The Contained in the Corridor Mailbag is a group of questions despatched to us by way of X (@insidethehall), by way of e-mail, submitted by way of our group and our Fb web page. Submit your questions and we’ll reply as many as we are able to.
Andrew Miller by way of Fb writes: Projected starters and which bench guys get constantly heavy minutes?
4 projected starters — Myles Rice, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, and Oumar Ballo — really feel like no-brainers. It might be a shock if these 4 weren’t within the Hoosiers’ beginning lineup.
Past that, the ultimate spot would seem like between Trey Galloway and Kanaan Carlyle. Galloway continues to recuperate from offseason surgical procedure however is predicted to be prepared for the beginning of the season. Carlyle had an up-and-down freshman season at Stanford, however Indiana is hopeful he can get away as a sophomore in Bloomington.
As for the bench guys who will get constant minutes, begin with whoever doesn’t begin between Galloway and Carlyle. Past that, Illinois switch Luke Goode will probably be within the rotation. Freshman Bryson Tucker is probably going too proficient to maintain off the ground. Gabe Cupps may very well be within the line for some backup guard minutes, as might Langdon Hatton on the 5. As for constant heavy minutes, it received’t be stunning to see Mike Woodson go 9 or ten deep often early within the season earlier than pairing down the rotation later within the season.
HoosierFan 76 by way of the Contained in the Corridor Group writes: If this season isn’t an enormous success and IU in the end strikes on, is the NIL dedication proven in assembling this roster a sign of renewed dedication to better issues as a program, and eventually doing what it takes to land a no-doubt, home-run rent for a coach? Sorry if this appears adverse, I’m simply sick and bored with shedding – extra sick and bored with it than Bob Knight was sick and bored with sitting round with an 18-10 file and shedding to Purdue.
Is a no-doubt, home-run rent attainable for Indiana? For that matter, is it attainable for any faculty on this new panorama of faculty basketball? After what we witnessed throughout the teaching carousel this previous spring, that appears like a official query.
Kentucky, arguably the most effective job within the sport, simply employed an alum in Mark Pope, who has by no means received an NCAA match sport. Louisville, one other top-tier job, employed Pat Kelsey. Like Pope, he has additionally by no means received an NCAA match sport.
That’s to not say that Pope or Kelsey are unhealthy hires — they may find yourself as dwelling runs — however they don’t fall into that class on paper proper now.
As for the NIL dedication and the way it correlates to a sign of renewed dedication to better issues as a program, Indiana continues to place a number of sources in direction of its basketball program. That ought to proceed to be the case sooner or later, however because the final 20+ years have proven, there isn’t any assure of success simply because cash is poured into this system.
Ogun Spirit by way of Fb writes: Does Mike Woodson have a system that may maximize this expertise on this roster?
At the least by way of his first three seasons, Woodson’s system has been a gentle food plan of post-play and taking part in inside out. That doubtless isn’t altering with a roster headlined by Ballo and Reneau within the publish.
What must be totally different this season is that Indiana has higher guards and perimeter gamers than it did final season.
Rice is a official All-Large Ten candidate who’s an amazing improve on the level guard place. Galloway ought to be capable to play a extra complementary function than he did a season in the past. Carlyle ought to be capable to present a scoring punch that was missing a season in the past within the backcourt. Mgbako got here on as a 3-point shooter in Large Ten play final season. Goode is an grownup who’s skilled from his time at Illinois. He also can make photographs.
One signal of nice teaching is adapting a method of play to suit the personnel on the roster. Indiana didn’t do this effectively final season, largely as a result of its expertise deficiency at key positions made it too one-dimensional. With extra total expertise and roster steadiness, that must be totally different subsequent season.
Religious Hoosier by way of the Contained in the Corridor Group writes: What are your ideas on the Large Ten schedule the place most convention groups play one another as soon as?
The common season title within the Large Ten continues to lose that means with addition of extra groups. The schedule was already unbalanced with 14 groups taking part in a 20-game schedule. With 18 groups taking part in a 20-game schedule, it’s even worse.
The product can be higher with extra convention video games – and that’s what followers want to see relatively than assure video games in opposition to inferior opponents – however there’s no rush to make that occur.
To reply your query, the Large Ten has added high quality packages to the league that must be enjoyable to observe over the lengthy haul. However the schedule now — every crew solely has three double performs — is severely unbalanced and the common season title is much less related than ever.
Meeting Name by way of X (previously Twitter) writes: I believe it’s truthful to say that IU ought to area a Event-level crew with a high 7 of Rice/Carlyle/Galloway/Mgbako/Reneau/Ballo/Goode. Past these 7, who (if anybody) do you assume is the most important X-factor whose growth might most elevate the crew’s ceiling?
Tucker is the straightforward reply. Earlier than the G-League Ignite folded, he was destined to play there to get to the NBA rapidly.
He was a McDonald’s All-American, a consensus five-star prospect and simply turned 18 years outdated this month. If he buys into the function he’s requested to play – and all accounts say he’s a fantastic child who desires to win – he’s the clear reply because the man who can elevate the crew’s ceiling.
Few groups have the luxurious of getting that kind of expertise come off the bench. If Tucker develops steadily over the course of the season, the Hoosiers ought to profit tremendously when the video games matter most throughout the dwelling stretch.
Cincy Hoosier by way of the Contained in the Corridor Group writes: Have you ever heard something about how the video games in opposition to the previous Pac-12 opponents will probably be scheduled? Certainly the Oregon and Washington street video games (and future USC/UCLA street journeys) will probably be packaged collectively. However I’m questioning if we must be anticipating any weekday video games tipping at doubtlessly 10 p.m. ET or later this 12 months and shifting ahead.
Whereas the Large Ten has but to make any schedule bulletins for subsequent season, the assumption is that the video games will probably be packaged collectively. That will imply IU would make one journey west to play Oregon and Washington relatively than separate journeys. When the outdated Pac-12 groups come east, the expectation is that they are going to play a number of video games relatively than only one to chop down on journey.
We’ll have to attend till the schedule is finalized within the fall to search out out about tip instances. Hopefully, there received’t be many, if any, tip instances scheduled for previous 9 or 9:30 p.m. ET. And if there are, hopefully, these are the exception relatively than the rule.
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