April 18, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode, Alex Bozich is joined by Ryan Corazza to discuss a busy week in the transfer portal for IU basketball.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome back to a new episode of Podcasts on the Brink. Friday,
April eighteenth, been a busy, busy week Brandy and a
Basketball picking up three new players from the Transfer Portal.
Ryan Kraza back on Podcast on the Brink as this
week's guests. Before we get to Ryan and talk about
these new portal editions, I wanted to take a minute
(00:40):
to remind you that this episode of Podcast on the
Brink brought to you by Visit Bloomington. Just because the
basketball season is over doesn't mean the fun stops. Spring
is the perfect time to explore everything Bloomington has to offer.
Hike the trails at Griffey Lake and that nature preserved,
then refueld with local flavors on tap at Upland Brewing Company.
And don't forget about the mini music festivals coming to
(01:01):
Bloomington this spring. Whether you're out into outdoor adventures, food,
or just relaxing in a vibrant college town, Visit Bloomington's
got you covered. Start planning your spring getaway now at
visit Bloomington dot com. Ryan Busy Week on the Portal
Front Indiana picks up Lamar Wilkerson on is It Tuesday? Afternoon,
(01:24):
then two commitments back to back about I think it
was not like nine to twenty on Wednesday night, and
then the the rare eleven twenty six pm on a
Wednesday night finish for portal commitment happened. Luckily I hadn't
gone to sleep for the day and got that one
up pretty quick on Inside the Hall. But just your
(01:45):
overall reaction to this week and now that we have
a little bit more of a clear focus on this
roster for Indiana basketball, I think there's seven confirmed players.
Now we'll still wait to see what happens with Luke Goodie,
but seven on the roster, so slowly but surely getting
there for Indiana basketball. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Well, you know, today's April eighteenth, and I believe that
Darren Devreese was hired on March eighteenth, so it's only
been one month on the job, which I know, in
internet up to the minute trends these days or times
these days, it sounds like, you know, it's dog years
type calculation or something, it's been a year, but it
(02:27):
has only been a couple of weeks. And yeah, I
think this week is it finally. You know, some people
obviously in this culture we live in now a couple
of days a week not landing anybody the sky is
falling type situation. But I think this week here things
are the fog is starting to lift a bit on
(02:48):
the roster in terms of, you know, guys that are
probably going to get heavy minutes. And while there are
definitely still some holes, I mean, I think the center
position and the front line, I still think they need
to shore that up a bit and get a rim
protector and you know, somebody that can such screens and
kind of do some of the dirty work around some
(03:09):
of the shooting and passing that's going to be happening.
But yeah, it's definitely crystallizing a bit, and it'll be
interesting to see how they fill the rest of this
out because you know, really starting from almost absolute zero
here there, and it's something that he's used to doing.
I mean, if reason it last year at West Virginia.
But because of the amount of players he needs to
(03:29):
pick up, I mean, there certainly still could be a
decent amount more names to drop here in the next
couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Yeah, I'll be interested to see kind of where the
final roster number ends at because typically you have thirteen
scholarship players on a college basketball team. Now, the limits,
the roster limits are expanding next season to fifteen. I
just don't see a scenario where most college basketball teams
are gonna want to have fifteen scholarship players. I think
in an era of player movement to begin with, that's
(03:59):
a rest you're kind of setting yourself up for guys
getting unhappy with their minutes and wanting to leave. So,
you know, I think somewhere in the range of eleven
twelve players is kind of where you want to settle at.
Maybe you fill in the rest of it with walk
ons or guys that are coming in with the idea of, hey,
we're going to develop you over the course of a
couple of years. Although how realistic is that in an
(04:22):
era where everyone wants to play and have a chance
to be a part of something. So I'll be watching
that in the next couple of weeks for sure. But
just the other thing that that's kind of stuck out
to me as people you mentioned maybe grew impatient a
little bit, is this has taken what a full month
now to get to seven players. Really not that long
(04:44):
a time in the grand scheme of things, especially when
you're starting with nothing but Derees when he was introduced,
really talked about doing the work on the front end
to kind of vet these guys to figure out who
he wanted and how they would fit into the team
Atmosphe here in the locker room and talked about that
being a big part of, you know, the culture and everything.
(05:05):
So as it took a little bit longer, maybe than
some people wanted to get these these guys in the fold,
I think a lot of that had to do with
just the fact that he's still trying to put together
a full staff. He's got three assistant coaches, and then
also just in portal recruiting, things happen so fast. Guys
are making decisions so quickly that you know, you could
(05:28):
think you have a chance with a guy, and then
two days later he's off to visit somewhere and making
a commitment, and things are flying at kind of warp
speed here. So I don't think in the grand scheme
of things, anything's behind schedule. I think overall, they're in
a pretty good spot. And now that they've got the
bulk of I don't want to say they have every
(05:48):
starter that they're gonna have on the roster yet because
maybe they add another guy who maybe someone starts at
the five, or they bring in another high, high level player.
But I think now they can maybe be a little
bit more selective and go out and get you know,
certain roles, certain pieces that they need to fill out
the rest of the roster. So I'm curious, like you
(06:09):
mentioned a rim protector, you mentioned just maybe someone to
do some of the dirty works at screens, Like ideally,
if you're looking at this roster, how does the rest
of it take shape and how many more guys legitimately
do you think they need that can actually get on
the form play.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well, yeah, I think beyond the five spot to me,
between Connorway and Enright, you could say it's just a
point guard and a backup point guard. Obviously you want
some other guys that can probably handle the ball and
take that role on here and there if they need to.
But I think you can at least see that. But uh,
(06:51):
I think it's more going forward garden wing depth. Right,
you can see Wilkerson and then you know, other than that,
I think DeVries, you know, he kind of I guess
he's you know, he's a stretch four. I could see
some some three there for him as well, and Reed
(07:13):
Bailey's pretty interesting type of player too. I think he
also is you know, obviously has the size I think
at like six', ten but he doesn't Really he's not
What indiana's maybe used to from a guy that's six
ten on the, roster, right AND i think the way
that he, plays he's got a pretty strong assist rate
for his. Size he used a ton of possessions last.
(07:35):
Year it was the eighteenth in the country and possessions,
used and you, know he was a good three point
shooter at forty one point five, percent but that was
on pretty limited. Attempts so, AGAIN I i'm not quite
sure where he fits in with if you, KNOW i
could see him in derees both being on the, floor
but does that mean that there's no five on the?
Floor are they playing like the three and the four
(07:56):
of those two? Guys BECAUSE i think he's such a
good passer and can do so many different things that
there can still be that spacing THAT i think this
team is going to have a lot more than it
was in The woodson. Era so, yeah, center and THEN
i think just more, more got more guards and wings
that hopefully have that kind of trio of skill sets
where they can, pass they can shoot it pretty. Well
(08:18):
if they need to put it on the floor they,
can and then just kind of thinking defensively as. Well
LIKE i Think miles From North, florida while maybe his you,
know his his shooting numbers don't jump off the. PAGE
i mean he, did it's crazy. Him he shot two
hundred and twenty four threes last year And wilkershon shot
two hundred and twenty. Six AND i looked this. UP
(08:39):
i Think goody last year shot the most On indiana
was one hundred and fifty. Eight so you, know these
guys got up whatever sixty seventy more threes than he.
Did and Obviously North FLORIDA i think they were the
highest three they shot the post. Threes, yeah from like
a percentage wise or whatever amount of. Shots so those
two are like certainly very very used to shooting a
ton of three and getting it up in that. System
(09:03):
BUT i THINK i feel Like miles is the type
of player two That indiana has not really had much
of in either the this middle era of last whatever
eight years here or so or eight seasons Between Archie
miller And Mike, woodson where he's got some real length
(09:23):
on the, wing AND i think that that's good for.
Defense AND i know people have been talking, about you
know a little bit of how this team is being
structured and the idea of you, know THE sec and
some of the other top programs really having that length
and athleticism at multiple, positions multiple garden wings that can
(09:43):
do multiple things with the, ball and that in The Big,
ten we really haven't seen that as. Much, right it's
more in this physical. Style maybe it leans on some
teams a little bit more big, heavy and that you,
know obviously throughout the years that hasn't always been the.
CASE i think you look at Those John bline teams
At michigan and even really after he was, GONE i
think some of The Jowan howard teams certainly profiled differently
(10:05):
than a lot of the Other Big ten. TEAMS i
Think michigan kind of had a, run and you, know
the Bee line, TEAMS i think two of them went
to the to the title. Game so it'll be interesting
to see where things land and, how you, know maybe
they stack. Up maybe this team isn't built to win
The Big, ten so to, speak but is built to
(10:28):
be a more competitive team. Overall in modern college, basketball
WHICH i think is an okay trade.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Off, yeah we may see that more and more, too
just as more new coaches come into the. League and
you Got ben McCollum coming in To iowan out obviously
he's Replacing fran, McCaffrey who was basically the you, know
just an offense only guy that tried to outscore you
and didn't play any. Defense but Also Nico medved coming
(10:57):
in At. Minnesota we'll see how that transforms their. Style
How Buzz williams comes into The Big ten as, well
coming To maryland and he comes from THE. Sec, so you,
know been a little bit of a changing in the guard,
TOO i think with some of the coaches in the
league over the last you, know five to ten. Years,
anyway you, know we have the long standing guys And
painter And, izzo but kind of a new era of
(11:19):
coaches coming. League Dustin may At michigan another guy that's
now going into a second, year ran a more modern
style of. Play So i'm. Excited you. Know i've always
always like to give a hard time to the officiating
in The Big, ten BUT i do think the, games
if you just watch leagues around the country different leagues
and then you watch the. TOURNAMENT a lot of what
(11:41):
the basketball that's played in the Actual Big ten season
is completely different than what's played around the, country AND
i think that's you, know we always talk about the
National championship, drought and a lot of that is just you,
know luck of the draw on how things play, out
our play out in a sixty eight team. Tournament but
at the same time, time you, know The Big ten
(12:03):
does have a way to go in terms of just
modernizing the style of, play and hopefully these new coaches
can help get that. DONE i want to talk about
all these these new players a little bit BECAUSE i
know you've watched the film on. Them i've watched the
film as well and looked into each of. Them we'll
just kind of go in order. Here as they Committed Lamar.
Wilkerson it was interesting because everyone thought with The Trillie
(12:24):
donovan giff that was was dropped that he, was you,
know destined to go to To. INDIANA i think that
was over a week ago that that that came, out
and then there was a bit of a time period
where it was more. Uncertain he set up visits To
indiana than went To, kentucky was sedg to go To
auburn And Old miss, originally and he was just going
(12:44):
to go To auburn and then he was gonna not
go to either of those last two. Schools so he Visits,
indiana Visits. Kentucky there's a little bit of a build
up and. Drama we see The it's it's funny just
How indiana has handled these visits compared to can you,
know other. Schools everything's kind of been really under the.
Radar and then At kentucky you See Lamar wilkerson At
(13:05):
Keenland Horse track and he's out in the paddock with
horses With Mark pope and all these pictures are all.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Over The, yeah big horse, GUY i.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Guess, SO i mean that worked last year for him
With Amari, williams the big guy that they got on A,
drexel one of their better. Players they took him around
over At keenland and that was a big deal on social.
Media but just With. Wilkerson obviously we don't know what
The nile offers were from both schools and how that
all came into, it but a big deal For indiana
(13:38):
to get his commitment over Over kentucky because it showed
that you, know they were serious about landing one of
the top players in the portal and then you just
watch the film and you talk, about you, Know miles
is kind of different than what they've. HAD i, mean
when was the last Time indiana had really a guard
that could score from basically anywhere on the court. Consistently
(14:01):
it's been a. While so watching his, film he's not
afraid to take the deep. Three he can get into the.
Lane just the volume of three pointers really impressed. You
but more more than, that it's the percentage that he
shot one of the top three point shooters in the
country last. Year So i'm just curious when you watched,
HIM i bet you were maybe a little bit excited
(14:25):
at the prospect of doing some film sessions on a
guy that could go off for, six, seven eight threes
in a.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Game, yeah you, know beyond his. Numbers the one thing
that stuck out it and, uh you, KNOW i know
he came Into Assembly hall last season and played as.
Well but he's bigger THAN i. Thought he's six,', Five
right and, TO me i don't know in my head,
him thinking, you know there there have been so many
guards throughout the last couple, of seasons In the guarantee
(14:51):
games and You Know november december that are Coming Into
assembly HALL that i feel like are all between five
to eleven and six two and the guys that have
kind of been Lighting Up assembly oh when they've. Come
in but he's got some size to, him TOO which
i think is just another good piece of the puzzle with.
His game another, thing too just looking at the volume
(15:13):
of some of these guys. Just comparatively, YOU know i
said that he took two hundred and twenty. SIX attempts
i Think from Exis And Joe's mike wemith has put
out there that it's very rare that somebody is in
the top. Ten percent, you know they shot in his
forty three point. FOUR percent i think he's saying is
(15:33):
in the top ten of the country. Last year but
he was also in the top fifty in volume of
threes that he took and that that's a pretty. Rare
thing some years that doesn't, even happen and like the,
last decade maybe there's just been a handful of guys
that have. Done that so that's a pretty impressive number.
AS well, i think, you know it doesn't, you know
it got to the line ninety seven times last year
and shot eighty two point. Five percent so a good free,
(15:55):
throw shooter which isn't surprising as well because of how
good he is is a three point hio that usually correlates.
Pretty strongly and, then yeah on those two hundred and
twenty six attempts they took. FROM three, i look You
know ballow all of. Last, season, now again he's a,
big man maybe sometimes harder to get him a lot
of shots and, all that but he took two hundred
and fifty two total shots all last Season Balla so
(16:17):
wilkerson only took, you know about twenty five ish less
Threes than ballo took shots the, entire season which is
kind of a which was an interesting one to see.
As well, and yeah obviously with as well as the
shoots from three fifty seven point six effective field goal percentage,
as well which was like one hundred and sixty third in.
The country so it's definitely a. Premiere player, and honestly beyond,
(16:40):
the numbers beyond how good of a shooter, HE is
i think sort of the optics of this one and
the narrative, AROUND it i think is very helpful for,
the program but also just the consternation of the, fan
base right because when he was interviewed on that field
of sixty eight, With Uh jeff Goodman And, rob douster
(17:03):
him Saying that devrees flew down there, that, day right
and this is, you know not that we know Everything
That mike woodson, was doing but this was sort of,
that perception Right that woodson wasn't going the extra mile on,
the stuff that he wasn't really putting in that grinder
mentality on. The recruiting so to hear that when it was, looking,
(17:24):
like oh is he going to Go to, kentucky now
or there's some of these other schools got in. The
Mix for dereez to kind of go down there and lock,
IT up i think was also important. To see, AND
yeah i think overall you can, you know it's another
Thing that wemth has brought up. AS well i think
he even did when he was on the pod with
you whatever that was several weeks. Back now but this
(17:44):
theory of opposites right where they sometimes you hire the
coach or the guy that's that's that's quite different from the.
Last REGIME and i think you could really feel that
with with in many. WAYS here i think the first
is obvious in the, roster construction and the style of
(18:04):
play is going to be. QUITE different i think this
team is going to share the ball, like CRAZY and
i think they're going to hit a lot. More THREES
and i think defensively things are going to be. Different
too there's not going to be any even a nod
to any sort of nail slot rim type stuff going on.
Out THERE but, i, think yeah in the way that
because he's been around the college game so long and
(18:25):
has been an assistant and sort of knows what that.
ALL takes i think the attention, to detail the attention
of the relationships and, you know putting in, you know
and some. Of it it's so strange to me sometimes when,
you know you see what he's doing and, it's, like,
well yeah of course he's up at the, you know
the state, title game you KNOW what, I mean like
(18:46):
this is He's the but because that wasn't, happening before
and there's that comparison off the last regime that that
seems like it's this, great THING and i understand why
people are perceiving it that way or are happy, about
it but at the, same time it should sort of
just be the standard for the job and for the
head of, the team and that is, you know. Happening again,
(19:10):
AND yeah i think too just some of THE ways
i think there's been maybe more in an alignment as Well,
with dolson with. THE administration i think last time Around
with woodson and sort of however that really shook out
for him to get. The job, Dolson's, like, okay well
(19:31):
let's bring in a thad mana in somebody that really
knows college basketball that can kind of help with some
of the finer details and. All that and, Even Jeezuh
michigan state Bringing In fife israel, as well right to
kind of have a top level assistant that had been and,
you know those guys were were gone after the. First
(19:51):
year and this time we really talked about like WANTING,
that CEO and i Think with woodson he tried to
HELP like ceo by committee or bring in some other
pieces to. Help THAT where I think DeVries has a
has a, really strong sharp perspective and vision about what
he wants to do with. The program but he really
(20:12):
talked about that trickling down in. All ASPECTS and i
think just the language and the way that he speaks
is quite Different from woodson. As WELL and i think
that also is a pretty stark contrast and Something that
dolson's really seemed to be looking for and identifying in. His, coach.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Yeah what what a low bar for being getting drawing
excitement from the fan base that, you know, people are,
you know thrilled that he. Went down he flew down
to close the deal with a. Recruit recruit shouldn't that
be kind of the expectation when You're the. Indiana coach
the same thing with the state. Finals Thing and i'm
sure we're going to see it when when the recruiting
(20:54):
periods open and there's an evaluation period for high school
Kids in may and then of Course. IN july i
don't think we're going to be seeing any Reports of
Darren de reees going missing for a couple of days
on the. RECRUITING job i think he's going to be
out there kind of doing. The JOB so i mean
that just kind of speaks overall to just the difference
in terms of the approach to. THE job i think
(21:17):
he's looking at it as a three hundred and, sixty five,
you know twenty four to seven job that he's going
to be grinding day in and, day out and, RIGHT
now i know he's grinding day in and day out
because he's trying to put. Together team the, other thing
going Back to wolkerston for, a second when you look
at the numbers and some people are going, to say
well he did This At Sam, Houston state well he
(21:38):
did it night in and night out when everyone in
the on the other team knew he was the guy
that was going to be getting the shots taking. The
shots it's it's hard to do that consistently if you're
not a really. Good player i'm not saying he's going
to come in and be a First Team all big.
Ten guy actually be surprised if that's how it, ended
UP but i think his floor is, relatively high and
(22:01):
you don't shoot that that volume of threes and make
that volume of threes unless you're a really. Elite shooter
and there's A reason. KENTUCKY won, i mean it's a
lot of these recruitments going Back to connorway now and
who will get to in, A Second ann wilkerson look
at some of the other schools that, wanted THEM they're.
SEC schools i think those are the recruiting battles you
want to be in because look at WHAT the sec
(22:23):
did as a conference. Last season so the second Commitment
that Indiana Got, josiah miles that one kind of popped
up early in the week that he was going to.
Visit again things are happening quickly in. The portal, you
know we hear a couple of days before HE'S gonna
i think we Hear heard monday he's, gonna visit starts To,
visit tuesday and then Commits, By wednesday so pretty. Quick
(22:48):
timeline not sure how long things are going on in,
the background but you mentioned him being a little bit
unique in terms of what he can bring on the
Wing that indian hasn't had in. The past the other
thing that it's important here, AND again i think you
only have to look at the next season right now
when you're. A coach but he does have multiple years of.
Eligibility left i'm not sure long term that any college
(23:11):
basketball coach wants to have to go have to go
out every year and fill a complete roster via. THE
portally i think you want to have a little bit.
Of continuity i'm not saying you can expect nine or ten,
guys back but if you can have at least a
handful of guys that you can count on after a
season that really gives you a leg up in terms
of building. Your team But watching miles, on film not an,
explosive athlete but he, is long and he can finish
(23:35):
plays at the rim with, his length and he can
also make the three. Point shot took a really. High
volume obviously not the same Percentage, as WILKERSON but i
think he's a guy that's likely going to come off
the bench and give you some production there as a
as a scorer off. The bench what stood out when
you looked at, His profile.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know he. Can rea he's got some pretty strong rebounding,
numbers TOO which i think is not really something as
you look through some of the other guys that have
come in that have been a surround of a rebounder.
As HIM so i think that's like another thing to.
Point out, AND yeah i do kind of see him
maybe more as a, bench player but a bench player
(24:14):
that's maybe a touch above some of the other bench
players that again have been in the program potentially the last,
you know whatever four to eight years or whatever we want,
to say and, you know we'll time. WILL tell, i
mean it's it's really hard to know just sitting here
in the Middle, of APRIL but i do think he's
kind of got a pro and even too with the
amount of threes that. He's taken, you know maybe in
(24:35):
a in a system that isn't shooting, so many maybe
on a, lower volume and he's getting, better looks and
he's getting them from the spots on the floor that
are are more favorable. To him that might also potentially rise.
A bit and then you maybe got another guy that's
in the mid mid thirties and up up on. His game,
BUT yeah i think it's it's a multiple, year guy
(24:56):
which as, you said is, super important that can do
do a call number, of things but maybe not do
them at the level that some of the other guys
they brought in or at an elite. Elite level and,
guess what not everyone on your roster is going to
be able to, Do that and there needs to be
a bench and some backups too that can that can
come off the bench and do a variety. Of THINGS
(25:16):
so i think in that regard that's kind of, AND
honestly i think some of, This too and the way, You,
know debrees we think is going about this right is
identifying guys that maybe he thinks can really fit or
that he can elevate, a bit or he can really
see where they plug in. And on if you're trusting,
(25:39):
in THAT then i think the way that this kind
of one came together pretty quick and it's one of
the early ones here could mean something, as well.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
For sure so the most, recent commitment which seems like
old news but less than or less than two days
removed From this, Wednesday Night, ayton Connorway The Sun belt
player Of the Year. From troy some people who follow
college basketball colse may have been familiar with Him because
troy Actually played kentucky in the first round OF The.
Ncaa tournament he's a guy that when you look at,
(26:12):
the numbers he did a little bit. Of everything he
scored for. His team he rebounded, the ball he had
a really good, assist rate he was third in the
country and steals and you look at his shot chart
and maybe it doesn't stand out because he was the
center of attention for. His team and, YOU know i
(26:32):
noted in his commitment story that he didn't have the
best performances against the high, major competition but, Those teams
i'm sure were pretty keyed in on slowing him down
and limiting. His effectiveness and it's hard to really draw
any huge conclusions from such a small. Sample SIZE but
i think, with him the thing that stands out on
(26:55):
FILM when i watched him going to the rim just
how crafty he was with his fiolwork and how he
finds his way into small spaces. THE passing, i mean
if you haven't watched the scouting video that we have
that's embedded in the, commitment story and you can also
just find it on YouTube by typing in his name and,
SCOUTING video, i think but some of the cysts that,
(27:17):
HE had, i mean he puts the ball like right
where it needs to be going into, the lane and
you look at that and, you say, All right india
is gonna have two or three shooters on. The perimeter
this guy can if he can get the ball on
the paint and fine shooters for. OPEN looks, i mean
it's gonna be open season from the Perimeter. For indiana and.
That's offensively the thing that stands out, to me the
(27:39):
fact that he can get the ball on the paint,
and finish and then also if it's, not there he
can look for, his teammates and then defensively to have ninety.
Eight steals everyone talked about last season the Impact That
chucky hepburn had coming Over to louisville from a, defensive
perspective and this guy had more steels last season Than.
CHUCKI hepburn i know he didn't do it at the,
same level but, to me he seems like he's going
(28:02):
to be a guy that's going to go out there
and make life difficult for the opposing team's, point guard
and he's going to be a pest to. Play against,
and that to me is what you want out of your.
POINT guard a guy that can facilitate on one end
and then kind of Tomorrow A mike woodson's arm here
be the head of the. Snake defensively that's that's what
(28:23):
he looks like, to me.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Totally agree crafty is the first word that came to
MIND when i watched, his film, as well kind of physical.
As well once he gets, In there, oh, yeah yeah
that's like some of the ways that he Scored, to
again it's not like this explosive getting right to the
hoop and, you know zero point, two seconds but it's
it's really reading where guys are at using his body.
Super well, so yeah it's an. INTERESTING watch, i agree
(28:46):
like people haven't seen it yet to check. It out,
AND yeah i think within that, as well, you know
the synergy numbers kind of pop up as, they're showing,
you know different highlights. From them and about sixty two
percent of his baskets are at, the, rim right so
he is a guy that can really score at the rim.
Pretty well even if you know his his, his overall,
you know it's three. POINT shooting i think he's twenty
(29:07):
seven point six from from three on. The year, but
weirdly and there's a number of guys on this roster
that they can HE hit i think it. Was him
it's like eleven threes from like twenty five feet. Or
further and there's like a couple of guys on the
roster that have come in now that, hit deep. Deep
threes so that'll be interesting to see as well as
(29:27):
at the season. Progresses here, but yeah, THE his i
think that's what is almost best is that it's a
point guard that's, two WAY and i think that's going
to be super helpful for a lot of. The reasons
that's you're already laid Out and i'd, like, to uh, you,
Know obviously i'm sure because, You know wilkerson was obviously in,
(29:50):
high demand and, You know conray had some other teams
after him. And such BUT when I when i, look at,
you know some of these these players that are, coming
in and again it's easy to just project this, stuff, On,
right okay some of these guys came up FROM the
juco ranks and then they were, you know at. Lower
level now they're at, you know the highest level of,
college basketball, which means of course they have to have
(30:10):
like a chip on. THEIR shoulder, i Mean like wilkerson
kind of spoke to that and Interviewed with field of.
Sixty eight that's nothing's ever been given. To HIM but,
i again in this theory, of opposites if we're talking,
about here if you think about, last season and, you
know not to say that those guys. WEREN'T talented, i mean,
you know looking at some numbers again and Looking, AT indiana,
i mean if you See where umerballo rated in terms
(30:30):
of like effective field, Goal percent like he was a
great player, last YEAR and i know that there were
some limits to what he could do and what his.
Strengths were maybe, Didn't mean indiana could space the floor.
As much maybe we had to play some more back
to the basket basketball in all that kind of things
that came with that type. Of player but he was
(30:51):
a really good player. Last season and, YOU know I
Think miles rice got in a situation again where roster
construction maybe didn't help him out much in terms. Of
Spacing and i'm actually really interested To See miles Rice
at maryland this year and to see if he can
kind of regain, his MOJO because i think he really
(31:13):
lost confidence and and, all that and so it'll be
interesting to see kind of what happens with him on.
Another ROSTER but i guess all this is, TO say
i think last year it seemed like it was high
major guys that, had high high portal rankings that were.
Brought in and it's almost.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
It's almost like it's almost like somebody just went in
the portal rankings, and said let's let's get. These.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Guys, baby, yeah potentially but, YOU know i to give
maybe A little i, don't know. CREDIT there I guess i, would,
say like, you know what's IS like i realized we really,
need guards but, it's, like well you Bought, in RICE
who i think really thrives with a ton of space
and hitting, the gaps and he didn't have That. In
carlisle just from an, efficiency perspective, you know really kind
(31:59):
of fell off a cliff. This year but you look
at their numbers last year and it, was like, You
know Rice or carlisle wasn't like the most or, excuse
me two. Seasons ago Now, at stanford he wasn't the most,
efficient player and you know a lot of the talk about,
that was, oh well he was asked to do so
much as. A freshman they didn't really have a lot of.
Good players that's why he. You know but AND then
i Think with, rice too although he was a decent three,
(32:21):
POINT shooter i don't know when he finished, you know
thirty two or thirty three percent maybe on. The season
but again that's kind OF where i think he was
at when he Was, out west, and uh, you know
didn't really improve. From there but it's, always, that, oh
well they should improve the, next year and, you know
maybe they can rise up a. Couple percent but but
all this is, to say the type of players that
(32:41):
are coming in now are from some, lower levels and
maybe that means. They're hunger maybe, that MEANS and i
feel like they're being selected for some really like elite
individual numbers and skills that are adding up to a
collective of players that are going to play in a
certain style that's a little uh different than just the
(33:02):
we have the, traditional big we have the traditional, point,
guard right and sort of all, these older sort of
dated ways of looking at how to set up a
basketball team and how to, uh yeah just have. A
roster so it is INTERESTING and, i wonder, You know
i'm seeing you all this stuff. Going around NOW there's
i don't know who the hell, reported this but, it's,
(33:23):
like oh there's ten programs that have ten million dollars plus.
For nil, You know indiana's. In there but you look at.
The point i'm sure You, know wilkerson you know it.
Did well but it's, i know if moneyball is the,
right word or like we're like it's like, the uh
we're Like The oklahoma city thunder here the way they're
like constructing. The roster but it does almost seem like
(33:45):
more really identifying players of value in terms of maybe
some they're perceived maybe like they're not as good because
of the level that they're, coming from and really targeting
that kind of a guy and instead of, all right
here's the high major guy that's ranked high and we're
gonna throw a bag, at him.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
RIGHT yeah i mean the other, thing too about the high.
MAJOR transfers, i mean, the best the top of the
top high major guys are likely, going pro the best
because they're either good enough to go pro early or
they're older players in most cases that they're going to
be going pro because they're out. Of ELIGIBILITY so, i
(34:31):
mean really it's kind of the sweet spot right now
in recruiting because you don't want to load up. WITH freshmen,
I mean duke's been able to do, it still but
they're getting like the top of The Top cooper Flag
and nipple and the big guy that. They got those
guys are the cream of. THE crop, i Mean cal
perry did it a little bit last year Again. With
arkansas you saw it took him a while though as
the season went along to get those freshmen playing at.
(34:54):
Their BEST but i do think there's still some value
in high school recruiting if you can get that five
star type. Of PLAYER but i think the other SWEET
spot i think is gonna be being able to find
kind of the underrated oar high. School guy get them
in your program and develop, them over, of course for
a couple. Of YEARS and i think, Moving forward i've
been thinking about this a. LITTLE bit i think geography
(35:17):
is gonna play a pretty important piece in that because
and you can tell me if You think, i'm CRAZY
but i think from a hygh like if you're recruiting
a high, school kid if you get a Kid, FROM
indiana i think it's probably easier to sell that. Kid on,
all right you're gonna Come, To indiana you're not. Gonna,
play well maybe we'll see how this plays Out With. Trent,
(35:37):
sisley right you're not gonna play as much as, a
freshman but we have this plan for two or. Three
years we're gonna develop you and by the time you're a,
sophomore junior you're gonna be getting more minutes and we
want you to be one of our guys as. A
senior i'm not sure that you can do that as
easily with a guy From, say california because you bring,
them in maybe they're homesick for a year and maybe, they're,
LIKE well i don't really have any Tie, To indiana
(35:59):
like this is the program that, you know they just
gave me the best nil deal for the, first year
but they and then all of, a sudden this guy
comes in and, you know a school closer to, home
says well they didn't they played you four minutes. A game,
come here we'll get you. More minutes and all of, A,
sudden uh they go closer. To HOME so i do
think the sweet, spots now are you get the five,
(36:22):
star guy you maybe get under the radar high school
kid you can develop that's maybe closer. To home and then, After,
that UH actually i want to say, AFTER that i
think the top spot Is what indiana's has, gone after
which is the guys who were proven at the mid
major low. Major level as go to guys and you
identify what you want for, your system you bring those,
(36:42):
guys in and you fill out. A roster i kind
of think That's what devreese. Is doing and in, people
basketball why isn't he going after more high school kids? Right,
now well he's trying to win. Next season and unless,
you're getting, you know a five star kid that can
really get on the court, RIGHT away i think you're
you're kind of wasting. Your time unless you've got a
long standing relationship with a high.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
School, KID yeah i think the thing WITH what i
feel like, this YEAR and i know in a lot
of ways it's still The, wild west but there does
seem to be like because we've all been swimming in
the portal space a couple of seasons now and have
seen the fruit that it's either bearing or not bearing
for teams and sort of how. It's working getting, experienced
(37:26):
players even if you only get them for, a year
is really helpful because they're, more mature they've played a ton,
of games they know what, they're doing and that is
a team full, of that even if it's for, ONE
year i think is better than having a bunch of
(37:46):
freshmen trying to figure, it out especially if they're not the,
you know it's Not cal pari's freshmen coming in Or
john shire getting these freshmen that are these super, high
level five. Star guys, SO yeah i and certainly, NEXT
year i do think that it's important that they're combetitive.
Right Away right but really that's the game kind of
(38:07):
a lot of these coaches are, playing Now, IS hey
i have the opportunity to go get experienced GUYS and
i don't have to wait three years for a guy
to pop or two or three years or really not
know what he's gonna be at. THIS level i have
film of three seasons some of, these guys four. Five
seasons all these guys trying to get like, the, sixth
seventh eighth year eligibility. Out there. It's insane but when
(38:29):
you've got a twenty three, twenty four, you know in
some cases this, past season you've got a twenty three
twenty four yettle kid that's playing.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
At, this point they're grown.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Up exactly that that's on, your roster and having a couple,
of them it just is kind of like logical that
they're gonna, be more they're gonna they're gonna produce better,
for you and they're gonna be there for you more
than someone that's never played at. This level SO so
i think that's part of it in what, You know defreese,
is targeting AND again i think he's he's getting those
(38:58):
guys from the lower level that are going to be
able to come up. AND produce i am interested to
see what the the high school plan is and what
he does, going forward because you know he did speak.
To it, you know you don't want to be rebuilding
your roster every year and you and you DON'T and
i totally. Get that so it looks like, this season,
(39:21):
you know some of the other GUYS that i think
there were what three or four kids that were coming
Into The, west virginia it doesn't really, seem, like yeah
it doesn't really Seem like indiana's really in the mix.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
For, them, Right right that's what it. Seems, like, eh.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Yeah so it's gonna be probably them having to hit
the ground running on, you know further classes that are,
you know twenty twenty, six guys twenty, twenty seven twenty,
twenty eight, and yeah they don't have to be. Huge
CLASSES but i do think to your point what you're
saying about maybe geography playing, a role it might not,
be geography might just be more of someone that believes,
(39:56):
in degrees believes in, the program is, comfortable there and
is willing to to to grow a little bit that
you can keep around for a couple, of years and
some kids are probably gonna be okay, with that and
there's gonna, and again if you want to trust in
everything that the coaching stuff, is doing that he's doing,
(40:16):
right now you can look at it that way and
say it's just about identifying the personality and you, know
whatever some of the family, on it and there will
be some type of players that might be okay. With
IT but i think in this day, and age with
being able to move around, so much it might be
harder to kind of identify. Those GUYS but, I do
(40:36):
i do agree that they are, out there and that's
maybe kind of the model going forward is trusting in
if you're going to be bringing in some younger kids
and some out of the high, school ranks that they're
going to be a part of it and they can
kind of grow and learn while also supplementing that base
with really experienced players from. The.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
PORTAL yeah, i mean the other thing you can also
do is just get portal guys that have multiple years.
Of experience that kind of of another thing that maybe
they needed a couple more of. Those Guys but ryan
always good TO talk i. You hoops fun to have
an episode where there's obviously it's been much more positive
over the, last month but now we actually had some
(41:15):
players to, talk about some players. To discuss so thanks
for taking the time to come on of.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Course anytime.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Thanks everybody it's always for listening to podcasts On. The
brink if you enjoyed, the show please leave us a
five star rating and a review Over On apple podcasts
or Over, on spotify and we'll be back soon with
another episode of podcast On. The brink
Welcome back to a new episode of Podcasts on the Brink. Friday,
April eighteenth, been a busy, busy week Brandy and a
Basketball picking up three new players from the Transfer Portal.
Ryan Kraza back on Podcast on the Brink as this
week's guests. Before we get to Ryan and talk about
these new portal editions, I wanted to take a minute
(00:40):
to remind you that this episode of Podcast on the
Brink brought to you by Visit Bloomington. Just because the
basketball season is over doesn't mean the fun stops. Spring
is the perfect time to explore everything Bloomington has to offer.
Hike the trails at Griffey Lake and that nature preserved,
then refueld with local flavors on tap at Upland Brewing Company.
And don't forget about the mini music festivals coming to
(01:01):
Bloomington this spring. Whether you're out into outdoor adventures, food,
or just relaxing in a vibrant college town, Visit Bloomington's
got you covered. Start planning your spring getaway now at
visit Bloomington dot com. Ryan Busy Week on the Portal
Front Indiana picks up Lamar Wilkerson on is It Tuesday? Afternoon,
(01:24):
then two commitments back to back about I think it
was not like nine to twenty on Wednesday night, and
then the the rare eleven twenty six pm on a
Wednesday night finish for portal commitment happened. Luckily I hadn't
gone to sleep for the day and got that one
up pretty quick on Inside the Hall. But just your
(01:45):
overall reaction to this week and now that we have
a little bit more of a clear focus on this
roster for Indiana basketball, I think there's seven confirmed players.
Now we'll still wait to see what happens with Luke Goodie,
but seven on the roster, so slowly but surely getting
there for Indiana basketball. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Well, you know, today's April eighteenth, and I believe that
Darren Devreese was hired on March eighteenth, so it's only
been one month on the job, which I know, in
internet up to the minute trends these days or times
these days, it sounds like, you know, it's dog years
type calculation or something, it's been a year, but it
(02:27):
has only been a couple of weeks. And yeah, I
think this week is it finally. You know, some people
obviously in this culture we live in now a couple
of days a week not landing anybody the sky is
falling type situation. But I think this week here things
are the fog is starting to lift a bit on
(02:48):
the roster in terms of, you know, guys that are
probably going to get heavy minutes. And while there are
definitely still some holes, I mean, I think the center
position and the front line, I still think they need
to shore that up a bit and get a rim
protector and you know, somebody that can such screens and
kind of do some of the dirty work around some
(03:09):
of the shooting and passing that's going to be happening.
But yeah, it's definitely crystallizing a bit, and it'll be
interesting to see how they fill the rest of this
out because you know, really starting from almost absolute zero
here there, and it's something that he's used to doing.
I mean, if reason it last year at West Virginia.
But because of the amount of players he needs to
(03:29):
pick up, I mean, there certainly still could be a
decent amount more names to drop here in the next
couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Yeah, I'll be interested to see kind of where the
final roster number ends at because typically you have thirteen
scholarship players on a college basketball team. Now, the limits,
the roster limits are expanding next season to fifteen. I
just don't see a scenario where most college basketball teams
are gonna want to have fifteen scholarship players. I think
in an era of player movement to begin with, that's
(03:59):
a rest you're kind of setting yourself up for guys
getting unhappy with their minutes and wanting to leave. So,
you know, I think somewhere in the range of eleven
twelve players is kind of where you want to settle at.
Maybe you fill in the rest of it with walk
ons or guys that are coming in with the idea of, hey,
we're going to develop you over the course of a
couple of years. Although how realistic is that in an
(04:22):
era where everyone wants to play and have a chance
to be a part of something. So I'll be watching
that in the next couple of weeks for sure. But
just the other thing that that's kind of stuck out
to me as people you mentioned maybe grew impatient a
little bit, is this has taken what a full month
now to get to seven players. Really not that long
(04:44):
a time in the grand scheme of things, especially when
you're starting with nothing but Derees when he was introduced,
really talked about doing the work on the front end
to kind of vet these guys to figure out who
he wanted and how they would fit into the team
Atmosphe here in the locker room and talked about that
being a big part of, you know, the culture and everything.
(05:05):
So as it took a little bit longer, maybe than
some people wanted to get these these guys in the fold,
I think a lot of that had to do with
just the fact that he's still trying to put together
a full staff. He's got three assistant coaches, and then
also just in portal recruiting, things happen so fast. Guys
are making decisions so quickly that you know, you could
(05:28):
think you have a chance with a guy, and then
two days later he's off to visit somewhere and making
a commitment, and things are flying at kind of warp
speed here. So I don't think in the grand scheme
of things, anything's behind schedule. I think overall, they're in
a pretty good spot. And now that they've got the
bulk of I don't want to say they have every
(05:48):
starter that they're gonna have on the roster yet because
maybe they add another guy who maybe someone starts at
the five, or they bring in another high, high level player.
But I think now they can maybe be a little
bit more selective and go out and get you know,
certain roles, certain pieces that they need to fill out
the rest of the roster. So I'm curious, like you
(06:09):
mentioned a rim protector, you mentioned just maybe someone to
do some of the dirty works at screens, Like ideally,
if you're looking at this roster, how does the rest
of it take shape and how many more guys legitimately
do you think they need that can actually get on
the form play.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well, yeah, I think beyond the five spot to me,
between Connorway and Enright, you could say it's just a
point guard and a backup point guard. Obviously you want
some other guys that can probably handle the ball and
take that role on here and there if they need to.
But I think you can at least see that. But uh,
(06:51):
I think it's more going forward garden wing depth. Right,
you can see Wilkerson and then you know, other than that,
I think DeVries, you know, he kind of I guess
he's you know, he's a stretch four. I could see
some some three there for him as well, and Reed
(07:13):
Bailey's pretty interesting type of player too. I think he
also is you know, obviously has the size I think
at like six', ten but he doesn't Really he's not
What indiana's maybe used to from a guy that's six
ten on the, roster, right AND i think the way
that he, plays he's got a pretty strong assist rate
for his. Size he used a ton of possessions last.
(07:35):
Year it was the eighteenth in the country and possessions,
used and you, know he was a good three point
shooter at forty one point five, percent but that was
on pretty limited. Attempts so, AGAIN I i'm not quite
sure where he fits in with if you, KNOW i
could see him in derees both being on the, floor
but does that mean that there's no five on the?
Floor are they playing like the three and the four
(07:56):
of those two? Guys BECAUSE i think he's such a
good passer and can do so many different things that
there can still be that spacing THAT i think this
team is going to have a lot more than it
was in The woodson. Era so, yeah, center and THEN
i think just more, more got more guards and wings
that hopefully have that kind of trio of skill sets
where they can, pass they can shoot it pretty. Well
(08:18):
if they need to put it on the floor they,
can and then just kind of thinking defensively as. Well
LIKE i Think miles From North, florida while maybe his you,
know his his shooting numbers don't jump off the. PAGE
i mean he, did it's crazy. Him he shot two
hundred and twenty four threes last year And wilkershon shot
two hundred and twenty. Six AND i looked this. UP
(08:39):
i Think goody last year shot the most On indiana
was one hundred and fifty. Eight so you, know these
guys got up whatever sixty seventy more threes than he.
Did and Obviously North FLORIDA i think they were the
highest three they shot the post. Threes, yeah from like
a percentage wise or whatever amount of. Shots so those
two are like certainly very very used to shooting a
ton of three and getting it up in that. System
(09:03):
BUT i THINK i feel Like miles is the type
of player two That indiana has not really had much
of in either the this middle era of last whatever
eight years here or so or eight seasons Between Archie
miller And Mike, woodson where he's got some real length
(09:23):
on the, wing AND i think that that's good for.
Defense AND i know people have been talking, about you
know a little bit of how this team is being
structured and the idea of you, know THE sec and
some of the other top programs really having that length
and athleticism at multiple, positions multiple garden wings that can
(09:43):
do multiple things with the, ball and that in The Big,
ten we really haven't seen that as. Much, right it's
more in this physical. Style maybe it leans on some
teams a little bit more big, heavy and that you,
know obviously throughout the years that hasn't always been the.
CASE i think you look at Those John bline teams
At michigan and even really after he was, GONE i
think some of The Jowan howard teams certainly profiled differently
(10:05):
than a lot of the Other Big ten. TEAMS i
Think michigan kind of had a, run and you, know
the Bee line, TEAMS i think two of them went
to the to the title. Game so it'll be interesting
to see where things land and, how you, know maybe
they stack. Up maybe this team isn't built to win
The Big, ten so to, speak but is built to
(10:28):
be a more competitive team. Overall in modern college, basketball
WHICH i think is an okay trade.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Off, yeah we may see that more and more, too
just as more new coaches come into the. League and
you Got ben McCollum coming in To iowan out obviously
he's Replacing fran, McCaffrey who was basically the you, know
just an offense only guy that tried to outscore you
and didn't play any. Defense but Also Nico medved coming
(10:57):
in At. Minnesota we'll see how that transforms their. Style
How Buzz williams comes into The Big ten as, well
coming To maryland and he comes from THE. Sec, so you,
know been a little bit of a changing in the guard,
TOO i think with some of the coaches in the
league over the last you, know five to ten. Years,
anyway you, know we have the long standing guys And
painter And, izzo but kind of a new era of
(11:19):
coaches coming. League Dustin may At michigan another guy that's
now going into a second, year ran a more modern
style of. Play So i'm. Excited you. Know i've always
always like to give a hard time to the officiating
in The Big, ten BUT i do think the, games
if you just watch leagues around the country different leagues
and then you watch the. TOURNAMENT a lot of what
(11:41):
the basketball that's played in the Actual Big ten season
is completely different than what's played around the, country AND
i think that's you, know we always talk about the
National championship, drought and a lot of that is just you,
know luck of the draw on how things play, out
our play out in a sixty eight team. Tournament but
at the same time, time you, know The Big ten
(12:03):
does have a way to go in terms of just
modernizing the style of, play and hopefully these new coaches
can help get that. DONE i want to talk about
all these these new players a little bit BECAUSE i
know you've watched the film on. Them i've watched the
film as well and looked into each of. Them we'll
just kind of go in order. Here as they Committed Lamar.
Wilkerson it was interesting because everyone thought with The Trillie
(12:24):
donovan giff that was was dropped that he, was you,
know destined to go to To. INDIANA i think that
was over a week ago that that that came, out
and then there was a bit of a time period
where it was more. Uncertain he set up visits To
indiana than went To, kentucky was sedg to go To
auburn And Old miss, originally and he was just going
(12:44):
to go To auburn and then he was gonna not
go to either of those last two. Schools so he Visits,
indiana Visits. Kentucky there's a little bit of a build
up and. Drama we see The it's it's funny just
How indiana has handled these visits compared to can you,
know other. Schools everything's kind of been really under the.
Radar and then At kentucky you See Lamar wilkerson At
(13:05):
Keenland Horse track and he's out in the paddock with
horses With Mark pope and all these pictures are all.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Over The, yeah big horse, GUY i.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Guess, SO i mean that worked last year for him
With Amari, williams the big guy that they got on A,
drexel one of their better. Players they took him around
over At keenland and that was a big deal on social.
Media but just With. Wilkerson obviously we don't know what
The nile offers were from both schools and how that
all came into, it but a big deal For indiana
(13:38):
to get his commitment over Over kentucky because it showed
that you, know they were serious about landing one of
the top players in the portal and then you just
watch the film and you talk, about you, Know miles
is kind of different than what they've. HAD i, mean
when was the last Time indiana had really a guard
that could score from basically anywhere on the court. Consistently
(14:01):
it's been a. While so watching his, film he's not
afraid to take the deep. Three he can get into the.
Lane just the volume of three pointers really impressed. You
but more more than, that it's the percentage that he
shot one of the top three point shooters in the
country last. Year So i'm just curious when you watched,
HIM i bet you were maybe a little bit excited
(14:25):
at the prospect of doing some film sessions on a
guy that could go off for, six, seven eight threes
in a.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Game, yeah you, know beyond his. Numbers the one thing
that stuck out it and, uh you, KNOW i know
he came Into Assembly hall last season and played as.
Well but he's bigger THAN i. Thought he's six,', Five
right and, TO me i don't know in my head,
him thinking, you know there there have been so many
guards throughout the last couple, of seasons In the guarantee
(14:51):
games and You Know november december that are Coming Into
assembly HALL that i feel like are all between five
to eleven and six two and the guys that have
kind of been Lighting Up assembly oh when they've. Come
in but he's got some size to, him TOO which
i think is just another good piece of the puzzle with.
His game another, thing too just looking at the volume
(15:13):
of some of these guys. Just comparatively, YOU know i
said that he took two hundred and twenty. SIX attempts
i Think from Exis And Joe's mike wemith has put
out there that it's very rare that somebody is in
the top. Ten percent, you know they shot in his
forty three point. FOUR percent i think he's saying is
(15:33):
in the top ten of the country. Last year but
he was also in the top fifty in volume of
threes that he took and that that's a pretty. Rare
thing some years that doesn't, even happen and like the,
last decade maybe there's just been a handful of guys
that have. Done that so that's a pretty impressive number.
AS well, i think, you know it doesn't, you know
it got to the line ninety seven times last year
and shot eighty two point. Five percent so a good free,
(15:55):
throw shooter which isn't surprising as well because of how
good he is is a three point hio that usually correlates.
Pretty strongly and, then yeah on those two hundred and
twenty six attempts they took. FROM three, i look You
know ballow all of. Last, season, now again he's a,
big man maybe sometimes harder to get him a lot
of shots and, all that but he took two hundred
and fifty two total shots all last Season Balla so
(16:17):
wilkerson only took, you know about twenty five ish less
Threes than ballo took shots the, entire season which is
kind of a which was an interesting one to see.
As well, and yeah obviously with as well as the
shoots from three fifty seven point six effective field goal percentage,
as well which was like one hundred and sixty third in.
The country so it's definitely a. Premiere player, and honestly beyond,
(16:40):
the numbers beyond how good of a shooter, HE is
i think sort of the optics of this one and
the narrative, AROUND it i think is very helpful for,
the program but also just the consternation of the, fan
base right because when he was interviewed on that field
of sixty eight, With Uh jeff Goodman And, rob douster
(17:03):
him Saying that devrees flew down there, that, day right
and this is, you know not that we know Everything
That mike woodson, was doing but this was sort of,
that perception Right that woodson wasn't going the extra mile on,
the stuff that he wasn't really putting in that grinder
mentality on. The recruiting so to hear that when it was, looking,
(17:24):
like oh is he going to Go to, kentucky now
or there's some of these other schools got in. The
Mix for dereez to kind of go down there and lock,
IT up i think was also important. To see, AND
yeah i think overall you can, you know it's another
Thing that wemth has brought up. AS well i think
he even did when he was on the pod with
you whatever that was several weeks. Back now but this
(17:44):
theory of opposites right where they sometimes you hire the
coach or the guy that's that's that's quite different from the.
Last REGIME and i think you could really feel that
with with in many. WAYS here i think the first
is obvious in the, roster construction and the style of
(18:04):
play is going to be. QUITE different i think this
team is going to share the ball, like CRAZY and
i think they're going to hit a lot. More THREES
and i think defensively things are going to be. Different
too there's not going to be any even a nod
to any sort of nail slot rim type stuff going on.
Out THERE but, i, think yeah in the way that
because he's been around the college game so long and
(18:25):
has been an assistant and sort of knows what that.
ALL takes i think the attention, to detail the attention
of the relationships and, you know putting in, you know
and some. Of it it's so strange to me sometimes when,
you know you see what he's doing and, it's, like,
well yeah of course he's up at the, you know
the state, title game you KNOW what, I mean like
(18:46):
this is He's the but because that wasn't, happening before
and there's that comparison off the last regime that that
seems like it's this, great THING and i understand why
people are perceiving it that way or are happy, about
it but at the, same time it should sort of
just be the standard for the job and for the
head of, the team and that is, you know. Happening again,
(19:10):
AND yeah i think too just some of THE ways
i think there's been maybe more in an alignment as Well,
with dolson with. THE administration i think last time Around
with woodson and sort of however that really shook out
for him to get. The job, Dolson's, like, okay well
(19:31):
let's bring in a thad mana in somebody that really
knows college basketball that can kind of help with some
of the finer details and. All that and, Even Jeezuh
michigan state Bringing In fife israel, as well right to
kind of have a top level assistant that had been and,
you know those guys were were gone after the. First
(19:51):
year and this time we really talked about like WANTING,
that CEO and i Think with woodson he tried to
HELP like ceo by committee or bring in some other
pieces to. Help THAT where I think DeVries has a
has a, really strong sharp perspective and vision about what
he wants to do with. The program but he really
(20:12):
talked about that trickling down in. All ASPECTS and i
think just the language and the way that he speaks
is quite Different from woodson. As WELL and i think
that also is a pretty stark contrast and Something that
dolson's really seemed to be looking for and identifying in. His, coach.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Yeah what what a low bar for being getting drawing
excitement from the fan base that, you know, people are,
you know thrilled that he. Went down he flew down
to close the deal with a. Recruit recruit shouldn't that
be kind of the expectation when You're the. Indiana coach
the same thing with the state. Finals Thing and i'm
sure we're going to see it when when the recruiting
(20:54):
periods open and there's an evaluation period for high school
Kids in may and then of Course. IN july i
don't think we're going to be seeing any Reports of
Darren de reees going missing for a couple of days
on the. RECRUITING job i think he's going to be
out there kind of doing. The JOB so i mean
that just kind of speaks overall to just the difference
in terms of the approach to. THE job i think
(21:17):
he's looking at it as a three hundred and, sixty five,
you know twenty four to seven job that he's going
to be grinding day in and, day out and, RIGHT
now i know he's grinding day in and day out
because he's trying to put. Together team the, other thing
going Back to wolkerston for, a second when you look
at the numbers and some people are going, to say
well he did This At Sam, Houston state well he
(21:38):
did it night in and night out when everyone in
the on the other team knew he was the guy
that was going to be getting the shots taking. The
shots it's it's hard to do that consistently if you're
not a really. Good player i'm not saying he's going
to come in and be a First Team all big.
Ten guy actually be surprised if that's how it, ended
UP but i think his floor is, relatively high and
(22:01):
you don't shoot that that volume of threes and make
that volume of threes unless you're a really. Elite shooter
and there's A reason. KENTUCKY won, i mean it's a
lot of these recruitments going Back to connorway now and
who will get to in, A Second ann wilkerson look
at some of the other schools that, wanted THEM they're.
SEC schools i think those are the recruiting battles you
want to be in because look at WHAT the sec
(22:23):
did as a conference. Last season so the second Commitment
that Indiana Got, josiah miles that one kind of popped
up early in the week that he was going to.
Visit again things are happening quickly in. The portal, you
know we hear a couple of days before HE'S gonna
i think we Hear heard monday he's, gonna visit starts To,
visit tuesday and then Commits, By wednesday so pretty. Quick
(22:48):
timeline not sure how long things are going on in,
the background but you mentioned him being a little bit
unique in terms of what he can bring on the
Wing that indian hasn't had in. The past the other
thing that it's important here, AND again i think you
only have to look at the next season right now
when you're. A coach but he does have multiple years of.
Eligibility left i'm not sure long term that any college
(23:11):
basketball coach wants to have to go have to go
out every year and fill a complete roster via. THE
portally i think you want to have a little bit.
Of continuity i'm not saying you can expect nine or ten,
guys back but if you can have at least a
handful of guys that you can count on after a
season that really gives you a leg up in terms
of building. Your team But watching miles, on film not an,
explosive athlete but he, is long and he can finish
(23:35):
plays at the rim with, his length and he can
also make the three. Point shot took a really. High
volume obviously not the same Percentage, as WILKERSON but i
think he's a guy that's likely going to come off
the bench and give you some production there as a
as a scorer off. The bench what stood out when
you looked at, His profile.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know he. Can rea he's got some pretty strong rebounding,
numbers TOO which i think is not really something as
you look through some of the other guys that have
come in that have been a surround of a rebounder.
As HIM so i think that's like another thing to.
Point out, AND yeah i do kind of see him
maybe more as a, bench player but a bench player
(24:14):
that's maybe a touch above some of the other bench
players that again have been in the program potentially the last,
you know whatever four to eight years or whatever we want,
to say and, you know we'll time. WILL tell, i
mean it's it's really hard to know just sitting here
in the Middle, of APRIL but i do think he's
kind of got a pro and even too with the
amount of threes that. He's taken, you know maybe in
(24:35):
a in a system that isn't shooting, so many maybe
on a, lower volume and he's getting, better looks and
he's getting them from the spots on the floor that
are are more favorable. To him that might also potentially rise.
A bit and then you maybe got another guy that's
in the mid mid thirties and up up on. His game,
BUT yeah i think it's it's a multiple, year guy
(24:56):
which as, you said is, super important that can do
do a call number, of things but maybe not do
them at the level that some of the other guys
they brought in or at an elite. Elite level and,
guess what not everyone on your roster is going to
be able to, Do that and there needs to be
a bench and some backups too that can that can
come off the bench and do a variety. Of THINGS
(25:16):
so i think in that regard that's kind of, AND
honestly i think some of, This too and the way, You,
know debrees we think is going about this right is
identifying guys that maybe he thinks can really fit or
that he can elevate, a bit or he can really
see where they plug in. And on if you're trusting,
(25:39):
in THAT then i think the way that this kind
of one came together pretty quick and it's one of
the early ones here could mean something, as well.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
For sure so the most, recent commitment which seems like
old news but less than or less than two days
removed From this, Wednesday Night, ayton Connorway The Sun belt
player Of the Year. From troy some people who follow
college basketball colse may have been familiar with Him because
troy Actually played kentucky in the first round OF The.
Ncaa tournament he's a guy that when you look at,
(26:12):
the numbers he did a little bit. Of everything he
scored for. His team he rebounded, the ball he had
a really good, assist rate he was third in the
country and steals and you look at his shot chart
and maybe it doesn't stand out because he was the
center of attention for. His team and, YOU know i
(26:32):
noted in his commitment story that he didn't have the
best performances against the high, major competition but, Those teams
i'm sure were pretty keyed in on slowing him down
and limiting. His effectiveness and it's hard to really draw
any huge conclusions from such a small. Sample SIZE but
i think, with him the thing that stands out on
(26:55):
FILM when i watched him going to the rim just
how crafty he was with his fiolwork and how he
finds his way into small spaces. THE passing, i mean
if you haven't watched the scouting video that we have
that's embedded in the, commitment story and you can also
just find it on YouTube by typing in his name and,
SCOUTING video, i think but some of the cysts that,
(27:17):
HE had, i mean he puts the ball like right
where it needs to be going into, the lane and
you look at that and, you say, All right india
is gonna have two or three shooters on. The perimeter
this guy can if he can get the ball on
the paint and fine shooters for. OPEN looks, i mean
it's gonna be open season from the Perimeter. For indiana and.
That's offensively the thing that stands out, to me the
(27:39):
fact that he can get the ball on the paint,
and finish and then also if it's, not there he
can look for, his teammates and then defensively to have ninety.
Eight steals everyone talked about last season the Impact That
chucky hepburn had coming Over to louisville from a, defensive
perspective and this guy had more steels last season Than.
CHUCKI hepburn i know he didn't do it at the,
same level but, to me he seems like he's going
(28:02):
to be a guy that's going to go out there
and make life difficult for the opposing team's, point guard
and he's going to be a pest to. Play against,
and that to me is what you want out of your.
POINT guard a guy that can facilitate on one end
and then kind of Tomorrow A mike woodson's arm here
be the head of the. Snake defensively that's that's what
(28:23):
he looks like, to me.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Totally agree crafty is the first word that came to
MIND when i watched, his film, as well kind of physical.
As well once he gets, In there, oh, yeah yeah
that's like some of the ways that he Scored, to
again it's not like this explosive getting right to the
hoop and, you know zero point, two seconds but it's
it's really reading where guys are at using his body.
Super well, so yeah it's an. INTERESTING watch, i agree
(28:46):
like people haven't seen it yet to check. It out,
AND yeah i think within that, as well, you know
the synergy numbers kind of pop up as, they're showing,
you know different highlights. From them and about sixty two
percent of his baskets are at, the, rim right so
he is a guy that can really score at the rim.
Pretty well even if you know his his, his overall,
you know it's three. POINT shooting i think he's twenty
(29:07):
seven point six from from three on. The year, but
weirdly and there's a number of guys on this roster
that they can HE hit i think it. Was him
it's like eleven threes from like twenty five feet. Or
further and there's like a couple of guys on the
roster that have come in now that, hit deep. Deep
threes so that'll be interesting to see as well as
(29:27):
at the season. Progresses here, but yeah, THE his i
think that's what is almost best is that it's a
point guard that's, two WAY and i think that's going
to be super helpful for a lot of. The reasons
that's you're already laid Out and i'd, like, to uh, you,
Know obviously i'm sure because, You know wilkerson was obviously in,
(29:50):
high demand and, You know conray had some other teams
after him. And such BUT when I when i, look at,
you know some of these these players that are, coming
in and again it's easy to just project this, stuff, On,
right okay some of these guys came up FROM the
juco ranks and then they were, you know at. Lower
level now they're at, you know the highest level of,
college basketball, which means of course they have to have
(30:10):
like a chip on. THEIR shoulder, i Mean like wilkerson
kind of spoke to that and Interviewed with field of.
Sixty eight that's nothing's ever been given. To HIM but,
i again in this theory, of opposites if we're talking,
about here if you think about, last season and, you
know not to say that those guys. WEREN'T talented, i mean,
you know looking at some numbers again and Looking, AT indiana,
i mean if you See where umerballo rated in terms
(30:30):
of like effective field, Goal percent like he was a
great player, last YEAR and i know that there were
some limits to what he could do and what his.
Strengths were maybe, Didn't mean indiana could space the floor.
As much maybe we had to play some more back
to the basket basketball in all that kind of things
that came with that type. Of player but he was
(30:51):
a really good player. Last season and, YOU know I
Think miles rice got in a situation again where roster
construction maybe didn't help him out much in terms. Of
Spacing and i'm actually really interested To See miles Rice
at maryland this year and to see if he can
kind of regain, his MOJO because i think he really
(31:13):
lost confidence and and, all that and so it'll be
interesting to see kind of what happens with him on.
Another ROSTER but i guess all this is, TO say
i think last year it seemed like it was high
major guys that, had high high portal rankings that were.
Brought in and it's almost.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
It's almost like it's almost like somebody just went in
the portal rankings, and said let's let's get. These.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Guys, baby, yeah potentially but, YOU know i to give
maybe A little i, don't know. CREDIT there I guess i, would,
say like, you know what's IS like i realized we really,
need guards but, it's, like well you Bought, in RICE
who i think really thrives with a ton of space
and hitting, the gaps and he didn't have That. In
carlisle just from an, efficiency perspective, you know really kind
(31:59):
of fell off a cliff. This year but you look
at their numbers last year and it, was like, You
know Rice or carlisle wasn't like the most or, excuse
me two. Seasons ago Now, at stanford he wasn't the most,
efficient player and you know a lot of the talk about,
that was, oh well he was asked to do so
much as. A freshman they didn't really have a lot of.
Good players that's why he. You know but AND then
i Think with, rice too although he was a decent three,
(32:21):
POINT shooter i don't know when he finished, you know
thirty two or thirty three percent maybe on. The season
but again that's kind OF where i think he was
at when he Was, out west, and uh, you know
didn't really improve. From there but it's, always, that, oh
well they should improve the, next year and, you know
maybe they can rise up a. Couple percent but but
all this is, to say the type of players that
(32:41):
are coming in now are from some, lower levels and
maybe that means. They're hunger maybe, that MEANS and i
feel like they're being selected for some really like elite
individual numbers and skills that are adding up to a
collective of players that are going to play in a
certain style that's a little uh different than just the
(33:02):
we have the, traditional big we have the traditional, point,
guard right and sort of all, these older sort of
dated ways of looking at how to set up a
basketball team and how to, uh yeah just have. A
roster so it is INTERESTING and, i wonder, You know
i'm seeing you all this stuff. Going around NOW there's
i don't know who the hell, reported this but, it's,
(33:23):
like oh there's ten programs that have ten million dollars plus.
For nil, You know indiana's. In there but you look at.
The point i'm sure You, know wilkerson you know it.
Did well but it's, i know if moneyball is the,
right word or like we're like it's like, the uh
we're Like The oklahoma city thunder here the way they're
like constructing. The roster but it does almost seem like
(33:45):
more really identifying players of value in terms of maybe
some they're perceived maybe like they're not as good because
of the level that they're, coming from and really targeting
that kind of a guy and instead of, all right
here's the high major guy that's ranked high and we're
gonna throw a bag, at him.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
RIGHT yeah i mean the other, thing too about the high.
MAJOR transfers, i mean, the best the top of the
top high major guys are likely, going pro the best
because they're either good enough to go pro early or
they're older players in most cases that they're going to
be going pro because they're out. Of ELIGIBILITY so, i
(34:31):
mean really it's kind of the sweet spot right now
in recruiting because you don't want to load up. WITH freshmen,
I mean duke's been able to do, it still but
they're getting like the top of The Top cooper Flag
and nipple and the big guy that. They got those
guys are the cream of. THE crop, i Mean cal
perry did it a little bit last year Again. With
arkansas you saw it took him a while though as
the season went along to get those freshmen playing at.
(34:54):
Their BEST but i do think there's still some value
in high school recruiting if you can get that five
star type. Of PLAYER but i think the other SWEET
spot i think is gonna be being able to find
kind of the underrated oar high. School guy get them
in your program and develop, them over, of course for
a couple. Of YEARS and i think, Moving forward i've
been thinking about this a. LITTLE bit i think geography
(35:17):
is gonna play a pretty important piece in that because
and you can tell me if You think, i'm CRAZY
but i think from a hygh like if you're recruiting
a high, school kid if you get a Kid, FROM
indiana i think it's probably easier to sell that. Kid on,
all right you're gonna Come, To indiana you're not. Gonna,
play well maybe we'll see how this plays Out With. Trent,
(35:37):
sisley right you're not gonna play as much as, a
freshman but we have this plan for two or. Three
years we're gonna develop you and by the time you're a,
sophomore junior you're gonna be getting more minutes and we
want you to be one of our guys as. A
senior i'm not sure that you can do that as
easily with a guy From, say california because you bring,
them in maybe they're homesick for a year and maybe, they're,
LIKE well i don't really have any Tie, To indiana
(35:59):
like this is the program that, you know they just
gave me the best nil deal for the, first year
but they and then all of, a sudden this guy
comes in and, you know a school closer to, home
says well they didn't they played you four minutes. A game,
come here we'll get you. More minutes and all of, A,
sudden uh they go closer. To HOME so i do
think the sweet, spots now are you get the five,
(36:22):
star guy you maybe get under the radar high school
kid you can develop that's maybe closer. To home and then, After,
that UH actually i want to say, AFTER that i
think the top spot Is what indiana's has, gone after
which is the guys who were proven at the mid
major low. Major level as go to guys and you
identify what you want for, your system you bring those,
(36:42):
guys in and you fill out. A roster i kind
of think That's what devreese. Is doing and in, people
basketball why isn't he going after more high school kids? Right,
now well he's trying to win. Next season and unless,
you're getting, you know a five star kid that can
really get on the court, RIGHT away i think you're
you're kind of wasting. Your time unless you've got a
long standing relationship with a high.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
School, KID yeah i think the thing WITH what i
feel like, this YEAR and i know in a lot
of ways it's still The, wild west but there does
seem to be like because we've all been swimming in
the portal space a couple of seasons now and have
seen the fruit that it's either bearing or not bearing
for teams and sort of how. It's working getting, experienced
(37:26):
players even if you only get them for, a year
is really helpful because they're, more mature they've played a ton,
of games they know what, they're doing and that is
a team full, of that even if it's for, ONE
year i think is better than having a bunch of
(37:46):
freshmen trying to figure, it out especially if they're not the,
you know it's Not cal pari's freshmen coming in Or
john shire getting these freshmen that are these super, high
level five. Star guys, SO yeah i and certainly, NEXT
year i do think that it's important that they're combetitive.
Right Away right but really that's the game kind of
(38:07):
a lot of these coaches are, playing Now, IS hey
i have the opportunity to go get experienced GUYS and
i don't have to wait three years for a guy
to pop or two or three years or really not
know what he's gonna be at. THIS level i have
film of three seasons some of, these guys four. Five
seasons all these guys trying to get like, the, sixth
seventh eighth year eligibility. Out there. It's insane but when
(38:29):
you've got a twenty three, twenty four, you know in
some cases this, past season you've got a twenty three
twenty four yettle kid that's playing.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
At, this point they're grown.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Up exactly that that's on, your roster and having a couple,
of them it just is kind of like logical that
they're gonna, be more they're gonna they're gonna produce better,
for you and they're gonna be there for you more
than someone that's never played at. This level SO so
i think that's part of it in what, You know defreese,
is targeting AND again i think he's he's getting those
(38:58):
guys from the lower level that are going to be
able to come up. AND produce i am interested to
see what the the high school plan is and what
he does, going forward because you know he did speak.
To it, you know you don't want to be rebuilding
your roster every year and you and you DON'T and
i totally. Get that so it looks like, this season,
(39:21):
you know some of the other GUYS that i think
there were what three or four kids that were coming
Into The, west virginia it doesn't really, seem, like yeah
it doesn't really Seem like indiana's really in the mix.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
For, them, Right right that's what it. Seems, like, eh.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Yeah so it's gonna be probably them having to hit
the ground running on, you know further classes that are,
you know twenty twenty, six guys twenty, twenty seven twenty,
twenty eight, and yeah they don't have to be. Huge
CLASSES but i do think to your point what you're
saying about maybe geography playing, a role it might not,
be geography might just be more of someone that believes,
(39:56):
in degrees believes in, the program is, comfortable there and
is willing to to to grow a little bit that
you can keep around for a couple, of years and
some kids are probably gonna be okay, with that and
there's gonna, and again if you want to trust in
everything that the coaching stuff, is doing that he's doing,
(40:16):
right now you can look at it that way and
say it's just about identifying the personality and you, know
whatever some of the family, on it and there will
be some type of players that might be okay. With
IT but i think in this day, and age with
being able to move around, so much it might be
harder to kind of identify. Those GUYS but, I do
(40:36):
i do agree that they are, out there and that's
maybe kind of the model going forward is trusting in
if you're going to be bringing in some younger kids
and some out of the high, school ranks that they're
going to be a part of it and they can
kind of grow and learn while also supplementing that base
with really experienced players from. The.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
PORTAL yeah, i mean the other thing you can also
do is just get portal guys that have multiple years.
Of experience that kind of of another thing that maybe
they needed a couple more of. Those Guys but ryan
always good TO talk i. You hoops fun to have
an episode where there's obviously it's been much more positive
over the, last month but now we actually had some
(41:15):
players to, talk about some players. To discuss so thanks
for taking the time to come on of.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Course anytime.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Thanks everybody it's always for listening to podcasts On. The
brink if you enjoyed, the show please leave us a
five star rating and a review Over On apple podcasts
or Over, on spotify and we'll be back soon with
another episode of podcast On. The brink
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