Could it be possible that we do have a really good coach who has gotten the max out of this group of mid major guys? Playing devils advocate, our roster isn't that great and yet somehow, in the best conference, DD has the team on the edge of the dance? We are all getting on DD, but maybe, he has coached this group of guys beyond their talent level? This could be true to some extent.
Next yr will be the tell - get a better roster and have a very tough team.
I think he can coach. I enjoy watching us play. 60-70% of the time... LOL My worry is some of these long droughts or blowing leads where we don't seem to have answers. Much of which is roster construction.
Yes, he had a tight time crunch last spring and some stuff apparently didn't go great as far as staffing. But that's a leader's job, perform... So, I think the new GM position is going to help him out.
Whether we have just a good coach (average) or a great coach remains to be seen. Likely just good. But maybe better than than that. Can you win enough at Indiana with just good? I don't know. I'll accept Crean (average coach) level returns if I have to for awhile, as long as more often in that sweet 16. Can makes runs from there now and then. Crean had a few strong teams due to recruiting. If Carr can goose recruiting, we may be OK.
I smile every time I read this thread title.
@openwheel I think obviously roster construction is part of the issue. But to put it all on the talent level, is giving CDD a pass for not coaching these guys up better. It doesn't take talent to move without the ball, cut, screen, box out, etc... We've seen plenty enough to know that when the guys are focused on doing those things, with energy and focus, we can score on anyone, and our defense is solid against anyone. If the talent just wasn't there, we wouldn't see stretches like we saw in the 2nd half of the Oregon game, or controlling Louisville for over half that game, or controlling Purdue for most of that game, etc... Consistency isn't there. And while that CAN be from the players, and I'm sure some of it does come from their overall lower ceiling and talent level, at times... we're not less talented than Northwestern, really at any position. We weren't less talented than Iowa. We weren't less talented than Minnesota. We weren't less talented than Incarnate Word. Heck, we really aren't less talented than Nebraska even. And for long stretches in each of those games, we looked like a poorly coached high school team.
I've spent a lot of time on here focusing on what we look like when we play well. And it is beautiful, and it is fun to watch, and I am excited for that potentially becoming more of the norm, if and when we get some better overall players in here. But Wilkerson, DeVries, Conerway, Dorn, Alexis... they're pretty darn good and talented basketall players. There are many other programs thriving right now, with mostly guys that transferred in from lower level colleges, or that are now playing up in to greater roles than they had at other P4 schools.
So, yes, obviously hopeful if we can get some NBA level dudes in here this offseason, that things will look different next year. But somehow, CDD has to figure out how to teach, compel, demand, force those dudes to play consistently the right way too... or we'll have similar issues.
Yeah, not a stronger improvement in consistency, is dispiriting. Because that's what coaching is about.
Many of us said we'd know if Cig was a good coach in game one. And instead already after the spring game, some were saying, 'wow, we looked coached'. And a ton of us after the first cupcake game. We just looked coached. We didn't know what was coming, but it was still a good feeling after Coach Allen.
@openwheel Agreed. And I'd say during the PR trip, most that saw the games had mixed reviews. We looked good when we looked, making some spirited comebacks. But we looked bad, early on, in most of those games. That overall trend has followed through the season. I've largely been making the case that building a style, and a culture, and a program takes time... for most coaches. And that we'd start seeing longer stretches of good play, and shorter stretches of the poor play. If anything, of late, that's started to go the opposite way. And in my opinion, that's a pretty big red flag. Mainly because its my belief that the reasons for the poor play are things that should be foundational, built in to our players DNA, by now. Moving, cutting off the ball with a purpose. Rotating, bumping ball handlers off lines, boxing out and all 5 guys attacking the defensive glass. And CDD should have the trust and buy in with his players, that when he sees 2-3 possessions in a row of not doing those things... he can call timeout, get on their asses, and they'll respond and do them. In short, games like the Northwestern game just shouldn't be happening, at this point in the season. And I don't think the talent level has a ton to do with it.
Now... get some NBA level dudes in here, and maybe they would have still been able to put Northwestern away in a game like Tuesdays... just by being able to go make some individual plays. But that doesn't solve the foundational issues we're seeing, I don't think.
As I try to keep this thread somewhat on the topic of the roster construction for the 2026-2027 season...I think international prospects are going to be a part of the roster. Mikka Muurinen from Finland is a name that IU is in pursuit of and I am sure Ryan Carr is aware of other international guys. Illinois and Arizona have been well ahead of the curve, finding players making $100,000 or whatever and bringing them to the US to make $1 million and put up big numbers on very good teams.
I don't have a way currently to discern who the prospects of interest might end up being but Muurinen would be instant impact and there are others out there...if IU can find them and land them.
@tjinman1987 Probably a short window here, as the market adjusts, but foreign kids are probably a better value right now than highly rated HS and/or portal kids. We got a couple European kids later in the process, last year. Hopefully we can land a couple this cycle that are more impactful. As you mentioned, Illinois and Arizona have had great success with this approach. Muurinen, an elite Euro wing, elite portal PG, a couple portal B10 level bigs, and retain Dorn, Sisley, Miles, Harris, Ritsic, and the incoming 3 frosh. Should be attainable with really any sort of bump or flexibility NIL budget wise.
@iunorth I've seen highlights plus a couple of full games online from Eurobasket of Muurinen and my gosh, he's fun. 6'11" with length and all kinds of athletic ability. He shoots it well and is skilled with the ball plus he attacks the rim with some fierceness and is not soft around the basket at all. There are some not so quiet whispers about his attitude and what he expects in a college situation but he's going to have a ton of suitors.
@tjinman1987 TJ, have you heard any murmurs on the total number of scholarship players DeVries wants on the roster for 2026/27? 13,14, 15?
@openwheel I think obviously roster construction is part of the issue. But to put it all on the talent level, is giving CDD a pass for not coaching these guys up better. It doesn't take talent to move without the ball, cut, screen, box out, etc... We've seen plenty enough to know that when the guys are focused on doing those things, with energy and focus, we can score on anyone, and our defense is solid against anyone. If the talent just wasn't there, we wouldn't see stretches like we saw in the 2nd half of the Oregon game, or controlling Louisville for over half that game, or controlling Purdue for most of that game, etc... Consistency isn't there. And while that CAN be from the players, and I'm sure some of it does come from their overall lower ceiling and talent level, at times... we're not less talented than Northwestern, really at any position. We weren't less talented than Iowa. We weren't less talented than Minnesota. We weren't less talented than Incarnate Word. Heck, we really aren't less talented than Nebraska even. And for long stretches in each of those games, we looked like a poorly coached high school team.
I've spent a lot of time on here focusing on what we look like when we play well. And it is beautiful, and it is fun to watch, and I am excited for that potentially becoming more of the norm, if and when we get some better overall players in here. But Wilkerson, DeVries, Conerway, Dorn, Alexis... they're pretty darn good and talented basketall players. There are many other programs thriving right now, with mostly guys that transferred in from lower level colleges, or that are now playing up in to greater roles than they had at other P4 schools.
So, yes, obviously hopeful if we can get some NBA level dudes in here this offseason, that things will look different next year. But somehow, CDD has to figure out how to teach, compel, demand, force those dudes to play consistently the right way too... or we'll have similar issues.
I agree 100% with your 1st paragraph, but I'd add that generally don't utilize shot fakes and often leave their feet for shot fakes. Enright is one of the worst offenders, and he's played for CDD several years. And that they've had poor shot selection, although that's improved some. And that they generally suck on out-of-bounds plays on O, and on D, and at breaking a press.
All that said, why have you for months described CDD as "a very good coach"? I feel like you were enamored with the 3 pt shooting and ignored everything else.
@mushroomgod ... often leave their feet for shot fakes. ...
Oh man, do we.
And you are right that we don't shot fake much. I hadn't thought of that recently, but you or others mentioned that before. Tucker has faked and stepped to the side a couple times recently. And Wilkerson once that I recall. But Wilkerson also had one blocked vs Wisconsin where he could've faked. And neither guy tries it regularly. And our other guys not at all. Strange...
What do our assistant coaches do for a living? I saw high praise for a couple of them on here as being really good staff. Is that only based on recruiting? Or am I supposed to believe when our geniuses teach shot fake and shoot, that DeVries shuts it down?
I've stated from the beginning, to a lot of criticism, that they just don't pass the eye test. And y'all want hard examples... you just listed most of them. Mushroomgod listed others. So it doesn't take vernacular, or cunning analyst talk to prove the point. You see it with your eyes. inconsistency, is the biggest issue. There are times we look unstoppable but there are too many times we don't and the bone headed cardinal sins we make make ... leaving your feet for one. The lack of organization on out of bounds plays... looks like the girls middle school team my daughter coaches. It beyond aggravating.. so then it begs the question, can DD get this figured out ?? I'm in the camp that I don't think so... he's going to get another year to try to do so .... but count me as a doubter until proven otherwise
@bigmike The expectation is 13 scholarship players for next season. Actually, I'd be really surprised if it was anything other than 13.
My guess (and this part is speculation)...
1. Nick Dorn, 2. Trent Sisley, 3. Jasai Miles, 4. Aleksa Ristic, 5. Prince Alexander-Moody, 6. Vaughn Karvala, 7. Trevor Manhertz
8. Portal, 9. Portal, 10. Portal, 11. Portal, 12. and 13. International players they hope make an immediate impact