason - really, really, bad optics?

 

[Al Bino]

Yes, you are talking of terminating a coach with a winning record, mid-season # four. Coaches, especially of the caliber IU deserves would have reservation working with that administration's decision. I remember the glory days of Coach Knight. I was a junior when we won our last championship. I'm as disappointed as anyone in the state of our basketball program over the past two decades. If we want an up-and-coming young coach like BK was, to choose IU. That coach will need to know that they would have the time to build their vision. Let's take the time to get this one right.

Who knows but I disagree with making the move now would scare off other coaches. Coaches in general, IMO, are a group that has supreme confidence in themselves and they won't think that they will ever be in a firing situation. Given what IU has in resources and facilities, I do not think that SD would have any trouble finding a replacement that would be successful here. After his CCC hire, I have confidence in him.

 

[ams66]

Coaches in general, IMO, are a group that has supreme confidence in themselves and they won't think that they will ever be in a firing situation.

A strange way of thinking, as most coaches get fired regularly.

 

[IUNorth]

Of what I quoted you saying.

"Mainly that it would be really, really bad optics."

How is firing Woodson or getting him to "retire" midseason - really, really, bad optics?

As of today, we’re 13-4, and 4-2. And our best player is hurt.

It seems like a lot of IU fans have a pretty good handle on where the season is headed. But outside our fanbase, I would think a firing right now, or any time soon, would be met with very harsh criticism.

Check back in 2-3 weeks. I think it’s possible we lose a lot more games than we win the next few weeks. If that happens, maybe one or two of them are similar to the Iowa losses…THEN maybe there’d be enough evidence to keep the national people off Dolson and IUs back.

 

[RegionHoosiers]

Has this season played out any different than anyone realistically expected? You can't fire a coach who is 4-2. The season will play out and they'll end somewhere in the middle of the pack. They'll probably have some bad losses and a bad streak of them, but they'll win 3 or 4 more too.

 

[CriticArisen]

Either BucketGetter or IUNorth (both have coaching experience) would be an upgrade over what we have now so long as IUNorth pledged not to start Cupps if he comes back.

 

[ndhuntington]

I would be beyond happy if they fired Woodson right now. Instead I know my fate is to watch this nightmare for two more months.