The Contained in the Corridor Mailbag is a group of questions despatched to us by way of X (@insidethehall), by way of electronic mail, submitted by way of our community and our Facebook page. Submit your questions and we’ll reply as many as we are able to.
HoosierFan 76 writes: Why the heck would you set Purdue #1 within the rankings? They’re gonna suck with out Edey. My spidey sense is choosing up critical Hoosier sweep vibes this coming season.
Clearly, to troll Indiana followers. Kidding! Is Purdue taking a step again this season? Absolutely. How might they not with the lack of Zach Edey?
The truth of forecasting this 12 months’s Large Ten race is each workforce has questions. When you have been supplied the sphere or Purdue to win the Large Ten title subsequent season, take the sphere. Final season, you’ll have been loopy to not take Purdue.
What we learn about Purdue is that this: Each season since 2015-16, the Boilermakers have completed within the prime 25 of the KenPom rankings. That’s 9 straight seasons. No different Large Ten workforce has come near that consistency over that timespan. Zach Edey was on 4 of these groups. Matt Painter has confirmed he can adapt to his personnel and mildew a workforce for achievement in addition to any coach within the Large Ten.
@jeffderringer writes: Will Trey Galloway come off the bench for this workforce or will Woodson really feel senior loyalty and begin him? I pray it’s the previous.
It is a good drawback for Indiana. The Hoosiers are a season faraway from having too little guard depth. Now, there’s a debate on whether or not Galloway ought to stay within the lineup or be supplanted by Kanaan Carlyle.
Each gamers ought to play a wholesome variety of minutes and be keen to play no matter position is requested of them. Is it an issue for Woodson to be loyal to Galloway and begin him? Provided that he’s not deserving of the position. And from what we’ve seen of Trey Galloway over the course of his IU profession, he’s greater than earned the chance. He’s performed by harm, performed out of place and has all the time been an incredible teammate.
What we additionally learn about Galloway is that he’ll be tremendous with no matter units the workforce up for essentially the most success subsequent season. If that’s coming off the bench, he’ll embrace the position and thrive in it. He’s additionally coming off an harm, so we’ll see how that impacts issues.
Hoosier Jake writes: If Indiana loses its first-round matchup within the Battle for Atlantis, just about guaranteeing that it gained’t play a event workforce within the non-conference portion of the schedule, do you assume it is going to qualify for the NCAA event?
There are some things to think about. Battle 4 Atlantis might have NCAA event groups past the apparent candidates in Arizona and Gonzaga.
It’s more durable than ever to undertaking groups due to the entire motion from the switch portal. Two of the Battle 4 Atlantis groups in Louisville and West Virginia have new coaches and a ton of latest gamers. They might shock. The identical goes for Windfall and Oklahoma. These are packages with expertise and succesful coaches.
We additionally must learn how good South Carolina will probably be subsequent season. The Gamecocks have been an NCAA event workforce final season and are simply outdoors the highest 50 in Bart Torvik’s present projections.
To reply your query, it appears extremely unlikely that IU gained’t play a single NCAA event workforce in its 11 non-conference video games. And even when that occurred, it is going to have quite a few alternatives to document quadrant one wins in convention play. The assumption right here is Indiana will probably be an NCAA event workforce.
Cincy Hoosier writes: With Victor Oladipo set to be inducted into the IU Athletics HOF, who else would you think about? Trayce and Yogi are certainly locks. A strong argument might be made for Cody Zeller and Jared Jeffries regardless of enjoying two seasons every. Kirk Haston and Christian Watford wouldn’t be loopy both.
Trayce Jackson-Davis and Yogi Ferrell, as you talked about, ought to be locks. Each performed 4 seasons at Indiana and have their names everywhere in the program’s all-time statistics lists. And Ferrell gained a pair of Large Ten common season titles.
As you talked about, strong arguments might be made for Zeller and Jeffries. Zeller was the catalyst in a outstanding turnaround for this system. He additionally gained a Large Ten title and was an All-American. He shouldn’t be penalized for leaving after two seasons and turning into the No. 4 choose within the NBA draft. The identical goes for Jeffries, who was a lottery choose after two seasons however led Indiana to a nationwide championship sport look and a Large Ten title.
Haston and Watford could be under Jackson-Davis, Ferrell, Zeller and Jeffries by way of consideration.
@HawksTank writes: With expectations being raised because of the cash spent within the portal, what stage of manufacturing does Indiana have to succeed in to ensure that Woodson’s seat to not get scorching? Are we speaking NCAA / 8-11 seed “okay” or is 24+ wins and 2nd weekend or bust territory?
As a lot as many would really like this to be a simple query, it’s not. Any IU coach who doesn’t win a Large Ten title or attain the second weekend of the NCAA event in 4 seasons ought to really feel some warmth. Tom Crean inherited a large number however made the Candy Sixteen by 12 months 4. Archie Miller didn’t make the NCAA event in 4 seasons and was dismissed.
Profitable the Large Ten or reaching the second weekend of the NCAA event ought to place safety behind any coach.
If Indiana makes the NCAA event subsequent season – it will be Woodson’s third look in 4 seasons – however doesn’t win the Large Ten or make the second weekend, context will probably be vital in inspecting the season. Assuming accidents don’t derail the season, barely squeaking into the event gained’t be a constructive improvement within the eyes of the fanbase. The roster is nice sufficient to make the NCAA event safely.
If Indiana has an incredible common season (23+ wins), earns a good NCAA event seed and falls sufferer to an upset (it occurs), there could be disappointment however in all probability not overwhelming unrest. Finally, the very best factor that might occur for Indiana subsequent season is to win a ton of video games and transfer previous this dialogue.
Filed to: Inside the Hall Mailbag
