1 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:12,320 You're listening to the Back Home Network presented by Home 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:23,920 Field Apparel. Welcome back to Crimson Cast, 3 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,600 Galen Clavier joining you once again. 4 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,200 It is Mother's Day, the 12th of May of 2024. 5 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,160 It's going to be joining you folks once again took a little. 6 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,160 Bit of an unplanned. But welcome hiatus from the 7 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:39,600 podcast. But we're back and looking 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,960 forward to bringing you some talk, some news, some commentary 9 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,800 on what's going on with IU Athletics and beyond and 10 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,880 hopefully you're all having. A good spring things have. 11 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,600 Moved along nicely for Indiana in a variety of different areas. 12 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,440 We'll talk about that here in a few minutes. 13 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,960 We'll talk about some IU basketball items, some IU 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,840 football items, some other things going on. 15 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,840 So looking forward to doing all that with you folks. 16 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,080 First of all, just a friendly reminder that Crimson Cast is 17 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,120 part of the back home network where you can find a plethora of 18 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,120 shows. Focus specifically on the things 19 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:16,960 you love the most in IU Athletics. 20 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:19,520 Whether, that is our friends at Assembly Call breaking down 21 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,920 everything that happens with IU basketball, Whether that's Tony 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,440 Andrani's film room, Whether that's XS and Joe's with Bob and 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:28,920 Mike. Whether that I mean there's. 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,960 Just There's so many different avenues you can go down with the 25 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:34,400 back home network. Be sure to go to the back home 26 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,720 network YouTube. Channel join the over 6. 1000 27 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,160 subscribers that have joined us there and be sure to join us on 28 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:46,400 Sub Stack as well. All of us brought to you by Home 29 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,200 Field Apparel. Your place to go for the finest 30 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,720 in college fashion, the softest fabrics, the coolest designs, 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,200 all kinds of amazing things happening right now with Home 32 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,320 Field that don't directly relate to Indiana University. 33 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,600 But that you should be taking advantage of. 34 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,560 I was really. Excited yesterday and posted 35 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,040 about it on my. Instagram I got my. 36 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,840 Indy 500 order You can see for those of you who are watching 37 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:14,840 the video on YouTube, this is my 1985 commemorative trucker hat. 38 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,440 This thing is. So badass I can barely. 39 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,840 Put it into words and. This was part of that recent 40 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,480 drop. I got a Snake Pit T-shirt, which 41 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,600 was also Baller. Just a really, really amazing 42 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,720 array of things they just dropped an Arrow McLaren 43 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:31,920 collection that you can take advantage of as well. 44 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,760 And of course all of the different college apparel items 45 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,680 that are available to you. You should go check those out at 46 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,240 home field apparel.com. Use the code home. 23 get 15%. 47 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,560 Off your first order again. Home 23 at home field 48 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,200 apparel.com And of course you know if you like the the Bison. 49 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,320 I've got the Bison T-shirt on here as well. 50 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,440 Also a reminder on the sub stack front. 51 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,720 Crimsoncast.substack.com Join us. 52 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:57,960 It's free. You get. 53 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:03,240 Emails sent directly to you with podcast links. 54 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,360 We'll have some show notes I think moving forward. 55 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,960 VIP videos We've been a little. Bit light on those lately. 56 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,240 The VIP videos for those of you who have decided you want to 57 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,360 financially support the podcast, which we always greatly 58 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,480 appreciate. It's a reasonable price, $5 a 59 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,640 month, $50 a year helps to make everything possible. 60 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,120 So join us on Sub Stack, we would love to have you anyway. 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,720 A lot to talk about, and I wanted to. 62 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,760 Go and dive in and maybe. Just kind of start things off by 63 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,240 talking a little football and then we're going to get to IU 64 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,000 basketball. First of all, congratulations to 65 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,960 IU Softball, who overcame what was a bit of a disappointing 66 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,080 regular season and got all the way to the Big 10 title game. 67 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,200 Ended up losing to Michigan yesterday in that but a 68 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,560 tremendous performance by Shonda Stanton and the ladies and we'll 69 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,120 see what happens with the NCAA tournament draw. 70 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:58,800 Maybe that was enough to get them in. 71 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,680 Also IU Baseball, right on the borderline. 72 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,480 Had a chance extra. Innings at Nebraska yesterday 73 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,080 and then gave up A2 run Homer in the bottom of the 10th, but 74 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,520 right there at the top of the Big 10, they've been playing as 75 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,240 well. As anybody and. 76 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,960 Still, you know, kind of in the mix for a regular season Big 10 77 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,640 title, which is amazing given where that team started and and 78 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,400 the struggles they had in March. So hopefully you can pull it 79 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,280 together and win these last four or five games and and head into 80 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:27,720 the Big 10 tournament on a strong note. 81 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,360 Basketball. Speaking of strong notes, it's. 82 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,640 Been as I. Said a while since I. 83 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,400 Was on the microphone. And a lot has. 84 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,640 Happened with IU basketball in terms of signings. 85 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,760 To the point that. Frankly, like a lot of. 86 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,120 The concerns that. We shared in March and February 87 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,600 regarding this team at least on paper look like they've been 88 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,800 addressed and I think that the coaching staff deserves A 89 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,880 tremendous amount of credit for that. 90 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:57,680 You know, when you think about where this. 91 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,640 Team has been at. And and what the problems really 92 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,120 were and and what we really tried to talk about over the 93 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,200 course of the, you know, the, the. 94 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,480 End of the season and. It kind of the struggles. 95 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,200 That Indiana was having. A lot of it really surrounded 96 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:17,960 this idea of there's clearly some issues with the way that IU 97 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,440 has been constructed roster wise as far as the 2324. 98 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,960 Roster is concerned. How do they address that going 99 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,400 into 2425? And a lot of it was well, A, 100 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,760 they're going to have to retain the players that they've got, 101 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:34,120 that they want, that, that are planning on coming back. 102 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,480 You knew Khalil Ware was probably not coming back, but 103 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,200 how many of the remaining players would stick around? 104 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,400 That was, it seemed like an open question. 105 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,480 And then who can they pull in the portal given the struggles 106 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,800 that they had outside of the center position in the portal 107 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,040 last year? Well, you look at what? 108 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,920 Indiana's Done and if? Those were the first two tests 109 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,120 retaining and then attracting the right kind of talent. 110 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,080 They really look like they've passed both of those with flying 111 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,680 colors, you know, we've. Seen a lot? 112 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,800 Of of people talking about this IU roster specifically as being 113 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,800 among the best in terms of how it was propped, you know like 114 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,040 augmented over the course of this non conference or excuse me 115 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,080 the excuse me the out of season not the non conference. 116 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,240 The non conference is later. But if we look at Bart Torvick's 117 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,880 website, which I always highly recommend, Tarvik is kind of 118 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,280 like Ken. Palm, but it's free and. 119 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:34,160 The calculations I often times think are a little bit better 120 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,120 than Ken Palm in terms of trying to figure out exactly what's 121 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,080 going on analytically in college basketball. 122 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,920 He's got this thing on his website now, which is college 123 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,400 basketball projections for next year based upon roster data. 124 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,000 And what you find is that if you Scroll down, I mean, you know 125 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,680 the the top teams right now in terms of where their rosters are 126 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,640 at, It's Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Gonzaga and Duke. 127 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,160 All of those make some sense. Duke may be a little bit high 128 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,640 given what they lost. But Indiana? 129 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,640 Who Of course. Is as you'll recall you know 130 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,720 finish the season in the 70s or 80s in Torvik is up to 21st and 131 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,360 you can see here on the on the screen projected to be the 29th 132 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:19,240 best offense, 27th best defense and you know if you look at what 133 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:24,160 they've got returning they've got about. 59% of their or about 134 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,280 60. Percent of their minutes 135 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,160 returning. They've got quite a bit of 136 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,160 talent returning overall and they were able to pull in 137 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,200 players that look like they're going to have a positive impact 138 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,360 on what they're doing and the fact let me switch to. 139 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,320 Another screen Real. Quick and what you'll see here 140 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,240 is the what this called the roster cast. 141 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,080 And what it does is it basically goes through and looks at what 142 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,600 the individual players that are on the roster now might be able 143 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,080 to contribute. And you know as you might 144 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,720 expect, Malik Renew kind of at the top of the heap in terms of 145 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,280 total minutes, total usage, offensive rating projected at 146 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,680 1:13, which would be awesome. But then #2 miles Rice who of 147 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,960 course Indiana has brought in, you know as as one of its guards 148 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,080 for this upcoming year. Trey Galloway up near the top. 149 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,320 Mackenzie and Bako. Then Omar Balo. 150 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,640 Kane and Carlisle. I mean just right down the list, 151 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,880 like what you see with this team. 152 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,040 Is a team that. Looks like it's going. 153 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,560 To be able to get contributions from a. 154 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,440 Variety of different people offensively because that's 155 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,040 really what this is grading and this doesn't even. 156 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Really fully count. You know, does Gabe Cubs take a 157 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:32,799 leap from a talent execution perspective during this 158 00:08:32,799 --> 00:08:35,640 offseason? Do we see Jaqui Newton come back 159 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,039 from his injury and look good? You know, can Anthony Leal? 160 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,799 Produce and contribute more than he did last year and obviously 161 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:43,799 he. He contributed a. 162 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:45,840 Decent amount last year, all things considered. 163 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,920 It's a really solid roster and as I said. 164 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,640 Earlier I think a lot of. The concerns that that we 165 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,480 expressed here, that I expressed about where this was at, a lot 166 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,520 of it was. Predicated on this idea that. 167 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,640 That really we. Hadn't seen this coaching staff. 168 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,880 Be able to fully restock the cupboard through the portal or 169 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,080 through, you know, grabbing a player like Bryson Tucker. 170 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,040 You know, doing all of that combined, yes, I know they. 171 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,360 You know, they, they certainly. Were able to grab Mackenzie and 172 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,000 Bacco last year, but it was an. Incomplete roster is my point 173 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,440 this. Looks like a pretty complete 174 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,640 roster. It's probably a need for another 175 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,280 backup big, but that's about it. There's really not much work 176 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,560 left to do, and we've even heard some rumors. 177 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:31,640 About the, the, the. The big from Bellarmine, 178 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:32,840 perhaps? Coming in. 179 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,120 So all of this is good. And I think what's going to be 180 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,240 fascinating now with IU basketball. 181 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,400 As we move forward is how does all of this. 182 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,160 Mesh and this is the one. Thing where when we see people 183 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,600 kind of being critical on social media and saying, you know, I'm 184 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,720 I'm still kind of out on this team or this roster or this 185 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,040 coaching staff, I think so much of it. 186 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,000 Comes back to the loss of trust that I think a lot of people 187 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,240 feel after how poorly? A lot. 188 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,600 Of this last season went. And it's. 189 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,600 One of those things where? You kind of have to see a 190 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,160 change, and you have to see things work differently than 191 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,520 they. Did for people to really get 192 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:16,000 back with it. Again, and you know it's. 193 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,760 Unfortunate, but it's also. Just kind of a. 194 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,040 Reality of. Things that when you get down to 195 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,480 it, this fan base. Just feels like that it's been 196 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,040 burned a bunch. Of times, and it's hard once you 197 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,400 lose that. Trust to get it back. 198 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,560 We've seen it with the last few coaches, but you know. 199 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,880 Certainly if you're looking at the the pieces on paper right 200 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,040 now. It's hard to argue against the 201 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,680 idea that. This coaching staff did 202 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:45,080 essentially everything that you would have wanted them to do in 203 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:46,600 the. Offseason now the. 204 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,520 Question is how does that? Come together as far as the 205 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,160 regular. Season, roster and the 206 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,040 performance is concerned. And you know so. 207 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,080 Much of the attention has been on the offense. 208 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,720 It's been interesting watching the debate. 209 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,800 Back and forth about whether or not. 210 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,120 This team. Was going to pull in another. 211 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,520 Big or if they were. Needed to pull in another. 212 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,120 Wing player or or. What have you it? 213 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,080 Feels to me like, you know, right now you're kind of at a 214 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,840 limit where you're not. Going to be able to play all the 215 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,160 guys that you've currently got the minutes that they're going 216 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,760 to want, so I do look at it. Right now and saying you're 217 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:19,840 almost hurting yourself if you're. 218 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,040 Going and trying to pull in more players because. 219 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:24,680 Like when are they going to get minutes? 220 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,240 We just heard John Calipari as he's putting together his. 221 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:28,800 Arkansas roster say he's going to play? 222 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,080 Like 8 guys total. And that's about where Indiana's 223 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:33,840 AT and that's that's essentially kind of what. 224 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,600 They did this. Past year or I think what they 225 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,720 would have wanted to do down the stretch if not for injury and if 226 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,160 not for some of the struggles that. 227 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,800 They had, you know, this. Team. 228 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,840 If they stick with what they're going with with on the roster 229 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,480 right now, looks like they're going to play a little smaller. 230 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:54,680 Looks like they're going to be in a situation where you know 231 00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:56,080 that you're you might get Mackenzie and. 232 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,200 Bako at the four. You you might get, you know, 233 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,280 some flexibility in terms of the line. 234 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,600 Up You might get Trey Galloway playing in as part of a three 235 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,800 guard line up. There's a bunch of different 236 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,480 directions that this team can go. 237 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,840 And there's a lot of unknowns. I mean, we mentioned it earlier 238 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,160 like we don't know how ready Bryson Tucker's going to be for 239 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,360 the big time. Certainly looks like a very 240 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:17,880 talented player and he kind of fits. 241 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,080 Right in the middle. In terms of. 242 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,760 The height and overall physical. Build. 243 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:22,480 Of this team, we don't know how jokai. 244 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,920 Newton's going to look, we don't know how Gabe Cups is going to. 245 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,280 Improve from that first year. We don't know how Trey Galloway 246 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,560 is going to look. Post surgery, obviously he had 247 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,880 to. To get some some work done to to 248 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,440 get his. Body back and right but. 249 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,320 If Indiana's indeed going to. Go a little bit smaller in terms 250 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,120 of how they're. Playing offensively, that's a 251 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,680 big. Step and now you've got players 252 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,920 that can create. You know you you brought in a 253 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,200 three-point shooter and Luke Goody, you've got Mackenzie and 254 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,720 Baca who really came on. So there's a lot of intriguing 255 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,040 pieces here. And. 256 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,960 You know the there's kind of two competing theories about the. 257 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,520 Offense from last year, but one of the theories that I think a 258 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:03,840 lot of people. Have been putting forward is 259 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,880 this idea that. It wasn't so much the. 260 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,080 Lack of outside. Shooting as it was, the lack of 261 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,840 play making consistently that. Created all of the other. 262 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:13,520 Issues. That led to. 263 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,280 Indiana having to consistently send it into the post and then 264 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,440 try to distribute from there. And then of course down the. 265 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,720 Stretch of the season. Trey Galloway having to 266 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:27,200 essentially be like a a a non. Point guard creator, which led 267 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,040 to all of those. Assist. 268 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,000 Numbers that he had and. You know, clearly Indiana 269 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,640 figured something out offensively at the end of the 270 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,160 season that allowed them to win the games that they won. 271 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:38,480 But if Indiana with a little more. 272 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:42,240 Roster flexibility? And a little bit more play 273 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,680 making at the guard position can stretch things out a little bit. 274 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,480 You add in the rim protection that Ballo provides. 275 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,920 I mean, it's it's a really intriguing roster And 276 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,960 offensively, yeah, you look at it and it's like. 277 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,920 Well, how would you feel? About Indiana if. 278 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,840 They were a top 30. Offense. 279 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,560 I mean, last year in Kenpalm, at least, Indiana finished 105th. 280 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,000 Offensively, which was just not good enough. 281 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:09,320 And if you look at the overall ranking of the Big 10 teams last 282 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,960 year in terms of offensive efficiency, there were only two 283 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,720 teams worse than Indiana in offensive efficiency last year. 284 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,960 One of them was Rutgers. And the other one was. 285 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,640 Maryland and. Those teams were both teams that 286 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,440 finished seven and 13 in the conference. 287 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,480 So Indiana, clearly. Has to take a step. 288 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:32,160 Forward there, where I continue to bang the drum, is I'm really 289 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,640 fascinated by what does Indiana do defensively? 290 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:36,800 How does Indiana improve defensively? 291 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,520 That has been the biggest. Concern I've had in terms of. 292 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,320 Trend line Indiana in three years has gone in terms of 293 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,080 defensive efficiency. So how good they are at stopping 294 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,400 the opposing team from. Scoring They've gone from 24th 295 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,680 and Mike Woodson's first year to 40. 5th in his second. 296 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,240 Year to 84th. In his third and it the one 297 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,840 thing that I think was concerning, I mean, you can 298 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,440 attribute a bunch of different issues to the offensive problems 299 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,520 that Indiana was having last year. 300 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,680 And there's AI don't know that anybody. 301 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,800 Could say for sure. What specifically the problem 302 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,760 was? But the defense really did. 303 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,520 Concern. Because, you know, with the rim 304 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,760 protection Indiana had, you know that. 305 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,040 Yes, they were lacking athleticism. 306 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,400 On the perimeter they still. Should have been better 307 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,520 defensively than they were to be 80. 4th in the country in in 308 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:28,960 Defensive efficiencies. Just. 309 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,000 Not really going to get the job done and if you. 310 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,000 Look at the Big 10. There were only three. 311 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,560 Teams. That were worse than them. 312 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,280 Defensively, Iowa Who's always terrible? 313 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,800 Defensively Michigan who? Really didn't look like. 314 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,360 They cared. And Minnesota. 315 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,560 Who seems to be always terrible defensively as well and. 316 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,080 There were, you know, there were other teams that were in the 317 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:47,800 mix. I mean Illinois. 318 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,120 Got by last year being. Hyper efficient on offense and. 319 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,920 Being really mid. On defense, they were 80th. 320 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,080 In the country, Penn State was 81st. 321 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,320 So it wasn't like Indiana was entirely alone in that that 322 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:00,840 category. But the problem was Indiana 323 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,400 couldn't overcome. Their lack of defensive 324 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,200 efficiency with good offense and that ultimately ended up leading 325 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,800 to a lot of the. Inconsistency that we saw with 326 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:15,480 this team last year. So how well can Indiana and Mike 327 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:21,560 Woodson build a defensive identity and build defense into 328 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,280 their team persona, given the fact that they're going to be 329 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:26,600 integrating a bunch of new pieces? 330 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,880 That's the one thing that I really do get concerned about. 331 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,360 I mean defense to some. Degree feels like. 332 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,360 A product of of being. Able to know what your. 333 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,680 Role is and what the role of your teammates is going to be. 334 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,840 And you can again. I think in this era of 335 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,360 basketball especially, you can overcome bad. 336 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,320 Defense with really, really good offense. 337 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,040 But you still need to. Play at least somewhat decent 338 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,200 defense unless you're playing. Like, ridiculously good offense. 339 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,560 Like last year, there were really three. 340 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,840 Teams that fit that paradigm of of. 341 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,040 Teams that were. Insanely good offensively and 342 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,440 were not really that great defensively at all. 343 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,880 Kentucky being one of them. They got bounced in the first 344 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,240 round of the tournament. Alabama, who made it all the way 345 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,800 to the Final Four? And then Illinois, who? 346 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,760 Was right on the precipice there, like each of those. 347 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,720 Teams was top 10 offensively and they were 80th or worse 348 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:23,720 defensively. I don't think Indiana really 349 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:24,880 wants to. Live that way though. 350 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:27,359 And I think, you know, for a coach like Mike Woodson. 351 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,360 Who obviously played for. Bob Knight understands the 352 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:33,880 defensive identity of of Indiana basketball. 353 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,080 It feels like that has to. Be something that gets worked on 354 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:38,920 and that is probably the thing that I'm most. 355 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,480 Curious about with this roster? How well do they gel defensively 356 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,440 and how effectively can IU? Set up a system defensively 357 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,760 that's going to work. You know, you look at the 358 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,840 individual components last year of Indiana. 359 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,080 Defensively and why they weren't as good as they could. 360 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,960 Have been and. To me it really boils. 361 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:04,240 Down to two things, the. The lack of forced turnovers. 362 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,520 Indiana was 300 and 8th. In the country enforcing 363 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,360 turnovers. And. 364 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,880 What happens in that case is that you don't get the. 365 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,320 Opposing team to give up. The four or five? 366 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,360 Possessions that you would normally give up, even with just 367 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:20,320 an average. Level of turnovers forced. 368 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,600 So that means more possessions where you get. 369 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,520 Shots. It means more possessions where. 370 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,720 The shots might go in, which raises your opposing your 371 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,320 opposing team's. Offensive Efficiency and makes 372 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,560 your defensive efficiency worse the. 373 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:36,360 Other aspect that was poor for Indiana last year. 374 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,120 And this has. Been kind of a trend. 375 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,360 With Mike Woodson's teams in general. 376 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:42,320 So I you know, I think this. Is it's an interesting? 377 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,120 Choice that's being made. But it's in the percentage of 378 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:47,120 offensive rebounds. Given up to the opponent. 379 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,960 The first year that Indiana played under Mike Woodson. 380 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,240 They were actually. Pretty good in this area, you 381 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:55,520 know. And they had Trace, Jackson, 382 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,600 Davis, Race, Thompson. They had Michael Durr coming in 383 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,080 off the bench. They really didn't give up. 384 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,680 Very many offensive rebounds at all. 385 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,360 That year, they were they they were 64th in the country. 386 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,640 But then last. Year or two years? 387 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:10,120 Ago I guess and last year they were in that 29 to 30% 388 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,440 surrendered range which. Just really wasn't good. 389 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,520 Enough and and again for. Those of you who are still 390 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,960 struggling to understand efficiency when you give up 391 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:19,960 offensive rebounds, you're allowing the. 392 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,040 Opponent to extend the. Possession. 393 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,720 And that creates a problem because if you can extend a 394 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,480 possession, chances are you're going to score on it. 395 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,360 Which lowers your defensive efficiency. 396 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,640 So how does Indiana? Attack that, especially since 397 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,160 they're going to be a. Little smaller next year we 398 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,320 think in terms of how? They play, so I don't have any 399 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:39,840 answers. That's going to be really 400 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,440 fascinating and that's, I think probably the biggest thing that 401 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,120 the coaching staff's going to have to work on. 402 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,800 Yes, they need to increase their offensive efficiency. 403 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,520 They cannot afford to be 105th in the country and I think that. 404 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,080 They will, just by the nature of the players they brought. 405 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,320 In. But the other. 406 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,040 Question becomes, what does Indiana? 407 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,360 Do defensively. How do they address that I am? 408 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:01,560 Fascinated to see what happens. With all of that, so. 409 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,200 We will see some other quick items to mention before we move 410 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:05,960 over to. Football. 411 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,840 An interesting. Story that popped up here over 412 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,560 the last couple of days. If you haven't been following, 413 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,960 there's a new tournament that's being staged in Las Vegas. 414 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:22,200 It's an nil tournament and it's being put on by the same people 415 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:23,640 that put. On like I think the. 416 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,920 The Charleston Classic or something like that. 417 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,600 But what's fascinating to me about this tournament? 418 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,000 Is like basically. They are. 419 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:35,240 They're giving every team worth of players like $1,000,000 and 420 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,680 then if you win this tournament you get like $1,000,000 of nil 421 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,160 money. The players are. 422 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,480 Going to be participating in nil related. 423 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:46,080 Activities. This is all. 424 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,000 Happening in Las Vegas, and it's happening over Thanksgiving. 425 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,360 Break. And it's. 426 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:53,000 It's just the whole. Thing's kind of fascinating. 427 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,080 Because it's they're. They're calling it the. 428 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:01,320 Player's era Festival and they've got, right now eight 429 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,640 teams that have committed and they're pretty big names 430 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,040 Alabama, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego 431 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,040 State, Texas A&M. The big. 432 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:10,760 Story with all of this is that it was. 433 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,360 Just announced that the eighth team for this tournament this 434 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:15,720 year is Creighton. Creighton was supposed to play 435 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,240 in the Battle for Atlantis, which is where Indiana's playing 436 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:20,400 in in November. But instead. 437 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,880 They've backed out of that. They're going to. 438 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,440 Have to pay a. Penalty to get out of the 439 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,440 Atlantis tournament. And instead, they're going to 440 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,480 this tournament in Las. Vegas and to quote this. 441 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,480 Story by Dennis Dodden and Matt Nordlander from CBS Sports. 442 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,920 The event will include a $1 million nil payouts for 8 443 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,160 participating schools. What's more? 444 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,080 Players involved will have. Future earnings opportunities 445 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:47,160 through long term nil contracts and you know they're. 446 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,880 They're light on details about what all of this means. 447 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,000 But there's It's going to be fascinating. 448 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,160 Because the nil collective of each participating. 449 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,280 School, again quoting the story, will be paid $1 million. 450 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:02,840 Additional significant nil opportunities believed to be in 451 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:04,000 the neighborhood of another million. 452 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,000 Dollars will be awarded exclusively to the. 453 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,680 Winner or winners of the event? Depending on the final bracket 454 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,040 format, they're talking about either one bracket. 455 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,080 Of eight or two brackets of four. 456 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:15,840 The athletes while in Las Vegas will be. 457 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,080 Required to participate in multiple off the court. 458 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:19,880 Activities to earn that nil money. 459 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,680 That quid pro quo? Agreement for nil money is a key 460 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:23,680 distinction. And at the. 461 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,240 Core of the appeal of the festival. 462 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:31,760 So this has really. Been a a bit of a little 463 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,960 seismic. Event that's happened in college 464 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,360 sports because. The you know, the multi team 465 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:40,920 event, the exempt tournament, you all know these like you see 466 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,600 them all over the place and these have been, they don't like 467 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,680 have huge profit margins, but there are ways for teams to get. 468 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,840 Exposure. There are ways for television to 469 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,280 get. Some games and so like the Maui 470 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:53,600 classic. Is one of these. 471 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,160 The NIT Preseason NIT Atlantis is one of them. 472 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:58,280 There's a bunch of different ones. 473 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,320 But this one's. Different in that it's pulling 474 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,400 teams away from tournaments that they'd already committed. 475 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,040 To because of this. Financial guarantee because it's 476 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,880 an extra $1,000,000 in nil money and. 477 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,320 People are very concerned. In college basketball, at least, 478 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:12,680 the. Ones around the traditional. 479 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,600 Mt ES that. This is going to completely. 480 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,320 Upset the apple cart. It's a very disruptive approach. 481 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:23,840 Because if you can't give $1,000,000 in nil money to the 482 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:25,720 participating teams, it's like why would I? 483 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,760 Participate in a tournament. I don't need the television 484 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,480 exposure because. That's going to happen anyway. 485 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,360 At this point, everybody's on TV, so. 486 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:33,840 A. It's. 487 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,960 Interesting to think what's going to happen with Indiana. 488 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,360 Indiana might be one of the few teams that doesn't need the 489 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:42,240 extra nil money. Because of how flush IU. 490 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,760 Appears to be with nil cash. But. 491 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,000 Obviously if there's $1,000,000 available, you know the the, the 492 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,400 the secret about millionaires is when there's $1,000,000 493 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:52,880 available, they go get the $1,000,000. 494 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:54,840 They're not like, you know what, I've got $1,000,000 already. 495 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:55,800 I'm fine. It's like, oh. 496 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:57,200 I could have 2 million. Dollars. 497 00:23:57,360 --> 00:23:59,760 So that's going to be fascinating. 498 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:01,080 It's also going to be fascinating to see if this 499 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,520 thing. Actually, like goes anywhere 500 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,720 because obviously you know the. If you're not making a lot of 501 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,000 profit margins, it's like. What are you getting? 502 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,840 For your money. And. 503 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,840 If you're giving away 8 million, $9 million in this tournament to 504 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,240 these teams, where's that money coming from? 505 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:20,520 So. I'm curious if this is just a. 506 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,960 Disruptor event or if this is something that could really 507 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,400 extend into something bigger and will we see Indiana in one of 508 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,520 these at some point? Soon probably. 509 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,120 I'm just curious to see what it looks like. 510 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,880 We're seeing this whole landscape change and I need to. 511 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,440 Do a podcast at some. Point where all we. 512 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,880 Do is focus on the offseason or the? 513 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,040 The out of season changes. That have happened in college. 514 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:42,320 Basketball. There's been a ton of them. 515 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,680 There was just a ruling the other day in an emergency ruling 516 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,720 that you can do unlimited visits for for transfer portal players 517 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:51,880 now. Because teams were trying to 518 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,240 ration. Those, and it was becoming 519 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,680 impossible to know who to bring on campus and who not. 520 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,720 To with how crazy this whole portal process is. 521 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,240 So anyway, I'll get to a podcast. 522 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,200 On that at some point. Soon but. 523 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:06,960 Just wanted to bring that up that you know, we thought we had 524 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,520 the. Atlantis Field settled, and 525 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,480 apparently we do. Not now because Creighton's 526 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,520 going to Las Vegas instead. Let's jump. 527 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:18,480 Over and talk about IU football and the first thing I wanted to 528 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,720 note, I'm going to put this up on the screen for those of you 529 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,000 that are watching on the YouTube channel. 530 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,600 So there's a. A website called CFB depth or 531 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:33,560 College Football depth that. Has been looking at the rosters. 532 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,440 Of the various. Teams and I'm going to. 533 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,800 Pop this up here. This kind of took people by 534 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,920 surprise because this. Website in talking about. 535 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,840 IU was like. IU might have a top five most 536 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:46,600 talented roster in the whole. Big tent. 537 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,440 Which for those of us who have been watching IU football. 538 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,240 For a while, it's like really that that that good. 539 00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:57,640 So if you look at where Indiana's at right now in the in 540 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,840 the echelon of things. And I've got it. 541 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:03,560 Popped up Now this website has Indiana ranked 50th overall, 542 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,000 44th in offense, 61st in defense. 543 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,480 Team depth of C, which sounds bad and probably. 544 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:11,400 Is a little bit bad. But if you keep in mind that 545 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,920 Indiana's depth oftentimes looks like it's AD or an F. 546 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,400 Maybe it's AC? Feels like an improvement, you 547 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,680 know when you look across the. Board, they get it. 548 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:23,560 You know, they get an A minus in their quarterback starters. 549 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:25,480 AB. In depth, they get AB for 550 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:29,680 starters and running backs, AB plus in wide receiving starters. 551 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:32,080 Tight ends are AC. Plus offensive. 552 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,040 Line is an A minus, although the depth there is AD minus which is 553 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:36,000 a bit. Of an issue. 554 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:40,200 And then even defensively. An A minus now for defensive 555 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:45,080 line, AB plus for linebackers, AB plus for the secondary, and 556 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,200 an 86 overall for. Specialists like that's all. 557 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:48,400 Really good. And you? 558 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,400 Compare it to the teams. Indiana's going to be. 559 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:54,080 Playing and. You know, the only teams. 560 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:58,200 That are like rated. Clearly ahead of Indiana on on 561 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,360 the overall set up here are Ohio State, Washington, MI, Maryland 562 00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:04,520 and UCLA. But even that is kind of 563 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,720 interesting to think about. You know Indiana's got the 564 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:09,840 higher ratings than Nebraska. Barely. 565 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,040 Michigan State, Purdue, FIU, Western Illinois. 566 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,040 And Charlotte and Northwestern and. 567 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,720 You also look at a school like UCLA. 568 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,000 It's like. I mean, whatever the 569 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,280 methodology. Is on this. 570 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:24,960 It seems hard to believe that UCL as got. 571 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,320 The 10th best defense in the country coming into the season. 572 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,400 But we'll see. Point being between this and 573 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,200 what Indiana's managed to do, landing some pretty highly 574 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:37,880 regarded transfers on the defensive side of things, it's 575 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,160 it's really been fascinating watching this momentum and 576 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:41,360 people have been paying attention. 577 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:44,720 I mean, Pete Tamil has tweeted multiple times about Indiana. 578 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,120 Football we've got this. Account tweeting about IU 579 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:49,840 football and then look if these things don't necessarily mean 580 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,200 anything. What matters is what the. 581 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,040 Outcome of the games are. But it's really. 582 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:00,120 It's exciting to see that Indiana is being regarded as 583 00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:02,840 well as they're being regarded on a national level. 584 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:07,320 And there was a video I was seeing the other day, you know, 585 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,760 where there was a a a gentleman talking about how, you know, 586 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,320 Indiana's flipped like. 30 to 35. 587 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,120 Players spots on their roster. Which is if you think. 588 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:20,320 About it it's that's. 40% of the roster, basically that's turned 589 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,800 over. And it's been what? 590 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,040 Appear to be quality players. Coming into the to to these 591 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:31,400 spots and taking over and we're going to have to see. 592 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,680 How all of that equates? Much like the basketball 593 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,640 conversation we just had, you can do a lot of stuff on paper, 594 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,000 but ultimately, if you've been watching IU. 595 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,880 Football for the last. Few years you've seen the 596 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,160 deficiencies in terms of how the team has played. 597 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,480 This season feels like a season where you're still going to have 598 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,120 some kinks to work. Out, but there's a lot. 599 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:55,000 Better raw materials to work with and having talked with some 600 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,480 folks close to the team over the course of the last month, it's 601 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,720 been interesting listening to the reactions to Kurt Signetti 602 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,640 and the way that he has approached coaching this roster. 603 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,080 The thing that has stuck out, I think more than anything else in 604 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,200 those conversations that I've had and these have been people 605 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:12,720 that are are. Close enough. 606 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,160 That they would know this. Like the real difference has 607 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,600 been the businesslike approach that. 608 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,440 Signetti and his coaching staff have taken in terms. 609 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:23,760 Of of what? What's being done in the weight 610 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,760 room? How spring practice went, you 611 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,160 know, it's fascinating. You've seen some additional 612 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,320 roster turnover from IU post spring ball, as I think it 613 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,600 became clear what the expectations were, whether 614 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,880 players wanted. Or were able to live up to. 615 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,120 Those expectations, but also you know what the coaching staff was 616 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,640 looking for and how they were going through and trying to 617 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,000 evaluate. Things and what excites? 618 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,280 Me, I think more than anything else about where this team is at 619 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,160 right now. Is that there really? 620 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:56,440 Does to be an appear to be an internal sense of belief in the 621 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,840 process that Kurt Cignetti has brought to the table? 622 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,280 Far more so than I think there was with Tom Allen. 623 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:06,160 I think for some of the folks involved, it's been a situation 624 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,680 where perhaps they didn't. Realize that there were steps 625 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:11,200 that. They could be taking to improve 626 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,280 their overall position that maybe weren't being done. 627 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:16,320 That sounds like a criticism of Tom Allen. 628 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,720 It's really meant to be more, you know, if you. 629 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:20,360 If you look at. Coaching and you look at the way 630 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,320 the teams are put together. A lot of the. 631 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:27,280 Dividing line between teams is really about routine. 632 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,880 It's about consistency. It's about what's being focused 633 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:35,120 on, how time is being utilized and what Kurt Cignetti and his 634 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,840 staff did it, James Madison did it, Elon And what they appear to 635 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,840 be doing here so far is really drilling down on the most 636 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,520 important things and focusing on details. 637 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:47,280 And if you've listened to this podcast over time, you know 638 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:48,720 that's something that we've been banging on. 639 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,960 About for a long time. Was the lack of attention to 640 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,840 detail in the Tom Allen era? And. 641 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,760 It could occasionally be games where Indiana's emotion and. 642 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:02,080 Vibes as they were would lead to success, would lead to 643 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,320 victories, or at least. Lead to close games, but there 644 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,920 were often games far more often than not where Indiana. 645 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:12,040 Just fell short because their. Opponent seemed to just have 646 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,840 planned things out better. Or or had practiced the types. 647 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:18,880 Of things that needed to be practiced more than Indiana had 648 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,800 been able to. So it's going to be interesting. 649 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,760 I mean, Indiana has done a lot. Of great work. 650 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:28,080 In the portal without overwhelming nil money, you 651 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,560 know, And they've been beating out teams with more nil money 652 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,160 for some of these transfers and as we talked about. 653 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,000 You know this? Is why the arguments for Tom 654 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,160 Allen just needing more nil money? 655 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:41,160 I think always missed the point. Nil money certainly helps, but 656 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:42,720 you got to have a vision. People have to. 657 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,120 Believe that what you're doing is going to get them where they 658 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,040 want to go, is going to lead the team's success. 659 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:52,000 And that right now is where this Indiana team under Kurt Cignetti 660 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,880 is flourishing in the offseason. They are clearly attracting 661 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,920 players who have already done some really good things at other 662 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:03,080 places, and they are. They're selling them on the 663 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,960 idea. That this is a place. 664 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,880 Where you can achieve. Those kinds of things. 665 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:10,440 And. Here's our system. 666 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:11,960 Here's what we're planning on doing. 667 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:13,520 Here's how you fit into the picture. 668 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:15,920 That is exciting. Will it? 669 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:17,800 Lead to success. I don't. 670 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:20,400 I don't think anybody knows. We've I've talked about trying 671 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,680 to hedge expectations. As much as possible for first 672 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:26,920 seasons, but it's clearly resonating with players that 673 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,680 wouldn't normally have looked at Indiana, and I think that that 674 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,600 more than anything. Else is really exciting so. 675 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,960 We'll see what happens but. That is where we're at. 676 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:38,120 Right now with IU football and it's. 677 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:41,480 It's again, it's a good thing. So we'll keep an eye on that 678 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:42,760 throughout the course of the summer. 679 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:45,760 I wish we had more. Practices to look at but we'll 680 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:47,640 I'm sure we'll. Have some additional information 681 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,720 as we move forward. One other item real quick I 682 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:52,200 wanted to touch on before we wrap up. 683 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,520 There was an interesting post on the College Football Reddit 684 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,880 which the College Football Reddit may be the only good 685 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:00,720 Reddit like. Subreddit that there is. 686 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:04,000 Like most of them are just not very fun or entertaining, but 687 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,840 the college football subreddit normally has some really good 688 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:07,440 conversation and some good articles. 689 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:12,040 I'm going to link. This post in the sub stack that 690 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:16,840 I send out for this article. But there was a gentleman who 691 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:18,760 follows Oregon. I'm assuming it's a gentleman. 692 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:19,920 It might be a it might be a lady. 693 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:22,840 But wrote. You know, I maintain my own 694 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:28,120 roster database of each Big 10 team. the IT appears that 695 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:34,280 Nebraska right now has 98 players that are on scholarship. 696 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:38,680 They list 149 players on their current roster, but it looks 697 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,160 like they have 98 players who are listed as being. 698 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:42,760 Like scholarship, athletes and this. 699 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:44,520 Guy was like, how? Could that be the case? 700 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:49,000 'Cause that's that that. You can't have 98 scholarships, 701 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,160 it's got to be 80. Five and they're. 702 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,040 Going to have to cut people or whatever, but someone brought up 703 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,640 an interesting point in the comments, which has been a trend 704 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,720 that I. Think a lot of people are are. 705 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:03,640 Keeping an eye on and it's happened more and more and it 706 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,520 was noted that some programs like Nebraska, Michigan. 707 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,000 Et cetera, et cetera. That are over scholarship limit. 708 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:13,440 Will opt to pay players the. Cost of tuition and name, image 709 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,199 and likeness as walk. ONS rather than actually. 710 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:18,960 Giving them a scholarship, so. You know, let's say we're at, 711 00:34:19,159 --> 00:34:21,400 we're at 85 scholarship athletes. 712 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:24,239 And we want to bring in another one and say, well, we don't have 713 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:25,560 another. Scholarship to give this person. 714 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,080 That's fine. Well, tuition and and cost of 715 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:32,120 attendance is $95,000. We're going to give that player 716 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,080 an nil deal that's worth $95,000. 717 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:36,719 Well, now they're going to college for free. 718 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,239 For this year. You might say that's. 719 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:41,440 Cheating How can you do? That it's actually not cheating 720 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:42,800 according to the nil. Rules. 721 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:46,760 Because as long as there's. A business contract. 722 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:49,000 Involved in that nil deal? You can do that. 723 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,000 And a player can choose, you know, and we've seen so much of 724 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,120 this with preferred walk. Offs like if you you've. 725 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,680 Seen that that terminology thrown around a bunch, Indiana's 726 00:34:57,680 --> 00:34:59,880 got people coming in as preferred walk ONS. 727 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:02,680 It just means they're not on scholarship. 728 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:08,240 But in the nil era, you can. Basically give them the. 729 00:35:08,240 --> 00:35:10,200 Financial equivalent of a scholarship. 730 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:11,920 Without it actually being a scholarship. 731 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:14,880 Which is a fascinating development and. 732 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:18,640 It's it's not. It's from a competitive 733 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,640 perspective, it's not great obviously because. 734 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:23,560 It is a way to. Circumvent the scholarship. 735 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:25,680 Rules that are supposed to. Keep things relatively even. 736 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:29,040 Across the board, but it's. Another indication and another 737 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,640 illustration. That college sports has got to 738 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:33,320 get its act. Together and come up with some 739 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:36,400 actual legitimate. Roster rules to keep these. 740 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:39,400 Sorts of things from happening. Like all of this happens. 741 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,960 Because the NCAA. Refuses to just say. 742 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,600 Hey, we need employment contracts and we need to set 743 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,400 hard limits on what our teams are doing. 744 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:50,920 In their overwhelming and never ending effort to appear like 745 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,480 it's amateur athletics, they continue to allow situations 746 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:58,800 like this to. Essentially affect what little 747 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:00,360 competitive? Balance there might be in. 748 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:04,960 College sports all I can. Say is again. 749 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,120 As I've talked about this, it feels like ad nauseam on the 750 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:09,240 podcast for the last. Couple of years college. 751 00:36:09,240 --> 00:36:12,720 Sports just like set some rules that actually can be enforced. 752 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,640 Especially at the college football and college basketball 753 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:17,840 levels. Between the transfer portal and 754 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:21,680 this new thing that's that's happening with giving walk ONS, 755 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:25,720 and I owe money that essentially act as scholarships, you are 756 00:36:25,720 --> 00:36:30,000 creating something that is doing far more damage than just paying 757 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,080 the. Athletes would have. 758 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,040 And and that's, to me, the biggest irony of this whole 759 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:36,720 thing is that, you know, it's ironic that we keep hearing 760 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:38,560 about, you know, paying. Athletes would lead to like the. 761 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:40,920 Destruction of college sports. And yet, college sports is 762 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,040 eating itself right now in an effort to not pay college. 763 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:45,880 Athletes. It's wild anyway. 764 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:48,480 I've gone too long. I'm gonna go ahead and wrap up. 765 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,680 It was great to talk to you folks yet again. 766 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,240 We'll be back with more. Podcasts coming up soon, Lots of 767 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:56,920 stuff going on still in May. Rosters still being settled, 768 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:58,400 We'll see how all that plays out. 769 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,160 Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Home Field Apparel. 770 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,240 Be sure to check out the rest. Of the back home network, 771 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:06,240 including the new Pacers Podcast, right at Meridian. 772 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,080 Starring Scott Caulfield and friends. 773 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:10,960 For all those folks, I'm GAIL and Clavio. 774 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:12,800 We'll catch you folks. On the flip side, bring back the 775 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:13,880 Bison song, everybody.