Would a win on Saturday and then another one on Tuesday against Illinois…
- Thread starter gator mcCluskey
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Would be a good elixir to the malaise that Woody and team has put fans into this season. Hopefully it happens. His first 2 seasons, the team blew big leads at Iowa both times.
Gotta guard the 3-point line (not a strength of Woody teams) at Iowa to have any chance. That’s how they made their comebacks the last 2 visits. While not known for their post-D (or any D really), Iowa will sag on Ballo and make Gallo, MM, Rice and Goode hit from distance. Gotta knock some down.
Illinois is at home, so would think the team will be ready.
Gotta guard the 3-point line (not a strength of Woody teams) at Iowa to have any chance. That’s how they made their comebacks the last 2 visits. While not known for their post-D (or any D really), Iowa will sag on Ballo and make Gallo, MM, Rice and Goode hit from distance. Gotta knock some down.
Illinois is at home, so would think the team will be ready.
The last 2 have changed my perception, to be honest. Not to where I think we will win the next 2, but that it's possible. For the first time in years, we can consistently put 5 guys on the floor who can score. Our defense is better, lately. That's the main thing that will determine these next 2 games.
Wins over mediocre Rutgers and USC have not changed my perception. Win a natty and then it will change.
I had a conversation with my buddy today and really IU should have already made the decision to move on.
Woody is mid 60s and has proven he doesn’t want to put in the same time as other coaches recruiting and effort wise. There just isn’t a future. Even if we win the rest of our games, this needs to be his last season.
Would be nice if that was made known now, and everyone could get behind the team. There are surely people that don’t know how to cheer right now. Most fans are out on Woodson, but obviously want to win.
For me, go Hoosiers, the rest will figure itself out. I hope Kanaan wakes the F up and woody wins coach of the year. Trains a comin!
Students coming back onto campus this coming weekend with classes starting on Monday
Is Harper playing? We faced them without him last week and made them look ok?
IU needs to win 2 of the next 3 in my view (IA, IL, OSU) to get in contention for a top tournament seed.
That will require a consistent effort in at least one away arena.
Thus far IU hasn’t won enough games they were supposed to lose (save Penn State?)
Compared to what is needed for National Championship contention … the team hasn’t been getting it done
Choices are Talent, Coaching, and (Talent and Coaching).
That will require a consistent effort in at least one away arena.
Thus far IU hasn’t won enough games they were supposed to lose (save Penn State?)
Compared to what is needed for National Championship contention … the team hasn’t been getting it done
Choices are Talent, Coaching, and (Talent and Coaching).
Championship? I’m just hoping they get off the bubble
I don’t think anybody would argue that we don’t have talent and I actually enjoyed watching the team the last couple of games. Trouble is, Woody has been forced to play how many have been asking, due to MR injury. If he pulls his head outta his ass, and sticks with one BIG for the most part, maybe we can be a pretty good team. But I truly believe he will throw Ballo and Malik out there together as soon as Malik is healthy. I have no confidence in our coach. The last two games are accidental and Woody will correct the temporary success.
Well at least you’re being reasonable 🤣
Need to take care of Iowa. One game at a time. Nothing has really changed goal wise….win the conference. Right now we are still in position. Lose to Iowa and that changes
my expectations for this season based on what we have (on paper) has stayed the same.
the season that I think we will end up with has been more of a roller coaster. If we win the next 2 my perception of the chance that this team meets my expectations will go up. My predictions for this season (and for games) will continue on the roller coaster.
Either way, this season will have nothing to do with where I think the program is, and the need for change.
the season that I think we will end up with has been more of a roller coaster. If we win the next 2 my perception of the chance that this team meets my expectations will go up. My predictions for this season (and for games) will continue on the roller coaster.
Either way, this season will have nothing to do with where I think the program is, and the need for change.
Yep, that would be reasonable. Plus, isn't next year the end of his initial contract? Conventional wisdom has been you can't leave a coach in the final year of his contract, so "normally" a decision would be made this year on extending him. Nothing to suggest that should be done. So...
Yea. Looking back, given the huge NIL spend, the general consensus goal for the season was compete for the conference (don't need to win it, but be in the mix) and make the second week of the tourney. Win the next two and that becomes much more of a possibility. We still have other issues in the program that indicates we aren't on the right track, but in the end wins/losses are the most important thing.
Two more years left after this year, but your point stands even with two years left. It's really extend or fire. Without an extension, the optics for recruiting are terrible -- shows a lack of belief in the coach and risk the coach won't be here when recruits arrive. So, a call really should be made at the end of this year.
We are not beating Illinois they play at another level.
It's not necessarily about whether we win or lose. This stretch of six games coming up is extremely difficult. I'll be looking, as always, at how we play. We could play very well and still go 0-6 - that's how tough I think this stretch is. But I will say right now, there's no scenario that could play out whereby I want Woodson to continue on. None.
Perception of the team? Probably. But would it move the needle for Woodson? Doubtful. IU could win the next 4 or 5 and head into February as a top 15 team and you'd still have more people worried about who is coaching next year.
Agree, absolute best way the season could go would be to do well in conference and tournament and give Woodson an exit on a high note.
Something is up with Harper. Playing some but numbers are down. Ace went off on us with acrobatic shots and has sucked since.
Both of those guys especially Carlyle have to give IU some quality minutes. This stretch will require some help from Carlyle in particular. Be some foul trouble on the road.
That's because those acrobatic shots aren't usually very good ones. It'd be hard to consistently make those types of shots.
Bailey is no doubt super talented, but the way he's currently playing is about the individual - not the team. Maybe needed, maybe not. I'd be concerned with my rep if I was a top 5 prospect playing with another top five prospect and my team was only .500. Doesn't exactly scream "winning player" but that's how these kids are raised in current day AAU and high school cultures.
Harper's been sick, I know that. That may be why he's not been playing a lot or well lately.
Carlyle is not giving quality minutes. 23% from three and 27% overall! Leary said Knight would have benched him after his first shot last night. He also had 3 fouls in the first half. He will come around but his shot selection is presently terrible. I think he would be detrimental to the team in these next 2 games.
A successful Carlyle is essential to this team but he needs to sit when under performing!
Man those three losses screwed us over in the CPUs. All three Q1 teams which isn't the end of the world but by an average margin of 20.33 and 87.67 points allowed. I don't know how the calculations are done exactly but I'm guessing that has a lot to do with why we basically break even after the one Nebraska loss followed by five straight wins, including a conference road game. I feel like we have been condemned to a decade of bubble limbo where all losses validate negative perception but all wins are viewed with caution and skepticism.
IIRC this was sold as a short term deal anyway when he was hired. Something along the lines of ‘to stabilize the program and right the ship’. Great! Have a George W Bush press conference with a ‘Mission Accomplished’ sign behind Dolson in March and away we go.
The next time we are favored, going by ESPN analytics, is the last game in February when we host Penn State.
If this team improved fundamentals that showed Woody knows how to coach, I would have no problem having his back. The issue is its been so glaringly obvious that those fundamentals are still missing, to this day, that I can't fathom a scenario where I have trust in Woody. Even over this winning streak, we are starting to find out the teams we played aren't overly great and our immense talent has been able to win primarily at home.
What I will say is, the rest of the season is all Q1 and only a few Q2's sprinkled in there. If IU is to go on some magical run, it would REQUIRE they are consistently fundamentally sound. In that case, I would obviously view this team different, but I also know THAT ain't happenin!
What I will say is, the rest of the season is all Q1 and only a few Q2's sprinkled in there. If IU is to go on some magical run, it would REQUIRE they are consistently fundamentally sound. In that case, I would obviously view this team different, but I also know THAT ain't happenin!
Before Harper's return, someone in BTN said that he's lost 9 pounds in the prior week. Assuming he's still feeling kind of weak
I have serious questions, right now, about our ability to beat Final Four caliber teams. Beating Iowa would be impressive, but they're not a Final Four caliber team. Waaayyy too one sided, their defense is awful. I could see us beating them because of that. But you asked if we won both Iowa and Illinois... at that point, yeah, sure. Illinois IS a team capable of making a deep NCAA tournament run. They have a pro level lead guard. They're very good on both sides of the ball. They're athletic. Beating a team like that, since I don't think we can do it right now, would change my view on this team.
What will change my perspective of this team is to play with heart and toughness... and as a team over selfish stats or an eye out for their next move. They have started some of that, Ballo for one has played extremely hard and tough since the night club incident... but in some ways I still ask, how did that incident and a few other even come to be.
Ballo, Rice, Gallo, Goode...the list is lengthening on guys that are really busting it and playing with heart right now. We need Mgbako to be consistently better, with energy and production. And obviously need Malik back. Effort is never an issue with him.
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