to continually lose out to others on top players that have looked at IU, that's the pace Woodson is one ,tells me he likes the portal route way better than recruiting HS players. Gonna bite him soon but hurt IU far more. Never saw so many Indiana kids and others choose anyone but IU. If this season is underwhelming,IU has to make a change.
Woodson recruiting like Archie now....
- Thread starter Tru2Irish
- Start date
This is 100% conjecture on my part... But I think you're probably right on the portal vs high school kids route with Woodson. Some of the things he's said, some of the interviews I've watched, I'm guessing he doesn't like the process of catering to high school kids that haven't proven anything yet. He just started coaching college ball a few years ago, but he's older, and has been around the game for a long, long time. And most of that time has been spent around NBA players and organizations. It isn't too much of a stretch to believe he has a chip on his shoulder having to treat these 17-18 year old kids better than he had to treat grown men professionals.
And then I do think the style of play, both from the B10 overall, and from his own teams play, have hurt him with a number of scoring and/or shooting oriented perimeter players. And then, I think my first theory on his personality and attitude not jiving with how kids need to be recruited nowadays, probably also plays a role when he's trying to talk through his offense and his style, with kids and their parents. I could see him growing very weary and tired of having to justify his beliefs to kids and their families.
We're seeing the end results. Hopefully this team answers some of these things for him, and rather than explaining things over and over, he'll just be able to show them tape. As of now, he doesn't have any tape of having a perimeter player friendly offense.
I believe that’s got a lot of merit. He’s much better at one-visit portal signings than the long game of HS recruiting. Portal dudes want a safe landing spot with plenty of money. And they want it quick. Woodson simply reaches into his wealthy friends’ pockets and hands over the cash. Done deal. Is it sustainable? Guess we’ll find out.
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Another rehash of a nonsensical narrative
Another rehash of a nonsensical narrative
I give him a little more credit than that...obviously he has the cash, but he's beaten out programs that also have plenty of cash. I think he relates to the mindset of a college kid that's looking for a different path, and a different situation...overall, pretty well.
I do think there might be something to the longer, drawn out recruiting processes, and Woodson not having the interest or patience to kiss a 17 year old, and his entourage's rear ends that long...
But I don't think the recruiting battles he's winning, and he's won plenty of them... I don't think he's only winning them because of IU's money.
It is simple... No need for conjecture... In today's Portal and NIL dynamics you have to Win Now! Players and handlers analyze every current roster position and likelihood of available exposure and minutes. It is not like the old time recruiting process. These narratives are based on apples... We are in oranges now.
Of course...
But why did Knecht, McNeeley, Fland, Haralson, Mullins, etc...ALL choose other schools then?
I think Mgbako returning probably did have an impact on McNeeley...but the rest? All of them would have had basically unlimited playing time, for one of the top exposure programs in the country.
Its not as "simple" as you're making it out to be. And exposure goes both ways...it can be good, and it can be not so good. I think expounding on my "theories" from the other post...the fact that kids and their families know that they'll have a ton of exposure at IU, and be heavily scrutinized...but will be doing so in Woodson's program, and in the B10...the IU microscope is actually hurting our chances with some kids.
"Give me all the smoke...I want it all...but not with your offense, and not in the blood bath B10 conference."
Maybe we can have Cignetti coach em when the football season is over....🤣
Ask the players... Otherwise this is all conjecture. Win and things line up. If you look closely with an open mind you can see the pathway ahead of us. 😁
Hmmm.... Of course its conjecture... on my end, I even started my participation in this thready by saying that.
I think "asking the players" might give an interesting dichotomy...Woodson has had relatively no issues retaining players. So I would think he'd get pretty good grades from players who end up playing for him. But there is zero question he's having issues landing certain types of players, and winning certain types of recruitments.
so CAM plus NIL = CMW?
maybe. CMW has 4 months to prove his NIL approach works.
I honestly think you're selling CMW a little short. I'm not sure CAM would have been able to land as much talent with NIL. At least Woody can sell himself on the NBA experience and was smart enough to make end roads at the FL talent factories. CAM just seemed like fish out of water here.
CAM minus TJD might have looked like CTC's first 3 yrs. Maybe a little better...but not much.
maybe. CMW has 4 months to prove his NIL approach works.
I honestly think you're selling CMW a little short. I'm not sure CAM would have been able to land as much talent with NIL. At least Woody can sell himself on the NBA experience and was smart enough to make end roads at the FL talent factories. CAM just seemed like fish out of water here.
CAM minus TJD might have looked like CTC's first 3 yrs. Maybe a little better...but not much.
He’s still milking Bob Knight’s legacy for what little it might still be worth a quarter-century later. Those banners don’t sway in the breeze like they used to, heavy laden in dust that they be now.
My most sincere hope...that when Dolson, or whoever the AD is at the time, has the challenge of picking our next bball coach...that they use the Cignetti hire as a very strong frame of reference. NAIA, D3, D2, low level D1...who cares. Pick someone that has demonstrated success coaching the game of basketball...AND has the right blend of stubbornness and charisma, to lead the program.
The standard is the standard. Find a guy anything like Cignetti, for IU bball, and we'd become a bigger monster than we've ever been in the past.
Woodson will never be that. I would prefer we get moving on finding that, sooner rather than later. But on the flip side, I want IU bball to win games, and will hope we do so in every single one of them Woodson coaches. Even though a pretty strong case could be made that Woodson winning games this year isn't the best thing LONG TERM for IU bball.
I find it a bit surprising our short-run vs. long-run recruitment results are so different. In the end it's a pitch + NIL for both. Yet IIRC guys like Rice, Carlyle, Ware, and Ballo only visited IU and didn't even bother to go to another school to compare we had them so locked up. I'd guess the short run recruitments are less competitive and perhaps more transactional/NBA-like which is a better fit for Woody, but I'd think some of what works on the short-run recruitments should work on the long-run ones. Strange.
With NIL and the IU brand, recruiting isn't too hard here. Imo bringing up an entire staff strong on strategy/X's and O's is ideal, they'll figure out recruiting.
Why go to IU?
Why play for IU?
We have had much more success with Portal players. Did you ever consider that this is because of what these kids want?
I look at the last 6 years and see no difference between miller and CMW as far as on the court results go. So, again, why would someone pick IU?
Ever consider that our program IS successful in what they want to be?
start with this:
Why play for IU?
We have had much more success with Portal players. Did you ever consider that this is because of what these kids want?
I look at the last 6 years and see no difference between miller and CMW as far as on the court results go. So, again, why would someone pick IU?
Ever consider that our program IS successful in what they want to be?
Is it winning now or exposure and minutes? Also, you left out money, which is a factor.
Winning at a high level can easily change that. But you have to win!
Woody recruited Mgbako after his mother called him, telling Woody to recruit her son. Today, Woody described how he gave up on recruiting Tucker after he heard that Bryson was interested in Duke. Woody only focused on recruiting Tucker after Bryson's dad called Woody... Hmmm....I hope the parents keep calling, I guess....
The reality is that Woody will need to repeat this offseason every year to save himself... Good luck, sir...
The reality is that Woody will need to repeat this offseason every year to save himself... Good luck, sir...
Tucker was going to forego high school altogether and play for the G-League Ignite until the G-League Ignite decided they were disbanding the program in late March. Everybody stopped recruiting Tucker for a period of time, not just Woodson.
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A given now
Winning provides exposure... Of course money is the icing
Well, according to Woody, he gave up on recruiting Tucker because he had heard that Tucker was interested in Duke, not because of Tucker's interest in the G-League. LOL, perhaps Woody was ahead of the curve, giving up on Tucker first.
McNeeley decommitted before Mgbako decided to return.
The recruits who went elsewhere saw a underperforming coach who’s not a great tactician but thinks he’s a lot better than he actually is, and decided the grass was much greener away from Bloomington.
your opinion. do not jump on the bandwagon when they win.
Tucker took one official visit in two years (Kansas Nov 23). The G-League Ignite disbanded on March 21st 2024; he visited and committed to IU by March 28…that isn’t a coincidence. Nobody, including Duke, was recruiting Tucker in 2024.
And shills shill. Woody has to earn my trust before I give it to him.
And it’s pretty obvious recruits are saying the exact same thing.
It was well known that he wasn't entering the draft. As far as the rest of your post either show proof or quit making shit up.
Ok—McNeeley announced he was decommitting on March 8. Mgbako announced he was returning March 30. He easily could’ve gotten draft feedback or put himself in the portal.
So stick your proof request where the sun don’t shine, Pollyanna.
