You're listening to the Back Home Network presented by Home
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to Crimson Cast. Scott here with you, continuing
on with our basketball preview. We got a good one today.
I'm I'm. They're all good ones.
I love them all the same. They're all like my children.
But I I really, really enjoyed the discussion today with
Raphael Davis. He was awesome.
He brought it. Just tons of energy, great
answers, really honest in some areas.
But before we get to that, want to send a shout out to home
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going to see a lot of home field gear and probably a lot of those
Bomber jackets busting around and you should because they're
awesome. And now a great podcast with
Raphael Davis. Like I said, we talked about the
Big 10, his time at Purdue, how Woodson has helped kind of bring
that rivalry back. Engaging with the past, why
that's important. Recruiting nil.
How nil is changing. We answer some listener
questions for Raphael, and he was, he was awesome.
He was a treat. He brought it.
I am looking forward to having him back second part of this
season. And now without further ado,
here's Raphael. All right.
Excited to have Raphael Davis from a Big 10 network, even
though he's a Purdue guy coming on an Indiana podcast.
I appreciate it. Raphael, how you doing, man?
I'm doing well, man. How are you?
I can't complain. You have me on.
Oh, dude, I'm happy to have you on.
I'm excited to talk a little bit.
Dude, it's almost basketball season.
Like, we are so close. Like exhibition games are
started. Like this is the time.
Right. Yeah.
It's finally, it's finally here. I like to call this the this is
the best time of the year. You get some football.
You get some basketball. You get baseball.
You get everything you want right now.
Yeah, this or I I do like that February, March stretch where,
like, you finish with the Super Bowl.
You go right into like, college basketball tournaments in the in
the tournament and everything. Yeah.
No, no doubt. No doubt.
All right. So as you look at the Big 10
this year, I'm just curious like you know we're we're digging
into all this. Is it as simple as just like
Purdue and Michigan State at the top and everyone else is just a
a notch below? I think, I think you got to say
Purdue at the top, I mean, you win the game by.
I mean, you win the league by five games, you know what I
mean? And then you bring everyone
back. You get a little more athletic
with Cam, Heidi, Mouse, Colvin, see who kind of shakes out at
that spot, and then Michigan State.
I mean make a make that 316 run and then you bring everybody
back and you add, I mean they added the freshmen they added
are going to be really, really special so that they're, they've
gotten better. And then I think, I don't think
it's as big of a gap as everyone is kind of making it out to
because I think Maryland's right there.
I mean they brought, they brought a lot back.
I mean they have one that they have probably, I mean Jamir
Young is right there, Boo Boo, he's the best point guard in the
league. And then they bring in a couple
of freshmen that are going to be really impactful.
And then I really like Illinois as well.
So Illinois, I think. I think those would be my four.
I think Ohio State was sliding there at 5 for me.
But I don't think it's as a big of us got a gap as everyone
makes it seem just because the athleticism that Maryland and
Illinois has, I mean, it's going to come, it's going to come to
play in a second. No, I I agree with you on
Maryland. I think, I think they could be
right there. But I mean, what Michigan
State's got is pretty nasty. And then Purdue, like you said,
I mean, they're bringing everybody back from a team that,
that won the Big 10, looked really strong regular season.
Right. Yeah.
I mean, you win the Big 10 by by three games.
I mean, it's it's something there.
And especially in the Big 10, they're built to.
They're built to win the Big 10. I wouldn't be surprised if
Purdue won the Big 10 run. It ran away with it.
But a team like Michigan State had a little more tournament
success just because when you have 3 freshmen like Michigan
State has, they're just going to grow throughout the season.
They're not expected to really be, they're not expected to be
impact players necessarily by their numbers.
They come in a game and get energy.
Like, I mean, you look at the Tennessee game and like Cohen,
Carl, we play 16 minutes, but he gets nine points, 4 rebounds, he
gets 4 dunks, all of them momentum changing dunks.
And he's plus 22 for the game. And then Xavier Booker, he only
plays 8 minutes, he's +9 for the game and Beers was plus 13 for
the game. So I mean, come mid January,
once these guys figure it out, Michigan State are really be
rolling because they get back. I think Michigan State will have
that that time, Izzo, early 2000s, late 2000, late 2000s,
that that same type of tempo where they're pushing it.
They're running, they're athletic, they're jumping.
So I think they'll be, I think they'll be a team to watch, but
I think I think the league this year is top heavy which I think
will help come come March. Yeah.
So as we look at Indiana, I'm curious to get your thoughts on
what what you see happening in Bloomington.
You know you mentioned Michigan State kind of having that feel
like I I think Indiana, my take on is I think it could be very
similar to some of those Michigan State teams that that
Izo has had in that I think Indiana might struggle early,
but I think the team we see in March is going to be different
and probably a lot better and maybe won't reflect it in the
Big 10 standings, but might be a team that could do more at the
second-half of the season than the first.
So I'm curious your thoughts on the on IU.
Yeah, I think so. Because, I mean, you're going to
be, I mean, I just going to go as their freshman.
I mean, Mackenzie goes and yeah, and you have a freshman that
you're kind of depending on. They're going to go through
their freshman struggles early, like yesterday.
He didn't play too well, I mean. You look at that first half,
Indiana really struggled to score the ball, and that's kind
of what he does. You know what I mean?
So it's it's been, it's been a few freshmen that come in the
league and just take off right away.
I mean, Jalen Hood Shapino had his struggles last year.
I mean, the one freshman I could think of that came into the big
team that really just kind of had his way early would be like
a Deandro Russell. I mean, that was #2 pick in the
draft. So I mean, I think Indiana's
going to grow with that. I think Trey Galloway is going
to take time to kind of grow because I was.
I was a player like Trey Galloway, especially in college,
where you just figure out how to get on the court and Trey
Galloway figured out how to get on the floor.
And it was playing hard. It was through playing hard.
It was through defense, it was through being the hustle guy.
And now he's asked to score. And that's going to take a while
for him to kind of get used to catching the ball and not
looking to pass, looking to score 1st.
And that's he's an older guy, but that is an adjustment.
And I know he's had a great offseason to talk to Xavier
Johnson about him, but. It will be an adjustment from
going from the play hard guy to the energy guy to a guy that's
got to give us 1314 points a game.
And he looked a little shaky yesterday.
Just he tried to be aggressive sometimes, but it just didn't.
It just didn't go for him sometimes.
And then Xavier Johnson's got to work himself back in the shape
and the game shape. No matter how much you run on an
underwater treadmill or you run on the treadmill or you run on
the football field, I mean, it's nothing like college basketball.
You can't simulate it unless you play the games.
You know what I mean? So even going against Gabe Cups
every day and I like Gabe Cups, that doesn't simulate what he's
going to be facing, you know what I mean?
So it's going to take him a while.
But I think Indiana's, it's just a project right now.
I think they just got a lot of new faces.
I've been on teams with six new players, 7 new players and it
takes a while. I remember my Purdue team my
junior year after we finished last place in the Big 10.
We bring in five freshmen and the transfer John Nadias and I
think that non conference we go. I want to step on top of my
head. We maybe go 8:00 and 5:00 and I
think everybody's kind of like, oh, this is going to be another
bad season. I mean, we lost to North
Florida, Gardner, Webb, Vanderbilt and and Notre Dame
all back-to-back to back going into Christmas.
I mean, we lost to Gardner Webb December 22nd and like all the,
I mean the fans were kind of it's going to be another last
play season, but then we go into that conference play.
We finished third in the league, you know what I mean?
So it takes a while for freshmen to kind of get it and new faces
kind of gel together. And I think, I think the fans,
really, you have to accept players for who they are
sometimes. And like like Khalil Ware may
not be a 20 and 10 guy. He is an elite, a elite, elite
room protector. He rebound with the best up and
he run the floor and catch lives.
But he may not be the guy like TJD.
You throw it to him and he'll get you 20 and and sometimes as
fans, we can. Expect so much out of guys, you
know what I mean? So I think I think we understand
where they're at and I understand it's going to be a
process. But I think Indiana is right
there in the middle of the league and I think if they can
take care of home, if you look at their schedule, if they can
take care of home, I think they'll be right.
Their top seven, top six in the league.
Well, say perfect goes right to my next thing.
I was going to ask you is like, that's one of the things as an
IU fan, you know, when when we're doing well, we look at a
team like this that's young and it's like, all right, we can
probably get, you know, one or two games based on Assembly
Hall. I'm just, I'm curious, man, you
played in the league. You you played at IU when things
were, I mean you played at Assembly Hall when things were
rolling when things weren't. I'm just curious, is that
something, you know, as a fan we look at and like, all right,
Assembly Hall, you know, gives us a real shot to, you know win
some of these games. Is that a real factor or for for
teams like Purdue, Michigan State that have some of that
experience, is that something where it's just it's it's not
really there? Because I'm just curious, can
Assembly Hall really give it, give a young team a boost?
Yeah, I think you give it a boost.
I mean, definitely, definitely help the morale of a team, the
spirit of a team, the energy of the team.
I mean my At my time, I can remember one of my favorite
moments in college basketball was.
I want to say we were playing the Bloomington, we were
terrible that year and I think it's my freshman year and Big
rolled his ankle or something like that and he goes back to
the back and next, you know, Big comes back out.
We don't even see him. But you hear the crowd 1st and
it's like it erupts and next, you know, I mean now, now
they're up 30, you know what I mean?
So the crowd can't do that for him.
But I think for a team like this season, team like Michigan
State, team like Purdue, older teams, the crowd don't don't
bother much. I mean the older, well jailed
team put together. Those are the teams that can go
on the road and handle business. But the teams like teams kind of
like on Ohio State they're young.
You know what I mean? They're still kind of figuring
out who they are. I think Assembly Hall could
rattle some of those young guys like they're they're young LED
Ohio State even though Bruce Thornton is a is a real player.
He's a sophomore. You got those freshmen, Scotty
Middleton, he's going to have to come in there for the first time
and deal with that. I mean Roddy Dale, he's going to
have to deal with that as a least leading scorer for the
first time. I mean, so it's like one of
those things where? Certain teams, it will bother,
it will, it will shake up like you think of a Rutgers and
Derek, Derek Simpson. He's never been the main guy on
a team, so that may shake him up, but I don't see it.
Certain things won't shake Tyson Walker or it won't shake Zach
Edie. And I think it's kind of depend
on who you play. No man, Zach Edie doesn't, does
not look shook at all of these games.
We we, we put out a call to some of our listeners have some
questions, we're going to pepper them in here, but now's a good
time. A question from Jay again.
Man, Indiana podcasters know that Raphael.
His question is who's the most overlooked returning player in
the Big 10? And tell me why it's Xavier
Johnson. That's hilarious.
That's hilarious, I would say. I mean, I wouldn't say the most
overlooked player in the league. I just would say.
I mean what I mean. It's one of those things where
basketball is what have you done for me lately, sport and you got
to come and play and it's a thing where he's been out for a
while. I mean even in the games where I
know he had a really good game at home last year, I mean in non
conference. But I mean you go and I like
Xavier Johnson. That's one of my favorite
players in the league. I mean especially off the court.
Good guy, tough kid. I think he's going to be
successful in life just because he got some grit to him.
So it's like he's one of my guys that.
I have no bad words to say about him, but if we're just being, if
we're talking real, that Kansas game last last season before he
goes down, I believe it was Kansas.
That doesn't help me. You know what I mean?
Games, those, those big games that they had early on in the
season where Indiana got the doors ran off of them.
It doesn't help them. You know what I mean?
So I like Xavier Johnson. I think he can prove a lot.
I think. I think he's just got to get
back into shape. But if it was a guy that I would
say. If people aren't talking about,
it would have to be a guy like a guy like Doug, a guy like Doug
at Michigan, a little Doug. Doug and Daniel, point guard.
I mean, the way he finished the season last year was really,
really special. Playing with two NBA lottery
picks, playing, I mean two first rounders and playing with 100.
Dickinson, I think the last 8-9 games of the season he averaged
15 and six. So I think he's a guy that no
one's really thinking about this season and that would be that
probably be the one I'm talking about.
OK. As you as you look at IU, you
know, over 2 years, I always think it's funny that you know
Mike Woodson has a a really good career in the NBA.
You know, took the Hawks to the playoffs the first time in
years, took the Knicks to the playoffs first time in years.
A lot of head coaching experience.
And he gets to college and he's like, I don't know, man, like
can he coach? Like yes, the guy can coach.
Obviously there are adjustments from the NBA to college, as you
see as someone who's played, who's you know, been coached,
how do you see Woodson adapting his coaching style from the NBA
to college over the last two years?
I mean, I think it's similar. I mean you look at, I know
everybody says you think about IU, last season they threw the
ball in a lot. But if you look at the numbers
and I'm not too big on like analytics, I'm just a, you got
to hoop for me. But Yep, compared to the first
year to the second year. They threw the ball inside less.
They set way more ball screens. I mean, they don't.
You look at how they beat Purdue.
It was ball screens. It was Jalen Hood, Shapino, top
of the key. Come set up ball screen.
Zac Edie's going to play drop coverage.
He can't do nothing with it. Pull up jumper.
And I mean that's, that's basketball, NBA, that's
basketball or college, that's basketball or high school.
Find a match, find a mismatch. I think sometimes we can kind of
get. What I want to say, we can get
lost in kind of the sauce a little bit where sometimes you
just find the match up, find the best match up.
If there's one thing I would say that coach is also struggling
with is got to have the guys to run certain stuff.
You can't just have a bunch of guys say, oh, I'm going to put
this offense in. The offense got to fit the guy,
like the play calls have to fit Trey Galloway's athleticism.
That's to fit Xavier Johnson's ability.
So you got to base it around that as well.
You can't just come in and say. I'm of a brand new offense
through how I want to do it, no matter my personnel.
But I think coaches adjusted well.
I mean he's obviously, I mean the way he's recruiting is is
special when you think about it like that the guys he's bringing
in, the guys he's getting and the kind of the the even just
the not even just on the floor. But I talk to guys a lot and I
see different guys and the way coaches really kind of brought
back a family feel to the players to Indiana, I think
that's going to be. I think that's sometimes may.
I know you want to win games, but sometimes the culture can
help and I think like a Michigan State and that grind week that
they have like Purdue and the alumni games.
I think Indiana's alumni base is so strong that Coach has done a
great job of getting the players back to campus and mixing those
generational gaps. So I think he's done a done a
really good job and it's only a matter of time before he gets
his guys in there. Yeah, no, you're you're right
about the, you know, having the guys.
I think that's what you know a lot of IU fans are interested to
see this year is, you know, when you have a player like Trace
Jackson Davis, like you, you have to run the ball through
him. I mean, you have a generational
talent. There's kind of what Purdue's
dealing with right now is like you have, you have Zach Edie and
somebody you got to run the ball to.
It's like it, but it's like you don't know, is that the offense
Woodson really wanted to run or is he running the offense to
best maximize his players? I think we'll see more of that
answer kind of, you know, figured out this year.
Yeah, exactly. I mean, look at Purdue like you
just said. Right now it's Zac Edie.
Couple years ago it was Carson Edwards.
It's a completely different offense, you know what I mean?
I mean years before that it was Robbie Hummel and each one more,
you know what I mean? So it just depends on who you
have at the time. If I go back to my, I mean go
back to my playing days, one year you have Yogi and James on
the perimeter and your perimeter based team.
But one year you may have Noah violate that could score the
ball on the block, you know what I mean?
So it just depends on your guys at that time every every.
Philosophy doesn't fit every team, especially when you come
into a team and you inherit and you inherit some guys.
But I think for Indiana this season, it's going to be about
scoring the ball and that the defensively.
I think they're going to have room protection.
I think they're going to be a rebound.
Well, I think Xavier Johnson is one of the, I mean, defensively,
Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway is going to be one of the better
back courts on a defensive end, but I think it's going to come
down to just scoring the ball. They got to score the ball.
I mean, they didn't. I think it was, what, 2527
points in the first half or something.
I think they, if you can't score the ball now in the Big 10 with
athleticism that the top teams will have this season, it's
going to be hard for you because I don't see Michigan State,
Purdue. I mean, maybe I don't see
Michigan State, Maryland. I mean, you look at how Illinois
play. I don't see those teams scoring
in the 60s and the 50s. I think you're really going to
have to score to really kind of get there this year.
Yeah. No, I I completely agree.
You don't mind. I want to ask you some questions
kind of related to IU, but about your playing days, You know one
thing that's interesting, you're from Fort Wayne, My wife's from
Fort Wayne also. So shout out to to the FTW.
Here we go. Why does you know, I don't need
to get deep into your recruiting, but why does it seem
that Purdue just really recruits better in Northern Indiana?
I mean, you're from Fort Wayne, You know, you play with AJ
Hammond from Gary. You know, Swan again was from
Fort Wayne. You know, you mentioned Jayden
Ivey, obviously from like a South Bend area like, you know
and even like I think Juan Johnson was up from like East
Chicago. Like it, it it does.
As an Indiana fan, it feels like basically everything north of
I-70 is kind of just produced territory.
Is that the case? Is there something going on
there or is it just, you know, there's something, is something
going on up there? That's my question.
Yeah. No, I wouldn't say that because
I went to middle school with James Blackman.
I mean, he grew up together. So he's from Fort Wayne, I
think. I think Indiana.
I mean, you think about it. All the guys you named weren't
highly ranked in high school. I mean, Jay Knighty, the top
five pick, but I think he was top 90 in high school.
So, I mean, he wasn't a McDonald's All American.
You look at the guys they were getting when I played, it wasn't
Noah Vaughan Lays. I mean Yogi was a McDonald's All
American. Jay Blackman was there.
I mean they were getting, I mean you got Troy Williams Boo, That
was Boo Williams nephew. I mean you got Stan Robinson.
I think he came from some. He came from out of state.
So I mean, Indiana bring Victor Oladipo's from the East Coast.
I mean Kristen Bofford from Alabama.
I think Indiana's recruiting. Is more of a national base.
Thing is I think they stretch the borders a little further.
I think they go after more highly ranked players or
McDonald's all Americans. You look at what Coach Wilson is
doing right now and I think, I think Payne is OK with getting
guys that fit what he want to do.
So I would say I would say that. And then for me, I mean how you
recruited me early I went to, I mean Kelvin Simpson and Ray
McCallum. I mean talk to me they coming to
games and then that next year when Cream came in, I remember
going to that Elite camp. But I I would say just I would
say just that and I would say also too also too I would say
maybe no one wants to talk about this now but I mean you're
paying college players now but you also think about AAU and and
IU gets a lot of Indiana Elite guys.
I mean it's Adidas it get. It's just a nice natural kind of
transition. They may be just too
straightforward to say. And then you think of Purdue.
They get a lot of indie heat guys.
And like all the guys you named were indie heat guys.
You name myself AJ Bryson. I mean, we were all team mates.
And then you bring in Jay Knivey.
He was a indie heat guy. Caleb first, but your lawyer.
But then you think about it in Indiana, I mean Yogi and those
guys, it's like, I mean Cody Zeller.
It's a Jordan Halls. I mean, it's a big, I think that
plays a part as well. So, I mean, that's just my
honest opinion and that's just kind of how I feel about it.
I think Woodson is kind of going, Woody is going after,
he's just getting dogs, he's just getting players.
So I think it would change with him.
But I think AAU played a part for a long time.
Yeah, well, and there's also, there's just a part as an IU fan
where it's like anybody who's good from who ends up being
good, who's from the state of Indiana, like we're pissed.
We're like come on, it should have gone to IU like so even the
the IT doesn't even matter on that.
Yeah, Indiana was, I mean especially for a while, Indiana
was getting all the guys remember my class.
I mean it was my class. It was Yogi Jeremy, Ron
Patterson, Hunter. I went to high school with
Hunter and then it was, it was, oh, I mean it wasn't Big O, it
was Peter. I think so.
I mean that was supposed to be one of the best classes in the
country. All five of those guys were from
Indiana. All of those guys play for
Adidas AAU program. So I think, and you go back to
even like Juan Johnson and those dudes, I mean, I mean, Eric
Gordon was in that class. Eric Gordon came to Indiana over
Etwan Moore, you know what I mean?
He goes to Purdue. So I think for a while Purdue
was kind of getting those. I mean, maybe not saying how you
say it, but Indiana was kind of getting first pick for a while
and I think now it's kind of paint's done a great job
leveling that out. So you mentioned the NIL thing.
One of the questions we got from Michael is you know he said
probably a question you can't answer honestly, which I get,
but would be curious to know how different you think your
recruiting would have been if you recruit in the NIL era.
And I want to tack one thing on to that just kind of give you a
more open question to answer is. You know, as you mentioned, you
went to Purdue in 2013. You know, you went like in 2011,
I'm telling you stuff you all know.
But 2011, Purdue went 26 and eight.
It's kind of the end of that Juan Johnson each one more era
2012 Purdue went 22 and 13. That's the end of, you know,
Robbie Hummel's time. So you're getting recruited
while Purdue is just, you know, kicking ass in the Big 10.
And then your first year, there they go, 16 and 18.
You probably saw. You know, you probably saw that.
Happening a little bit with some of those guys leaving, you
probably weren't expecting that. And as you mentioned your
sophomore year and you went 15 and 17, you finished two and 12
down the stretch. You know, I'm curious, you know,
along with the nil for recruiting, you know, how would
do you think if there was the transfer portal today, would
that have affected, you know, how those teams would have been
constructed or how you would have looked at it?
I'm not saying, like, would you have transferred because I know
you're a Purdue guy, but just kind of like how that mindset
might have changed during your time in college.
No. Yeah, I get what you're saying.
But I want to answer this like the first question.
I think we said from Michael, I mean, I was recruited in the nil
space. I don't want anyone to ever hold
on one second. My son is crying, but I want
anyone to ever look past that. Like the nil space.
The nil was always there. I mean, guys were always getting
paid. Guys were.
Your son's crying. He's like Raphael.
You should have taken more money.
Like Dad. He should have gotten more.
I'm just kidding. No, guys have always been
getting paid. I mean, I didn't go that route
in high school. My parents didn't.
So I mean that's always been a thing.
I mean, so before NIO, it's been prevalent in college basketball.
But for me, it was. I committed to Purdue actually
in 2010. So I was already committed
through all of that. I got, I was going to games
before kind of what you're mentioning, you know what I
mean? So the years you're mentioning,
I was already committed. So I committed a little bit each
one's sophomore year, kind of maybe boilers time when they
really kind of got rolling. So I think for me, I kind of
fell in love with the school. I had chances to and like I
said, the transfer portal thing, transform was real prevalent at
that time too. Maybe you had to sit out a year,
but each year I was at Purdue, we got transfers.
So you know what I mean? So and at that time the grad
transfer rule was in at that time.
So I don't think I I wouldn't have transferred.
I kind of stuck through it and it's all the things where
transfer for what? I look at guys and sometimes I
say you're transferring and sometimes guys think they
transfer to a new situation and everything's going to fix
itself. But sometimes as we get older,
you realize that when you transfer, your problems are
coming with you. You don't just leave the
problem, especially if you have individual problems or you're
blaming stuff on the coach or you're not taking care of your
business and your family thinks it's the coach and it's really
you. I would say your problems are
going to transfer with you like guys that left Purdue.
I think maybe only one of them had a successful career after
that and I think I wouldn't have left.
We had a lot of guys that didn't leave after the year we finished
last place in the league. We lost a couple of seniors and
then we lost. I got we only had three
returning guys myself that played games myself, AJ Kendall
and then Bryson Sky. End up transferring badly.
Smother. I mean I look at the class I
came into 2012, the 2011 full, everybody in that class
transferred 2013, everybody in that class transferred and knows
where the down days of Purdue. And I think once you get guys to
buy in and want to stick around, that's kind of when you get good
years. Because I say that and after all
those guys transferred that next year we go third in the league,
we go second in the league, then they win the league and then
next, you know Elite 8 and they win the league again.
And I think the longevity of something matters.
No, I I agree. And it it kind of leads into
something you'd mentioned earlier about you know something
Purdue and Michigan State you guys have both done so good at
it that definitely Purdue from Katie right into Painter is you
know you guys embrace embrace your former players.
You have a culture there. You know Gene Katie's on the
sideline. Yeah, I'm curious as as an
indie, I mean so I'm, I'm a little bit older than you like
an Indiana fan. I go back to the to the night
days. You know, it's it was always
tough seeing the division. I mean there's a lot of history.
It's a whole like podcast series on what happened with night and
all that. But it's like it sucked as an
Indiana fan that it's like we're we're good, but it's like we're
not embracing the past, but we're kind of trying to and this
and that. I I'm curious, does that you
know now now that Woodson's doing it, it's like, man, this
feels good, it's nice. It's nice to have all that back.
I'm just curious as a, you know, when you were a high school
player, does that, does that actually matter?
I mean, I know it matters like you know, the answer is always
like, you know, some to some people.
But I'm just curious, does that matter Because it seems to
matter with like Purdue and Michigan State.
It's like they've been just the class of the Big 10 for 20
years. They both have continuity.
They both have, you know, they bring the past in, you know, do
you think that matters like looking at it from an IU
perspective that now that we're doing that like.
Is that actually going to be something that helps or is it
just something that's kind of nice for fans but doesn't really
matter for, you know, incoming recruits?
Why it matters? I think, I think the best
recruiters in a program are the players are the former players.
I mean, every guy that I hosted on The Visit in my college
career, they committed to Purdue.
Every single one of them, maybe even my senior year it's got.
A record, man. That should be on the wall
somewhere in Purdue. I mean, every guy I, I I mean
every guy. I even stayed on campus late for
like the code. I remember Dakota Matthias came
to canvas. I think it was like Easter
weekend or something. I stuck around just to kind of
like be around and hang out whatever.
He end up committing. I mean Isaac was one of my guys.
I mean, because he was with a JAJAJ was my guys.
I mean, I mean thinking about even my senior year.
I'm not playing with the team. But they sent Carson with me.
The next thing you know what I mean.
So it's one of the things where I think the players are your
best recruiters, especially when it comes to parents, 'cause I
can still remember now. I get to come back to campus and
I'm seeing guys, and unsolicited, I can go just talk
to families that I don't know who's who.
I could just pop in and say, man, somebody may ask me a
question, I can talk about my experience.
And I think a player's experience is the best
experience you can have, especially those players that
aren't your first round draft picks.
Aren't you McDonald's? Aren't you all Americans like
myself, I can use myself, for example, and just that I know me
the best. So I graduate from Purdue.
I go play a little bit, but I get hurt.
I have that story where, you know, the basketball player gets
hurt. What does he do?
I ripped your disc in my back and I ended up getting a job
with Eli Lilly and I was in pharmaceutical sales for four
years. So.
And then when I get out of that, I'm able to call Coach Painter
and kind of ask for a little bit of direction because Painter is
the one that put the bug in my ear about sports of me being a
sports broadcaster and think things like this.
So I think when. So when the parent asks me a
question, I can I can share that, you know what I mean?
And I think parents care more about those.
Experienced parents care more about what is my kid getting
outside of basketball. And I think with IU, with Coach
Woodson and with with the the alum and with the alumni base
that Indiana has, I think I I definitely think it matters.
I think it matters when 20 years from now, I mean you one of
those Michigan State players can call Coach Izzo and maybe he can
help him get a job or something. You know what I mean?
I think that, I mean you look at Tom Izzo and Jason Richardson,
he coached Jason Richardson and just two couple weeks ago his
son Jason Richardson just commits to go play for Tom Izo
and he's happens to be a McDonald's All American now, you
know what I mean? So I I 100% think it matters.
I think it may not show itself on the court, but I think, I
think, I think when Draymond Green is FaceTime and AJ Hogard,
that gives them something. You know that when the team
cleaves is calling Tyson Walker or calling Jeremy Fears and
giving them a message that Tom Izzo doesn't have to but he
wants to, they're going to hear it different from that player, I
think. I think that stuff matters, You
know what I mean? I think when I was in college,
getting a text message from Louis Jackson after we lose a
game or getting a talk with Dejuan Johnson in the offseason
in the Cardinal gym, just talking about the game and life
in college. I think that I mean each one
more will come back and he would take us to eat, take us to B
dubs every summer and just pay for the meal and solicit it.
Just kind of hanging out with the guys.
And I think that stuff matters. And I think that helps the
program, that helps the players, that helps the players feel a
part of something and that also helps when it comes to
transferring. You look at Michigan State, you
look at Purdue, they're not losing too many transference,
you know what I mean? And when they do lose one, you
think of Brandon Newman or think of Michigan State losing their
guy. It's a guy where you normally
understand, OK, we get it. We get why they're transferring.
They're not losing guys. And you're like, oh wow, they
left, you know what I mean? So I think it helps with the
program. It kind of even if we don't
succeed in basketball here, we may not be first, second round
draft picks may have to play overseas.
But when we're done, Purdue's going to take care of us.
And I think you need to have that type of track record and
parents seeing that. But I think Coach Woodson is
going to get any guy he recruits.
You know what I mean? Just got.
I mean I think he got one of my favorite high school players
just a couple weeks ago. Liam Mcneely.
I think he's the guy. I mean you get.
I know Mckenzie's the NBA player maybe leaves after this year.
But if it's a situation where McKenzie stays and you get Liam
Mcneely on the wing with him and then you get Dairy Queen and
Khalil Ware, I mean, come on man.
You know what I mean. So I think it just takes a while
and it takes time for guys to stay.
Like, I don't know, like, I know Paul Biancardi.
I've talked to Paul Biancardi. He didn't project Jalen Hood
Safino to be a one and done lobby.
You know what I mean? That wasn't we knew you knew he
had it in them. But he wasn't a guy that Oh
yeah, he's definitely leaving after this year and maybe coach
would have projected him to be there two years and then you get
Jalen Hood Safino with Mackenzie.
You know what I mean? You built that way.
But I think sometimes it's about getting the right pieces and
getting the pieces to stay. And I think Purdue and Michigan,
Purdue has done a good job. We keep going back to Purdue
because that's why I played for it.
But they've done a good job of being able to.
They've done a good job being able to keep productive role
players in the in the spots and keep them longer.
And I think even like AJ Knight and staying two years, that
helps Purdue and it helps him. So I think, I think it's one of
those things where I think Indiana's right there and it's
not like Indiana's bottom of the league and nothing, but when you
get into one and done, it kind of hurts the process a little
bit. Yeah.
No, no it's everything you said is is spot on and that's like
it's it's tough because I mean when I grew up that's what
Indiana had is you had you know guys love playing for Knight
because he coached hard. But it's also like you have like
Isaiah Thomas coming back and it's like you you know Knight
help offered start getting you know his career in coaching.
It's like it's Night was there for them afterwards and it felt
like we kind of went away from that for a while and everything
you said is like, I feel like that's.
What we're getting back with Woodson, I also think this is
where you know it's take a tangent here but some we talk
about in the pod a lot. I think for these larger
programs like being the basketball coach in Indiana is
almost like you know the the best analogy is almost like a
religious figure like you you have to know how to coach but
you also know how to like manage the I think same thing for
Purdue same thing for Michigan State.
And it's like I I do think that for a guy like Woodson coming in
who kind of is comfortable with himself and isn't.
You know, I I'm not saying anything about the our previous
coaches, but I do wonder sometimes you come in, you're
younger, you're not connected with Indiana.
It's like I want to go against all that and prove it's like my
program where it's like I don't think Woodson has it, You know,
he's he's not trying to, I mean he obviously is trying to prove
something. It's like dude, he's had a
career, he's had a great career. It's like I'm not trying to
prove anything. It's like, I'm just going to use
everything to my advantage. No.
Yeah, exactly. And I think it's something
simple with, I mean something I loved.
I was in Assembly Hall and like I said, my my dream my sophomore
year. We finished last place in the
big team that year, but we, we beat Indiana and Matt and it was
like our Super Bowl and it meant something to us.
We were bottom of the league, but before that game we were It
means something to us because paint expressed how much it
meant. We got AI.
Think a voicemail from Big Dog or Joe Barry Carroll talking
about the Lump, talking about the rivalry, like you know what
I mean? You, you, you.
Even if you're not from Indiana, Isaac Haas felt how big, you
know what I mean? You feel something.
You feel a part of that rivalry, like you're embedded.
And I've talked to Indiana guys. I mean, I talked to David
Johnson a while ago and I'm, I mean, Big Ted media day and I
asked him, I said that Indiana. I said you may not be from
Indiana, but you understand the game Now.
I think some of the players before Coach Woodson didn't
understand how big that game was because maybe their coach wasn't
a part of that, you know what I mean?
I think when you have a coach that's a part of that game,
that's a part of that university, they understand
little things like that, that maybe not it, so they can
understand that week of that Purdue game you like.
I was talking to Xavier Johnson, he said.
Coach had former guys call in, coach had them talking to guys
about how big that game was and you could tell.
You could see how after they won that game, it wasn't just the
fans storming the court. The players wanted them to and
was Coach Woodson, the celebration he had and you could
see that is a big game for the state.
And I think in previous, like when we went on that run, that
eight-year run like Rob Johnson, I don't think he ever understood
how big that game was, you know what I mean?
I don't know if Troy understood how big that or Thomas Bryant
'cause they're not from here, they maybe didn't get it the
same. I don't know, I wasn't there.
But I think these guys now with Coach Woodson, with guys like AJ
Guy and being back around the program, they you understand now
the history behind it. You understand that this is the
game on the calendar. Records go out the window.
This one matters. And I think now they have that.
You can see it last year they, I mean they came out there with
the game last year like with the Super Bowl both times as they
should because that's how it's pumped up.
I can remember being in Mackie. We're going we're practicing to
play Indiana and Coach has the speakers blaring and Mackie, we
can't even hear each other because that we're simulating
how loud assembly hogs going to be.
And we're we're, we're that's the only time we did that all
year And in Michigan State is loud, Illinois is loud, but it
means something to go to Assembly Hall and try to win.
And I think now both programs have that and I think that
rivalry is is back and it's good for basketball.
I completely agree. It's nice to finally win some of
those. Again, It's it's it's been too
long. You mentioned, but I won't say
my bad, I won't cut you off. But I will say my I think we'll
start at that. I think we'll start at that kind
of that, that. I think it was like 9 games
straight my freshman year. We were terrible and that was
the victor of the depot year. That was Cody Taylor, and we're
in Matthew. And I mean will she.
He flexes to the pace. I know she he does.
That I know when that. Happened.
That's cut you off. But when that happened, as a
fan, I'm like, dude, like I knew OL Depot and Zeller were more
than likely gone and it's like, oh man, they're going to,
they're going to kill us. They're going to, they're going
to play that for a year and there's that's they're going to
go with she he next year. I knew it that was on a loop.
And then also also Indiana pressed us to the end almost.
I mean they were up 30 thirty 23rd.
I mean they and I mean they they pressed us.
They pressed the backups. They pressed the walk ONS, they
put it on us. And I mean they they they put
our footage. They put their foot in our neck
a little bit And I think Coach I think, I think that left a sour
taste in the coach's mouth. And I think from then on, I
think I'm just glad it's back to now.
Both teams are going to win some, and I'm even this year.
I'm excited for that game because it's an extra level of
intensity to it. And I thought, no matter.
Like I said, records go out the window.
It's kind of, it's kind of what a dogfight every time.
And it's a game where on both sides you could leave a legacy.
You could be John Nochias and have a dunk on the masses.
John Nochias was at Purdue one year, but fans will remember him
forever for that dunk. You know what I mean?
I mean, or Sterling Carter, that game he had at Mackie when we
were last placed in the league. Like fans remember that IU game,
you got him a terrible year, but you get one or two good players
about that IU game, you you're a hero.
So I think it's it means something.
Yeah, well, and then you got to, I mean, I got to fight for my
like that last year with Jane Lucifino.
Just had a freaking great game at Purdue.
It's like, my God, he just, yeah, he just went nuts.
You mentioned all the other places in the Big 10 to play.
I'm curious. You know, we can ask like, you
know, what's the toughest place to play and all that?
I'm curious, who has some of the funniest fans out there?
Because I'm sure you hear a bunch of stuff, people talking
all kinds of smack and all the arenas, but is there a fan base
that year in year out you're just like hearing stuff and
you're like damn, like that's that's pretty funny.
I think Indiana's is funny. I think because you going to, I
would like, I used to like to go into the crowd before the game.
If you get there early enough, you can go into student section.
You can see what the students say about you on a sheet.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like the other day I looked at
Michigan State and Michigan State, they did it for their
exhibition against Hillsdale. So it's like, I think Indiana, I
think Indiana found one of my tweets from high school and it
was like, I should just go out, I should just put some soap in
my car while it's raining and just let the rain wash my car or
something Like it was. I just thought that was
creative. I thought that was creative.
And I would say. Just because of the riot and and
to my siblings went to Indiana. My older sister she graduate
from Indiana. My older brother graduate from
Indiana. My brother had a Barber shop on
campus in Bloomington and Yogi and James and Stan and all those
Detroit they all get their haircut there and then we would
come down and get our haircut there.
So going to Indiana would always would always be fun.
So I would say Indiana, because you may be we may we get our
haircut, we may just go to, I think it's called Buffalo,
Louis, we need to go get wings and you get heckled against the
wings. You know what I mean?
I remember I'm in Indiana, I got heckled about Denzel Valentine
one time. So it's like, yeah, it's one of
those things I like going down there.
That's good. I'm happy.
It's good-natured you know it's that's that's the part where
it's like you know in the end it's like the your college kids.
It's like I I think it's always, I prefer the fun, good-natured
ribbing than when it gets to like hardcore and serious that's
that's good to hear. I'm happy, yeah.
Like I always say good. Like, I mean, like I said, we
grow up with a lot of those guys, especially like like I
remember James in 6th grade, I'm in 8th grade, we don't lose a
game. And like Yogi, we met in 6th
grade. And like you grow up with these
guys. So when we do come to
Bloomington or you do come down there, those guys are just a
phone call away if something gets hectic.
And like I said, my siblings were on, were on campus before
me. So I know people and it's like a
thing where it's it's a good robbery on the floor.
And when it's like a year like last year, I think when it's
competitive, I think that helps. And I think everyone understands
when it's good on the court and the guys, when the guys get
along, it's always better. So I'm going to get you out of
here on this Rafael. You've been you've been awesome
this is this has been a great I could do this for another hour
honestly. But I hear your your son's back
there he wants he wants his dad back.
I'm going to get you like I wasn't sure if I was going to
ask this I'm like I'm not sure if I.
But anyway this is from one of our listeners from Rob.
This is a deep cut, but I'm curious so.
During your senior year at home against Maryland, Rafael was
called for a double tech foul with Diamond Stone.
Maybe you can't. Maybe you can't say what
happened. But he's really curious what was
going on there. I can definitely tell you what
happened because I did it on purpose for no reason,
unprovoked. OK?
Because I was that guy. I was like we were playing
Maryland, I think Maryland at that time.
I want to say. I guess it's off the top of my
head. They're top ten in the country.
Maybe. And Dickie V is there.
Like, I remember Dickie V he shouted out my brother's
barbershop because it was that barbershop I'm talking about and
he shouted barbershop. I remember watching it back,
hearing that that was cool and it was one of those games where
it's hyped up. It's a full crowd and we are we
are busting Maryland. We are.
We busted a head all game long and then it's coming down the
second-half and they go on a run like every good team does mellow
Trimble. He starts killing Rasheed
Superman. I think he was out there, but
they go on. They go on a run and if I've
been in these games, it feels like if we don't get the energy
back, I can see my We had young guys too.
I can see our guys head dropping.
You know what I mean? I can see kind of oh, this is a
run. Our guys are getting hit in the
mouth. It's all about how do you
basketball is about all about how can you respond from a run.
For me, it was kind of and they were going on a run and they
made a big play. You know one of those players
when you're on the road, the gym gets quiet, their team storms
the floor and I'm looking at Vince and I can still remember
Vince and I can see him and he just dropped his head and I for
me it was kind of we got to get going.
We need some energy in the crowd.
We just need something. So they rush they their bench
rushes the floor after a time out and I just take his
opportunity to push diamond Stone in his chest for no
reason. Like he was just in the way and
I just pushed he and kind of got to the bench and I just started
talking mad trash or like you know what I mean?
And next, you know, that got us going and I think we got that
win. So I don't know.
Sometimes as a leader, as a captain, and it was a terrible
time to get a tech in because I didn't know they were going to
call a double tech. What does what does Coach
Painter say when you come back to the bench after that?
Does he know what you're trying to do or is he just ripping your
ass? Oh no, I mean, well no, coach,
Coach. I mean by that time like I was a
three-year captain. It wasn't.
Really. Really.
No, no it wasn't. Not.
No kind of. We just kind of kept playing
because and it was a double tech so it's kind of didn't really
matter and he got the crowd into it and we come out, we score and
then we win that game. So I mean if if maybe if I would
have got attacked and we would have lost, maybe I get ripped,
but right. Payton would always say like
even when it came to scouts like the Y'all Defensive Player of
the Year he would let me change stuff in the scout.
If I want to guard something something a certain way if I
thought it would work. But he would always say if it if
this doesn't work. He was saying that some choice
language but if it if this doesn't work, we're going to do
this my way. And then that's kind of how
paint was. If it worked out for us, he'll
roll with you but you gotta win. But now I remember that.
I'm glad you asked that. That's that's the play where
like I can understand Xavier Johnson.
I can understand you need that guy on the team that's going to
ruffle you up. Sometimes it's going to get
other guys going. I remember last year when TJD he
got in Mason Gillis's face and Mason Gillis is produced tough
guy. He's the tough guy.
And TJD was looked at as like just that guy, really.
I mean he wasn't the tough guy coming into the year, guys will
try to punk him a little bit. He got chest to chest, nose and
nose. Mason Gillis and he he.
I mean, I don't I love Mason. But it looked as if he punk
Mason out and that gives your team a certain edge.
And if you have that certain edge against certain people, you
win those games and you can punk a lot of guys out in college
basketball. And I think like a guy like Trey
Galloway, he's going to punk a lot of guys out.
David Johnson going to punk a lot of guys out.
They're just going to be on the offensive end.
Can they flip it? And came Mackenzie, came Khalil
Can, they can. They really put the ball in a
basket and they let those two guys be kind of complimentary
players. Yeah, I mean that's the thing
with Xavier that I I love watching him play.
I mean, I saw the very, I think our first game, the first big
game he played and was I think Saint John's like three years
ago. And I'm, I'm down there watching
the game and it's like I just. I see the intensity Xavier plays
with. It's like, oh man, like I I love
players like that where it's like you got to give him a
little brake pedal and not gas. Like it's I think it's always
better just to, you know have to put bumpers up to try and keep
someone in the lane, you know, mentally.
And it's like, I love that. And for me, it's like I look at
this team. It's a young team.
You know the the question marks about where are kind of like,
you know, can he get that dog and that motor in them.
It's like to me there's no better leader for this team at
this time than Xavier Johnson. I'm so happy he got the
clearance to come back because like I I I think.
The way I look at it is like, I'm sure Wood is going to be
tough on him, but I I imagine if any of the guys are soft or not
going in practice, I don't think X is going to let them get away
with it. You can see it yesterday.
I mean in the scrimmage. I mean he he wanted to, I don't
know who it was, but he wanted to cuss a guy out on the floor
when they didn't run the play right and you could see it.
Now that's what you need from your leader.
You need that from your six year guy.
Especially when you have young guys.
You need someone to show the young guys what tough, what real
toughness is, because there's a difference between being a punk
and being tough. You could be a punk on the floor
or you could be tough on the floor.
I think David Johnson is a real, he's tough.
I think he has real deal toughness off the floor, on the
floor. I think he's been through
things. I think he's had experiences and
I think he has a level of toughness where he's going to
show Gabe cups, college basketball toughness every day
in practice. You know what I mean?
I think that, that and he's going, if a guy tries to rough
up McKenzie in the game, he's going to be the guy to go push a
guy, shove a guy, you know what I mean?
And that just your teammates feel safe around you.
They feel comfortable. You the guy that they lean on
and he should be that guy and that.
Hey, I like Xavier. I like, I like what he brings to
the floor and I like how he protects his players.
And I think I think his level of toughness rubbed off on a TJD
last season. I think guys like that help your
program and they help your young guys grow throughout the season.
As long as as long as he can keep his head on straight, it
doesn't try to get it all back too fast.
And especially as seniors as fifth year guys, six year guys,
once once middle of seasons comes, you start to think about
what's next and that's when you kind of see older guys start to
Dick when they start to think about what am I doing next?
I'm not getting drafted. Am I going overseas?
Am I going to the G League? Am I even going to play ball?
Because that's the part no one talks about.
For older guys, you would see kind of where Indiana goes kind
of mid season, kind of if he's trying to do too much, trying to
prove it or if he's really just playing the game to naturally
just throw himself Because the way he finished.
And I know, my bad, I'm being long winded.
But the new news is. Fantastic.
Go the way he finished two year, two seasons ago.
Indiana doesn't make the tournament without him.
I think he was averaging like 18 and seven to finish eighteen and
six to finish the year or something like that.
He started pushing the tempo, gave him pace to the team, like
if he plays last year, it's a different team.
But, and they were second in the league.
I mean, that says a lot. So I mean, I think if he gets
back to his form and really playing how he naturally plays,
I throw back to two years. TJD was kind of the second
option offensively and they were running and they were gunning,
they were athletic and they were in the open floor and they're
throwing out of the oops. I think that's the team this has
got to be, and I think they can be that because of they have a
real solid point guard, Xavier Johnson.
You mentioned something I just wanted to touch on one last
thing. It's it's interesting you you,
you mentioned that like that senior and you know a lot of
guys, most guys who play don't end up playing in the NBA like
it's, you know, Janel Hedgefino. But you know, at most everyone
who's playing in the Big 10, you're going to have the ability
to play somewhere else, whether it's like you said, G League,
Europe, things like that. That's really.
Do you see that? I mean, as a guy who played, who
went through an exact same situation your senior year, do
you, Can you see that in guys like, oh, man, Like, he's
starting to dip because he's trying to figure out his future.
Like, is it as someone who's been there?
Is it pretty obvious to see? I can see it.
I mean, yeah, I can see it. I I remember because I remember.
I can remember when Coach brought me in to talk about it
to me. I remember Coach kind of showed
me kind of some pay. I mean, he brought me in kind
of. He said I could see.
He even told me kind of former guys have went through it and I
saw that I felt something in myself where something felt you
know what I mean And now I'm able to look at guys and kind of
see and I'm able to reach out to guys and kind of talk to them
about it. So it's one of the things where
just had the conversation with the Purdue player about the same
thing just recently. So I mean it's one of the things
where you see it in guys, you see guys role change, you can
see guys, you can see that you can see when guys go through
role changes. It's one of the things where as
a player you you notice certain things especially when you've
like a Trey Galloway. I can sympathize with Trey
Galloway or like Ethan more and I can sympathize with those guys
that came into college as one thing but then turn into a play
hard guy. You know what I mean Now they're
expected to score the ball and how the you know what I mean,
how the fans are going to be on Trey Galloway if he's not
putting the 15 points a game in every game in a non conference
like so. It's things where certain things
fans or maybe have people outside may think, may not even
give time to think about. But mentally it's a lot for
these college guys, like I mean 18 to 2224 years old, it's a lot
mentally. And if like I remember I, I was
going through a psychiatrist about my sophomore year at
Purdue when my my child, my my oldest daughter's mom, she was
pregnant. So the thing it's a lot of
that's a lot of these guys go through on a day-to-day.
So when you've been through it, you can kind of get a feel and
kind of see it in their eyes a little bit on the floor.
So yeah, I noticed some things. Yeah, I know.
And you saw like, I mean that was like Tamar Bates who played
for IU for two years. Like you realize after his first
year, like he had a he had a child and it's like, man,
that's, I mean I'm, I'm, I'm 45. I got two kids.
Like it's a lot as a as a mid. Midlife, like I can't imagine
playing high level basketball and having a a child as a
freshman in college. It's like it's like, yeah, of
course you're going to struggle on the court.
Like that's that's the part where, I mean yeah, it just it
comes with age and you get a little perspective and it's
like. Yeah, man.
Like, let's not rip this like this kid.
He's a kid like he's still 18. He's.
Dealing with a lot. And it's like, yeah, I want to
win. I'm a fan.
But it's like when you start hearing stuff like that, you're
like, damn, man, like, you know, there's empathy that comes in.
I mean, like a guy like Tamara Bates and I know he left the
program, but I mean, I mean a guy, he's like I said, he's far
from home. He was highly touted coming in
the schools where he had, he had expectations in his hometown.
He had expectations in Bloomington.
He has a child. So this was my experience when
you have a child young and when you're in that position, you
start to feel some, some sort of let down in that space too.
You know what I mean? You start to feel like that I
messed up a little bit. You love your child, but you
know what I mean? And then also he has to deal
with that. He has to deal with a new coach
and Coach Woodson, he has to deal with now.
I'm coming now for the first time, maybe his life.
He's coming off the bench. Now he's asked to do different
things. It's A and I know this is what
we signed up for, this is what we want.
And now they're getting paid for it and now it comes with it and
what not. But it's a lot and everybody,
everybody's going to have a bad day at work and at the end of
the day, this is work for these guys and they're learning how to
deal with school. They're learning how to deal
with social socially and some of them it takes longer.
Not everybody's a well oiled machine when they come into
college, but. And sorry man I keep you keep
hitting things in my mind like that's the thing I've I I've
brought this up before you know I'm I have I go to Pacers games
also and I like watching the Pacers and it's like you know I
get frustrated with players there too.
And again I'm not I'm not a yeller at like fan you know at
players and all that. And I, you know, there comes a
point where it's like you're going over the line, but it's
like I do get. It's like, hey man, like in the
end it's like that's professional bass.
Like those are professionals. They are getting compensated at
a good level. And I'm not saying that you can
just say whatever you want, but it's like, yeah, man, if you
want to Boo an NBA player, it's like that That does come with a
gig and they're paid commensurately for that.
This is the old. I've always thought players
should be paid in college. The only thing that makes me
nervous about this is, you know, for some of those idiot fans out
there, you know, who really want to go over the line, it's like
just to think like, OK, now that the players are getting nil
money or they're getting paid so I can just say whatever I want.
It's like in the end they're still not getting paid NBA
money. It's like and they still are 18
to 21 year olds. I'm not saying you can't Boo or
have a little fun heckling, but it's like that.
That part worries me because I think with the pro sports, it's
like, all right, man, like. Say whatever you want because
they're pro athletes and it's like that's, you know, they're
making a ton of money. I mean, for the most part.
But like not everyone in college is and they're dealing with a
lot of stuff. And I just, I do worry about
college sports in that realm. If fans are just like, all right
man, well, like I can say whatever should I want to NFL
players and I can say whatever I want to college players.
Like it's not, it's not to me. It's like not quite the same.
And I worry we're going down that road.
No, it's not the same at all. And I can remember, I mean for
me and I wasn't in the NIL space, but I didn't have a
Twitter for like 4 years because of Twitter.
You know what I mean? Because because of what your
mentions after a game or? You can.
That's probably a good rule just overall anyway.
Oh yeah, And even now even as a recruit, I don't think fans
realize if I'm and I've talked to recruits about this and now
recruits have said it to me, I mean high level recruits, I mean
top players in the country, We're not going there.
Their fans are too crazy, you know what I mean?
Like I'm like, you know, they, I mean players have that
conversation. No one's trying to be loved one
day and hated the next. I mean that's one thing I will
say. I one thing paint always said
about Purdue is that the fans sometimes and now it's changing.
I even say for Purdue, Purdue is changing.
I mean you got fans jumping out the window after exhibition
game. So, I mean when I played it was
a little at least sensible, you know what I mean?
At least you understood who a guy was, you know, You know what
I mean? They didn't overdo it, but I
think nowadays it is getting crazy.
I think the money does play a part, but the mental, the mental
space of basketball for the young guys is changing.
I mean, it's getting harder and harder for them.
I mean he, I mean, you can see it in some of them.
If you're a role guy and you're expected to do certain things.
If you're not, that fan bases on you.
And I mean you got, you got 18 to 22 year olds feeling how they
should. And it'll be like if I came to
somebody's child's job as an intern and they're getting paid
in the summertime, good money with Eli Lilly and operate.
I mean, no one wants the child to feel like this.
All these kids, they have parents, they have guardians,
someone looking after them. I mean, no one wants to.
No one wants their kids to feel like that.
No, CJ Gunn's. I know.
CJ Gunn's father. Good, good man, good family.
No, CJ Gunn's father doesn't want to get on Twitter and see
someone talk about his child. Like, you know what I mean?
Like, no one, no one wants that feeling.
And I think as fans, we got to. You got to, you got to have a
sense of responsibility, a sense of respect and a sense of a
sense of attitude of being treated how you want to be
treated because we all have bad days.
No one's trying to miss a free throw.
Like that's the worst thing. I hate when people say like make
your free throws. Like no one's going to that line
and 15 feet away and trying to make miss a free throw, no
matter if they've done it all their life.
Like make free throws all their life like you miss some.
I just saw Steph Curry miss a free throw the other day.
Like it happens. And I think we got to be
realistic and keep, keep, keep realisticness in basketball but.
The free throw thing is so true because I also love when it's
like, man, they just got to practice more free throws.
Like, do you really think Woodson doesn't know that?
Like do you think? Any like, yes, coaches can make,
things can happen, but it's like, I don't think it's like
they're not hitting free throws because they're not practicing
it. Like, I don't think that's.
Actually happening, like we're doing 50 free throws before we
leave the gym, 100 free throws before we leave the gym.
You got to make ten in a row before you can go home.
Like coaches are. Coaches are making, you know
what I mean? Like I I just wish people could
be realistic and be sensible. I mean, that's a lot to ask in
this day and age, but I understand what's going on and
just kind of enjoy the process to summer.
Let guys grow. Everyone's not going to be a
finished product. Everyone's not going to be who
you want them to be. But that doesn't mean they
aren't. They are the they're not scum of
the world. Because sometimes a fan base can
do too much and they can bleed into a player and then that
player can transfer. I mean, fan players don't just
player transfer for a lot of different reasons.
And you will see some guys transfer because of their
Twitter mentions, because Twitter is expecting them to be
something that their coach is not allowing them to be, You
know what I mean? And sometimes, sometimes stuff
like that play a part. Do Raphael.
I can do this all day. This is this is awesome.
We got to have you on near the end of the season when we have a
better feel for where things look and we'd love to have you
on like maybe right before the Big 10 tournament or the NCLA
tournament again. But this has been this has been
awesome. Love having you and by the way
like catch Raphael Davis on the Big 10 Network as an analyst
again as an IU guy. I I got a joke.
It pains me to say, but you guys are killing it like Robbie
Hummel is. Literally my favorite analyst on
TV right now, you're one of the best studio guys.
Like Purdue is just bringing the heat.
You guys are are bringing out so many good sports analysts, so
well done on that. I appreciate.
I I appreciate that. And I would say when I listen to
all the guys from Purdue, even the ones that aren't coaching
now, everyone kind of, I don't think that it's easy to.
I think everyone kind of sounds similar in just different tones.
But I I appreciate that. I know Robbie's helped me.
Robbie's helped me a bunch and even like a guy like Bobby
Rydell who does the the radio for Purdue basketball games, he
was a walk on at Purdue play. Some guys, guys look out for
each other and guys, well, Cleveland coach Webber like he
guys look out for each other. I think with Indiana, I think
it's a lot of guys go play ball and I think with Purdue we just
got to go to work a little bit earlier, but it's been fun well.
No, no you're you're great on there because you you bring your
personality and and I think that's you know too often I
think sometimes guys get in the studio and it's like they you
see him trying to beat like like exactly.
He said man trying to beat something.
They're not like that on the court and like you're just you.
You are true to yourself and it it shines through and it's it's.
It's it's refreshing and it's like, yeah, man, I wish more
people and I get it, you know, because I, you know, it's you
get there and it's like you're being told one thing and like
you try and like rough, you know, to sand down the edges and
you end up being nothing. So I I appreciate you kind of
being yourself in the studio and bringing that because it's it's
fun to watch. Oh no, I appreciate it.
I appreciate it. Because like you just said, like
like we just talked about. I mean, I tried to kind of be
like the, like you just say like the studio guy.
Then I got off and everybody told me I sucked.
So if I was going to suck, I was going to suck being myself.
So I'm glad I don't suck. Yeah, go down well, Raphael,
appreciate it. And I want to thank everyone for
listening. And until next time, this is
Scott for Crimson Cast signing off.