2023-2024 B1G Basketball Thread

[MaximumSam]

Everyone is auditioning, maybe put some spring in their step on defense. Can Okpara do anything at all with Edey? Bruce Thornton has a big opportunity matching up with Braden Smith. He's from Georgia and would probably go back down south, but you have to think Indiana makes some calls there.

Edit: thinking about whether these guys leave the conference. Roddy Gayle is from New York - I bet Rick Pitino wouldn't mind getting his mitts on him. Taison Chatman is from Minnesota - it looks like Ben Johnson will survive, have to think they get involved. Scotty Middleton is from Miami, though he spent a year in New Jersey. Steve Pikiell would love that guy. Devin Royal is from Pickerington (Columbus suburb), so he might stick around to see who the new coach is. Though is Izzo doesn't retire have to think he looks up there.

[medinabuckeye1]

Everyone is auditioning, maybe put some spring in their step on defense. Can Okpara do anything at all with Edey? Bruce Thornton has a big opportunity matching up with Braden Smith. He's from Georgia and would probably go back down south, but you have to think Indiana makes some calls there.

Edit: thinking about whether these guys leave the conference. Roddy Gayle is from New York - I bet Rick Pitino wouldn't mind getting his mitts on him. Taison Chatman is from Minnesota - it looks like Ben Johnson will survive, have to think they get involved. Scotty Middleton is from Miami, though he spent a year in New Jersey. Steve Pikiell would love that guy. Devin Royal is from Pickerington (Columbus suburb), so he might stick around to see who the new coach is. Though is Izzo doesn't retire have to think he looks up there.

I'd like to point out first that more-or-less everything you've said in this thread has been wrong.  

That said, you may be right here.  With the Portal nobody has to stay and obviously the staff that recruited them is done so maybe the whole team leaves.  Even if they do, they've been so awful here that you can't really get too upset over it.  That said, the new staff at tOSU will make an effort to keep them and NIL is probably a bigger factor than staff recruiting anyway.  

[MaximumSam]

I'd like to point out first that more-or-less everything you've said in this thread has been wrong. 

LOL. Has it? That's news to me. I'd say we both have said a lot of very wrong things.

[MaximumSam]

I'd like to point out first that more-or-less everything you've said in this thread has been wrong. 

That said, you may be right here.  With the Portal nobody has to stay and obviously the staff that recruited them is done so maybe the whole team leaves.  Even if they do, they've been so awful here that you can't really get too upset over it.  That said, the new staff at tOSU will make an effort to keep them and NIL is probably a bigger factor than staff recruiting anyway. 

The main issue is timing. The transfer portal is technically open for them now, but opens for everyone after the conference tourneys, when I expect them to enter. We likely won't have a coach for some time after that, assuming we are trying to hire a guy who is in the NCAA tourney. So the new staff may not even be present when the guys start talking to other teams and fielding offers.

[grillrat]

The main issue is timing. The transfer portal is technically open for them now, but opens for everyone after the conference tourneys, when I expect them to enter. We likely won't have a coach for some time after that, assuming we are trying to hire a guy who is in the NCAA tourney. So the new staff may not even be present when the guys start talking to other teams and fielding offers.

I was kinda hoping that OSU had already had some feelers out before they pulled the trigger on Holtman.  Maybe it was timed just to get in front of all the other high profile jobs that will be opening in mid-March, but still, having a contract signed, even if it is a "Coach X will be the new OSU coach but will finish out his season at Y", would go a long long way to potentially squashing any immediate transfers.

This would be a win-win scenario because OSU can grab a really good coach, and then said coach might have one foot out the door and be less inspiring to his team (which could potentially be facing Purdue in the tourney).

[MaximumSam]

I was kinda hoping that OSU had already had some feelers out before they pulled the trigger on Holtman.  Maybe it was timed just to get in front of all the other high profile jobs that will be opening in mid-March, but still, having a contract signed, even if it is a "Coach X will be the new OSU coach but will finish out his season at Y", would go a long long way to potentially squashing any immediate transfers.

This would be a win-win scenario because OSU can grab a really good coach, and then said coach might have one foot out the door and be less inspiring to his team (which could potentially be facing Purdue in the tourney).

Keeping the roster intact would definitely set up the next coach for immediate success, and there are a couple guys who might be immediately available - Chris Mack or Sean Miller. But for guys heading to the tourney, seems there is almost no way they could really do anything to keep guys. Maybe the collectives can run interference, but just from a common sense position - if you are a good player with an offer to play and make money somewhere good, why wait around to see who OSU hires and whether they even want you.

[847badgerfan]

*Jake Diebler:

Ohio State interim coach Jake Diebler is the older brother of Jon Diebler who was a star at Ohio State under Thad Matta from 2007-2011. If you are having trouble remembering Jon, picture a 6-6 skinny kid in an Ohio State jersey draining a three because he did a LOT of that.

Jake played college ball at Valpo and coached at Valpo, Ohio State, and Vanderbilt under Homer Drew and Bryce Drew, Thad Matta, and Bryce Drew before returning to Ohio State under Holtmann.

He comes from a BB Coaching family. Father Keith is a HS coach in Ohio as is older brother Jeremiah while younger brother Jon is currently recruiting coordinator at Butler.

Maybe this is his audition. Been an assistant for a long time.

[medinabuckeye1]

Maybe this is his audition. Been an assistant for a long time.

To be honest I'm not sure what I even think about this possibility.  

The current staff has been such an utter catastrophe that a big part of me wants a clean break and absolutely wants no part of anyone connected to Holtmann.  

OTOH, Diebler also coached under Matta so he has been a part of a successful staff at this level before.  

The thing is that if Smith/Bjork/tOSU wanted to give Diebler a chance to audition, they should have pulled the plug on Holtmann a month ago:

On January 15 the Buckeyes lost to the worst team in the league (the fighting Juwans) to drop to 12-5/2-4.  At that point it was abundantly clear that Holtmann was toast.  If they had fired him then, Diebler would have taken over with 14 games left in a situation where 8-6 or 9-5 would likely have gotten him into the tournament.  

By waiting until they were barely over .500 overall (14-11) and hopelessly awful in the league (4-10) they aren't leaving much for Diebler to audition with.  He is already getting a baptism of fire:

• Smith to Diebler on Wednesday:  "Welcome to Head Coaching, the #2 team in the nation is visiting Sunday afternoon, good luck".  

To have a serious chance at the Tournament I think Diebler would have to finish 5-1 or *MAYBE* 4-2 with a nice run in Minneapolis.  

[MaximumSam]

The Diebler name has some cachet in the program, but I don't think they are paying 14 million to just promote from within. Though there are some rumors they will take a shot at Scott Drew, and Diebler has some connection there, so maybe...

[bayareabadger]

A promotion from within considering all that stuff would be incredibly small time unless they make the sweet 16 or something.

[ELA]

I used to be jazzed to fill out a fake bracket when Bracketology updated every month or so.  Now that it's twice a week, I feel like I never actually go through on

FIRST ROUND

• #1 PURDUE d. #16 NC Central
• #9 Texas A&M d. #8 Texas
• #5 San Diego State d. #12 Appalachian State
• #4 Creighton d. #13 UNC Wilmington
• #3 Iowa State d. #14 Vermont
• #11 Nevada d. #6 Kentucky
• #10 TCU d. #7 Colorado State
• #2 Tennessee d. #15 Colgate

• #1 Arizona d. #16 North Dakota
• #8 Saint Mary's d. #9 Mississippi State
• #12 Samford d. #5 Dayton
• #4 Duke d. #13 Yale
• #3 Alabama d. #14 Morehead State
• #6 Florida Atlantic d. #11 Gonzaga
• #7 Utah State d. #10 Butler
• #2 Kansas d. #7 Utah State

• #1 Connecticut d. #16 Southern
• #8 Virginia d. #9 NORTHWESTERN
• #12 Indiana State d. #5 BYU
• #4 ILLINOIS d. #13 South Florida
• #3 Baylor d. #14 Eastern Washington
• #6 South Carolina d. #11 Grand Canyon
• #10 Boise State d. #7 MICHIGAN STATE
• #2 North Carolina d. #15 High Point

• #1 Houston d. #16 Sam Houston State
• #8 Florida d. #9 Washington State
• #12 McNeese State d. #5 Clemson
• #4 WISCONSIN d. #13 UC Irvine
• #3 Auburn d. #14 Akron
• #6 Texas Tech d. #11 NEBRASKA
• #10 New Mexico d. #7 Oklahoma
• #2 Marquette d. #15 Oklahoma

SECOND ROUND

• #1 PURDUE d. #9 Texas A&M
• #4 Creighton d. #5 San Diego State
• #3 Iowa State d. #11 Nevada
• #10 TCU d. #2 Tennessee

• #1 Arizona d. #8 Saint Mary's
• #4 Duke d. #12 Samford
• #3 Alabama d. #6 Florida Atlantic
• #7 Utah State d. #2 Kansas

• #1 Connecticut d. #8 Virginia
• #4 ILLINOIS d. #12 Indiana State
• #6 South Carolina d. #3 Baylor
• #2 North Carolina d. #10 Boise State

• #1 Houston d. #8 Florida
• #12 McNeese State d. #4 WISCONSIN
• #3 Auburn d. #6 Texas Tech
• #2 Marquette d. #10 New Mexico

SWEET SIXTEEN

• #1 PURDUE d. #4 Creighton
• #3 Iowa State d. #10 TCU

• #4 Duke d. #1 Arizona
• #3 Alabama d. #7 Utah State

• #1 Connecticut d. #4 ILLINOIS
• #6 South Carolina d. #2 North Carolina

• #1 Houston d. #12 McNeese State
• #3 Auburn d. #2 Marquette

ELITE EIGHT

• #3 Iowa State d. #1 PURDUE

• #4 Duke d. #3 Alabama

• #1 Connecticut d. #6 South Carolina

• #3 Auburn d. #1 Houston

FINAL FOUR

• Iowa State d. Duke
• Connecticut d. Auburn

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

• Connecticut d. Iowa State

[bayareabadger]

Everyone is auditioning, maybe put some spring in their step on defense. Can Okpara do anything at all with Edey? Bruce Thornton has a big opportunity matching up with Braden Smith. He's from Georgia and would probably go back down south, but you have to think Indiana makes some calls there.

Edit: thinking about whether these guys leave the conference. Roddy Gayle is from New York - I bet Rick Pitino wouldn't mind getting his mitts on him. Taison Chatman is from Minnesota - it looks like Ben Johnson will survive, have to think they get involved. Scotty Middleton is from Miami, though he spent a year in New Jersey. Steve Pikiell would love that guy. Devin Royal is from Pickerington (Columbus suburb), so he might stick around to see who the new coach is. Though is Izzo doesn't retire have to think he looks up there.

Thornton is a damn ball player. He will make some other team quite happy.

I can’t get a read on Gayle. People seem really excited about him. But the few times I’ve watched him, he feels like one of those guys who for the most part is just sort of there and then sticks a fork in my team’s eye for some damn reason

[ELA]

A promotion from within considering all that stuff would be incredibly small time unless they make the sweet 16 or something.

Wisconsin and MSU have had a pretty solid last 30 years thanks to in house promotions and low major in state head coaches

[medinabuckeye1]

A promotion from within considering all that stuff would be incredibly small time unless they make the sweet 16 or something.

I'm asking because I really don't even know my own answer and I'm trying to figure it out:

If this were your team, what would interim coach Diebler have to accomplish for you to think "we should keep him."?