IUBB is at and has been at our Ceiling

[aajohn2000]

After watching IU football pull out another win I keep thinking about our basketball program and reality. The reality is the ceiling for IU basketball is the sweet 16. We are not going to win a league championship with Woodson. We have seen player after player at the guard position that is a high level recruit choose to go elsewhere. There is a reason for that and it’s not from a lack of cash. I realize it’s only November and I am dumping on the program after only 1 game played this season. BUT……we have seen all we need to see out of Woodson. I respect him and appreciate him leading our program his way. But if Cig proves anything, it shows having the right guy leading the team can take a program far. Save this post for the end of the season and hopefully I am dead wrong and get roasted. But I highly doubt it.

 

[TR32]

They look better than last year but they don't look like a final four team nor should they. If Rice becomes a solid point and leader he can be a big part of improvement along the way.

A lot of teams in the league look something like IU, ie. not dominant, but pretty good. In that case, coaching and winning tough close games will matter, as it always has, and IU will have to figure out how to win against teams that can beat you.

Purdue, Maryland, Illinois, MSU, Rutgers, UCLA, OSU... really most of the conference can win games. Indiana has to get tougher.

 

[chaser23]

After watching IU football pull out another win I keep thinking about our basketball program and reality. The reality is the ceiling for IU basketball is the sweet 16. We are not going to win a league championship with Woodson. We have seen player after player at the guard position that is a high level recruit choose to go elsewhere. There is a reason for that and it’s not from a lack of cash. I realize it’s only November and I am dumping on the program after only 1 game played this season. BUT……we have seen all we need to see out of Woodson. I respect him and appreciate him leading our program his way. But if Cig proves anything, it shows having the right guy leading the team can take a program far. Save this post for the end of the season and hopefully I am dead wrong and get roasted. But I highly doubt it.

Why waste your winter months watching?

 

[aajohn2000]

Why waste your winter months watching?

It's never a waste of my time watching. Just as it hasn't been the past 20 years. In the case of football, I give Dolsen credit for not settling for the historical IU "football bar" which is perennially dead last in the conference and winning less than 6 games a year. He went out to seek a winner and got one. I think when it comes to basketball, by and large, we have accepted the IU "basketball bar" which is finishing in the middle of the league in the big ten and 50% of the time making the tourney. While the expectations are higher, we settle for these results year in and year out. Our basketball coach must fit a certain profile. The top parameter for the coach should be do they win games? Do they win / compete for championships? It will be very interesting to see how things play out in Kentucky with Call being gone. But UNC reloaded after Roy. Same with Duke. Kansas continues to roll with Self and UCONN is now the big dog on the block. I always have and always will support IU. The point of my post is settling for reality in what we have as a coach and extends to his system. Our top need is athletic guards and shooters. Woody has struggled with this and prior to him Archie. Crean could bring in and develop the talent, he just was terrible at in game coaching and adjustments. Anyway, it's early and we will see how things go. As in years past, I am hopeful we break our ceiling, but I am not betting on it.

 

[steelyvan]

Pope went out and recruited the best 3 pt shooter in college bball at nearby Dayton to join UK. He is having an immediate impact. As is Pope.

 

[abraxis]

It's never a waste of my time watching. Just as it hasn't been the past 20 years. In the case of football, I give Dolsen credit for not settling for the historical IU "football bar" which is perennially dead last in the conference and winning less than 6 games a year. He went out to seek a winner and got one. I think when it comes to basketball, by and large, we have accepted the IU "basketball bar" which is finishing in the middle of the league in the big ten and 50% of the time making the tourney. While the expectations are higher, we settle for these results year in and year out. Our basketball coach must fit a certain profile. The top parameter for the coach should be do they win games? Do they win / compete for championships? It will be very interesting to see how things play out in Kentucky with Call being gone. But UNC reloaded after Roy. Same with Duke. Kansas continues to roll with Self and UCONN is now the big dog on the block. I always have and always will support IU. The point of my post is settling for reality in what we have as a coach and extends to his system. Our top need is athletic guards and shooters. Woody has struggled with this and prior to him Archie. Crean could bring in and develop the talent, he just was terrible at in game coaching and adjustments. Anyway, it's early and we will see how things go. As in years past, I am hopeful we break our ceiling, but I am not betting on it.

Never dismiss the notion that maybe Dolson just got lucky. It happens, you know. Cignetti may have, too. We may all have.

 

[aajohn2000]

Never dismiss the notion that maybe Dolson just got lucky. It happens, you know. Cignetti may have, too.

As the saying goes, better to be lucky than good. I guess you could say we have neither been good nor lucky in basketball hires for 22 years.

 

[ce36ei]

Never dismiss the notion that maybe Dolson just got lucky. It happens, you know. Cignetti may have, too. We may all have.

Cignetti had the past, proven history. Not sure you can classify it as luck. Most of the time that pedigree translates.

 

[kurt cloverdales]

Cignetti had the past, proven history. Not sure you can classify it as luck. Most of the time that pedigree translates.

100s of examples of coaches having success at lower levels and it didn't translate. luck plays a big part in life Cig was an amazing hire to this point.

 

[Hatchets7times]

Never dismiss the notion that maybe Dolson just got lucky. It happens, you know. Cignetti may have, too. We may all have.

You think Cignetti even speaks of luck.?
That guy only thinks in terms of. I get it done.And it isn't luck !

 

[stollcpa]

They look better than last year but they don't look like a final four team nor should they.

Nor should they. Why the heck shouldn't we expect Woodson to do in year 4 what Cig had done in year 1? Woodson only needs 8 really good players. Cig needed what 30 or more?

 

[abraxis]

You think Cignetti even speaks of luck.?
That guy only thinks in terms of. I get it done.And it isn't luck !

Cignetti got lucky on the schedule. He got lucky to lure a 5th yr player here with good field vision and general talent. Obviously, there’s more to his success this year than just some good luck, but to say no luck was involved is not true. This is just my opinion, mattering little in the grand scheme of things left to come.

 

[TR32]

Nor should they. Why the heck shouldn't we expect Woodson to do in year 4 what Cig had done in year 1? Woodson only needs 8 really good players. Cig needed what 30 or more?

Because he doesn't have any leadership on his team and the backcourt got an overhaul. That is why.

 

[TR32]

Cignetti got lucky on the schedule. He got lucky to lure a 5th yr player here with good field vision and general talent. Obviously, there’s more to his success this year than just some good luck, but to say no luck was involved is not true. This is just my opinion, mattering little in the grand scheme of things left to come.

got lucky?
IU finally got a little slice of the good life. Once every 140 years certainly isn't luck. People get struck by lightning more often than IU getting a favorable schedule.

 

[Imsowyctcwuzbetta]

After watching IU football pull out another win I keep thinking about our basketball program and reality. The reality is the ceiling for IU basketball is the sweet 16. We are not going to win a league championship with Woodson. We have seen player after player at the guard position that is a high level recruit choose to go elsewhere. There is a reason for that and it’s not from a lack of cash. I realize it’s only November and I am dumping on the program after only 1 game played this season. BUT……we have seen all we need to see out of Woodson. I respect him and appreciate him leading our program his way. But if Cig proves anything, it shows having the right guy leading the team can take a program far. Save this post for the end of the season and hopefully I am dead wrong and get roasted. But I highly doubt it.

Wow

 

[RegionHoosiers]

It helps Cig was able to bring a solid staff with him that was all used to working together at a high level. IU tried hiring some guys with experience to teach Woodson the college game but that didn't work for him.

 

[ams66]

For those of us who remember the '70s and '80s it is hard to put ourselves in the mindset of students and alumni who have never known IU basketball as it once was. Their expectations are much lower, as they've never known anything better than what they've seen for the past couple of decades. As Cignetti said when he came in, he quickly realized "I had to wake these people up" and we need the same kind of person to head up the basketball program to ever get back to what it was.

 

[Sobchak_Security]

For those of us who remember the '70s and '80s it is hard to put ourselves in the mindset of students and alumni who have never known IU basketball as it once was. Their expectations are much lower, as they've never known anything better than what they've seen for the past couple of decades. As Cignetti said when he came in, he quickly realized "I had to wake these people up" and we need the same kind of person to head up the basketball program to ever get back to what it was.

Agreed. Us older folks remember the 80’s and 90’s and the excitement that came with watching disciplined, well coached basketball. The youngins now see what is going on and are like “what’s the big deal” when we finish .500 in the B1G and either don’t make the tournament or just eek in. They have no idea what it was like back then, believing we were going to win every game. The thought of getting blown out at a school like Nebraska each year wasn’t fathomable.

 

[MMM1992]

We’re a football ‘power’ now; basketball comes second.🏈😝😝

 

[Thcgh]

Because he doesn't have any leadership on his team and the backcourt got an overhaul. That is why.

Why you starting this negative bullshit before we even get started. This shit gets so old

 

[ORG]

After watching IU football pull out another win I keep thinking about our basketball program and reality. The reality is the ceiling for IU basketball is the sweet 16. We are not going to win a league championship with Woodson. We have seen player after player at the guard position that is a high level recruit choose to go elsewhere. There is a reason for that and it’s not from a lack of cash. I realize it’s only November and I am dumping on the program after only 1 game played this season. BUT……we have seen all we need to see out of Woodson. I respect him and appreciate him leading our program his way. But if Cig proves anything, it shows having the right guy leading the team can take a program far. Save this post for the end of the season and hopefully I am dead wrong and get roasted. But I highly doubt it.

Way to early for me to predict IU's ceiling.