2020-21 Indiana Athletics thread

[Trader Joe]

He was probably just playing to the home crowd.

Doesn't seem like he had a 2nd thought about leaving Boston. I can understand how that could **** off some of the diehard Hoosier fans - how DARE you turn down THIS job - but he's apparently happy with his current gig and isn't looking for anything else. Nothing wrong with that. If the phone rings, you answer it, listen to the other person, kindly decline and move on. It's the fans & the media that keep it alive.

We'd all like to hook up with the super-model, but if she's not interested, end of story.

Sure, but this was more than just a phone rings, you listen, and then decline discussion. This was very real and on Thursday night IU thought they had him.

Overall though, yes IU now has to move on.

As far as the next coach always being judged against Brad, I mean them's the breaks. You can argue Crean was fired ultimately because he was not Brad Stevens and also because he wouldn't conform perfectly to what people wanted.

IU is still confident they can make a program defining hire. In that way, I hope Brad made the right call.

Who knows though, certainly this is a disappointment, but this was much different than 2017 where IU had no real shot at Brad and did not have the money to make a move.

Whoever comes in, needs to win. That's really all it comes down to.

Archie would still be head coach if he had just made the tournament. He was well liked throughout the IU athletic department, unlike Crean who had burned a lot of bridges. Archie simply didn't win

[Trader Joe]

If it's NOT going to happen then I'm starting to be afraid there's always going to be an undercurrent of "Brad Stevens is who should really be coaching this team" no matter who the next coach is. Basically, in the hearts and minds of fans, whoever the coach is will always be 2nd choice, 2nd tier, and things would be better with Stevens.

So maybe that was what he was trying to do... poison that well of thought.

Or maybe IU didn't offer that last million they needed to close the gap and close the deal, and he's angry about that, thinking they weren't negotiating in good faith. ...Thinking "but it's IU... your dream job!!" was going to carry the day in negotiations.

I'd hate to think IU would make a geriatric hire, knowing that we're going to go through this again in 3-4-5 years.

The time is either now... or was now... But no matter how much IU says that, or thinks that, I can almost guarantee, in a few years, there will be thoughts of Stevens and doubts about the existing coach if banners aren't being raised. And that situation is worse if a geriatric hire is made knowing it's a short term hire, even if it's not made with the idea of Stevens following him. Even if it's some geriatric hire with a successor and succession plan already on the bench for the transition. It'll still be... "we have an opening... let's fill it with Brad!!"

Kind of bad when a change was needed, and that first move was made (firing Miller), but the followup move isn't going to be the universally felt "best move" for (apparently) reasons outside of the university's control.

Money was not the issue. Brad simply still has faith in his time in Boston.

[Sollozzo]

Or maybe IU didn't offer that last million they needed to close the gap and close the deal, and he's angry about that, thinking they weren't negotiating in good faith. ...Thinking "but it's IU... your dream job!!" was going to carry the day in negotiations.

I'm purely guessing as a fan, but I don't think IU would let money derail it if there really was a chance of him coming.

[PacerDude]

Not sure why Brad felt the need to be such a dick with the masshole/i root for the patriots now comment.... .

He was probably just playing to the home crowd.

Doesn't seem like he had a 2nd thought about leaving Boston. I can understand how that could **** off some of the diehard Hoosier fans - how DARE you turn down THIS job - but he's apparently happy with his current gig and isn't looking for anything else. Nothing wrong with that. If the phone rings, you answer it, listen to the other person, kindly decline and move on. It's the fans & the media that keep it alive.

We'd all like to hook up with the super-model, but if she's not interested, end of story.

[Bball]

If it's NOT going to happen then I'm starting to be afraid there's always going to be an undercurrent of "Brad Stevens is who should really be coaching this team" no matter who the next coach is. Basically, in the hearts and minds of fans, whoever the coach is will always be 2nd choice, 2nd tier, and things would be better with Stevens.

So maybe that was what he was trying to do... poison that well of thought.

Or maybe IU didn't offer that last million they needed to close the gap and close the deal, and he's angry about that, thinking they weren't negotiating in good faith. ...Thinking "but it's IU... your dream job!!" was going to carry the day in negotiations.

I'd hate to think IU would make a geriatric hire, knowing that we're going to go through this again in 3-4-5 years.

The time is either now... or was now... But no matter how much IU says that, or thinks that, I can almost guarantee, in a few years, there will be thoughts of Stevens and doubts about the existing coach if banners aren't being raised. And that situation is worse if a geriatric hire is made knowing it's a short term hire, even if it's not made with the idea of Stevens following him. Even if it's some geriatric hire with a successor and succession plan already on the bench for the transition. It'll still be... "we have an opening... let's fill it with Brad!!"

Kind of bad when a change was needed, and that first move was made (firing Miller), but the followup move isn't going to be the universally felt "best move" for (apparently) reasons outside of the university's control.

[Trader Joe]

Brad's comments were overly harsh. He confirmed on radio pregame that he did have discussions wtih IU and even notified Celtics management about it. It was also serious enough that he chose to notify the players and front office that he was intending to stay with separate meetings.

Not sure why Brad felt the need to be such a dick with the masshole/i root for the patriots now comment, maybe just been a weird week but i can tell you it was not received well because it made IU sound crazy when that was not at all what was going on here.

[Trader Joe]

BBall typiclaly it means they fear they could lose money.

So anyway Brad pretty harshly denied the IU rumors today before the game.

I think something may have chnaged this afternoon or maybe Brad simply decided he wants to stick it out in Boston. I've reached out to the people I had heard from him and I'm awaiting responses.

FWIW, if not Brad, my personal choice would be Musselman but I'd be ok wiht Beard or Beilein.

Beilein would probably signal a long term plan of pursuing Brad again 5-6 years from now

[Bball]

Brad's been taken off the board by most betting services.

Because it means they know he's no longer an option to come to Indiana... or because they are so certain it's happening, and obvious, that leaving his name up would mean easy money for bettors?

[PacerDude]

IDK if I'm confident enough to break it on twitter, but I'll break it here.

I believe Brad Stevens will be the next Men's basketball coach at IU. 80% sure right now.

I'd be surprised.

Pleasantly surprised.

[Trader Joe]

Brad's been taken off the board by most betting services.

[Trader Joe]

Here we go https://twitter.com/bsp_13/status/13...339193352?s=20

[Sollozzo]

There's too much smoke, it's fire now. I've heard it from 5 different sources now. Two of them that would have direct contact with the Stevens family. This is all very quiet because Brad's wife is his agent.

I just can’t even begin to fathom how awesome it would really be if it happened.

[Trader Joe]

Interesting. I always enjoy your IU insights.

There's too much smoke, it's fire now. I've heard it from 5 different sources now. Two of them that would have direct contact with the Stevens family. This is all very quiet because Brad's wife is his agent.

[Sollozzo]

IDK if I'm confident enough to break it on twitter, but I'll break it here.

I believe Brad Stevens will be the next Men's basketball coach at IU. 80% sure right now.

Interesting. I always enjoy your IU insights.

[Dab]

I think it's going to be Beard