Why would you “expect” something we haven’t had in nearly 30 years? It would take a truly special person to turn IU from what we’ve been since 94...to what it seems like you’re expecting, which is a return to 73 - 94 IU basketball. It would take an absolutely extraordinary person to that overnight. To me, verdict is still out on whether Archie can/will get us back to 70s thru 90s IU.
I think Donovan would have had us where you want to be by now. Stevens probably, though I think it’d take him a bit longer than it would have Donovan. Calipari, Self, K...they’d get to where you want in their first year. An iconic NBA guy like Kerr, Doc Rivers, etc...would probably do it immediately too. Can’t think of anyone else that would, for sure, have IU in a better spot now than Archie does?
IU obviously doesn’t have the pull to get any of those immediate impact guys. And I’d add a follow up question of “how” do you want the coach to do it? Calipari/Self model? Or maybe Izzo? To win as big as it seems you’re expecting, in only a year or two...tough to do without playing on the fringes of the rules, and focusing more on grad transfers and doing whatever it takes with one and done type kids.
I LOVE the types of kids Archie is going after. I really like the relative stability on the roster. I’m luke warm on the on court results thus far. But it’s easy to see the improvement Archies teams have shown. Both visually, just watching them play, and by following metrics.
So...I’d say I’d expect an incremental step this next year in wins/conference standing/NCAA standing...so 23 plus wins in regular season...upper half of conference standings...safe sub 7-8 seeding in NCAA...and playing well in March. If that becomes our “floor”, and he keeps recruiting the way he has at IU, and maintains roster stability like he has...then I think we’ll all be happy with him going forward. He’s already proven he can, and will, get the impact 5 star kids alongside the solid 3-4 star kids. And when you establish a “floor” like what I mentioned...you’ll have plenty of “average” years where they compete for B10 titles and could make deep tourney runs with the right draw and a lucky bounce or two. And then every now and then the “ceiling” will be 30 plus wins, number one seed, NCAA title contender type teams.
Michigan State, Villanova, Virginia...those types of teams are a decent model I’d say.