2024-25 Around College Hoops

[Jason Svoboda]

I love how their response to him/her is "at least we don't have to live in Mayberry, Indiana".

It's funny because Mayberry is the literal idealized version of the American dream. If you had the choice to raise your kids in Mayberry or Saint Louis, nobody would willingly choose to live in "the Lou"

I know some of the folks on here love STL, but I've been to almost every major city in America and the only one I've ever not felt safe walking at night was there. Only place I felt more uncomfortable was back in the early 2000's when I had to go to a satellite campus for my job in Gary and the lady I was working with told me I needed to be out of the area by sundown.

 

[DyedBlue]

Is it possible that SLU only has two players capable of playing the desired style?? Wouldn't that be similar to Coach JS's first team at ISU? Perhaps it would be wise to withhold an opinion until a third year has passed?

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Is it possible that SLU only has two players capable of playing the desired style?? Wouldn't that be similar to Coach JS's first team at ISU? Perhaps it would be wise to withhold an opinion until a third year has passed?

At the level he needs to be successful? Maybe.

But quite a few of those other non ISU transfers we targeted out of HS so he thought they could.

They don't have a Conwell or a Kent from when I watched the half against Illinois State. Those are big roles.

 

[MovingScreenOfDeath]

They don't have a Conwell or a Kent from when I watched the half against Illinois State. Those are big roles.

In their game against Wichita State they ran a play that looked identical to our plays from last year and passed it to the guy in Kent's spot in the corner and he airballed it by 10 feet.

The system might be a little more complicated than plug-n-play

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Is it possible that SLU only has two players capable of playing the desired style?? Wouldn't that be similar to Coach JS's first team at ISU? Perhaps it would be wise to withhold an opinion until a third year has passed?

I think that is probably the prudent thing for them to do... Several things at play, I think initially they thought with JS they were going to be able to get more than just Avila and Swope. I don't know if JS sold them on that - I am sure he would have to sell the brass that to some degree or if they just had unrealistic expectations not fully understanding either the value of those players or their own NIL limitations. Either way, I think only getting and Avila and Swope hurt the overall perception of the hire before he coached a single game.

* It's important to add that our own fan base (myself included) had unrealistic expectations not fully understanding the value of those players and our own NIL limitations.

He may not struggle to win long term and he might even make a couple NCAA tournament appearance I'm sure that is the expectations. Even if he makes an NCAA Tournament you will be hard pressed to convince me he was more successful than he was here - that was an NCAA tournament team 99 times out of 100 we got absolute bamboozled. Duplicating what he did here in just 3 seasons will be difficult. As we've discussed at length he had the perfect mix of players who enjoyed playing with each other and enjoyed playing for Indiana State and this community. It's hard to just script it up the way everything came together last year - I think for much of my lifetime and many of you on here will agree that the general consensus was that this community/alumni/fanbase wouldn't get behind the program on a consistent basis. I think the Hulman Center the last two + years has been one of the most difficult places to play in the Mo Val. People outside of the Indiana State circle of fans/alumni took notice to that - it transcended winning.

And not to completely derail this conversation but it's important to note, that "awakening" was a massive wakeup call to a lot of people of what could be possible at a school like Indiana State that does have a rich history and before you say the rich history doesn't extend beyond Larry Bird - just stop it absolutely does and I'm not here for that conversation. Even, moving forward without a Josh Schertz and that team last season here is what is possible in Terre Haute if you fully invest in basketball. It's a story and a season we shouldn't soon forget as we try and continue to build something here. Every administrative / athletic decision they make should take that special season into consideration.

So yes - for SLU fans it would absolutely make sense to dial back the frustration and give the guy time to work... Give him time to work and while he's working do it knowing that if he's talking he's lying because he's a scumbag.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

The system might be a little more complicated than plug-n-play

100%... Use the often forgotten Bledson for example. If JS had gone from Lincoln Memorial to SLU rather than to Indiana State Bledson wouldn't have been on that roster. But you would also have a hard time in a given season going to the portal or a high school and find a player like Bledson.

Literally, the most clutch player on the entire roster and one of the best passers in the country. Good luck just finding that and plugging it in. That doesn't just "happen" it takes so many things to come together.

 

[Huff77]

Is it possible that SLU only has two players capable of playing the desired style?? Wouldn't that be similar to Coach JS's first team at ISU? Perhaps it would be wise to withhold an opinion until a third year has passed?

Yeah ..and our two were more ingrained than their two...yet they are ahead of where we were in year 1...so if I were them I'd shut the hell up before you give him too much ammunition.

 

[Huff77]

I would also add that if JS told our team he was leaving iin February, say right before the Illinois state game, it's likely we crapped the bed because of that, and thus I would say JS cost Robbie a million dollars in endorsements that he won't get before he leaves SLU.

 

[treeman]

I would also add that if JS told our team he was leaving iin February, say right before the Illinois state game, it's likely we crapped the bed because of that, and thus I would say JS cost Robbie a million dollars in endorsements that he won't get before he leaves SLU.

JS signing a MOU with STL cost himself, Avila, and any other sycamore that would have followed him to Louisville millions. The dude completely fumbled March-April.

 

[Huff77]

JS signing a MOU with STL cost himself, Avila, and any other sycamore that would have followed him to Louisville millions. The dude completely fumbled March-April.

I was specifically referencing a recent Washington post article. But yes, the move cost everyone.

 

[treeman]

I was specifically referencing a recent Washington post article. But yes, the move cost everyone.

what did it say?

 

[Huff77]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/12/11/robbie-avila-st-louis-indiana-state/

Should be a free read.

 

[Sycamorefan96]

I know some of the folks on here love STL, but I've been to almost every major city in America and the only one I've ever not felt safe walking at night was there. Only place I felt more uncomfortable was back in the early 2000's when I had to go to a satellite campus for my job in Gary and the lady I was working with told me I needed to be out of the area by sundown.

I don't really get why people like St Louis. The Arch is neat to look at, but the half dozen or so times I've gone to the tournament over there I've never done anything in StL besides watch basketball. I have made the trip enough that I do know the route very well now, so that's a plus. The neighborhood isn't great, but it's easy enough to get in and out of.

I will say that unless someone else was driving their vehicle up, I would never attend any tournament held in Chicago. Between traffic, parking, and the unsafe neighborhoods up there it just wouldn't be worth the time and effort to me. The lack of traffic coming from Illinois is probably the best thing about having it in St Louis. You cross the river and boom you're there.

I'd be out on Kansas City too, although with WSU, CU, and soon MSU all gone I think that idea that was floated around from time to time will hopefully be buried forever. It's simply too far away.

The only other reasonable alternative would be Indianapolis. Of course I think most of us on this board would support that move, but I'm not sure the Iowa schools would like it much, although according to Google Maps it only adds around an hour to the drive for both Iowa schools. If NKU is added next year though it would probably be just as central of a location as St Louis at that point, maybe more.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/12/11/robbie-avila-st-louis-indiana-state/

Should be a free read.

Not a free read… But unless they;

1) Go on a heck of a run.

2) Win the conference tournament title.

3) JS loads up in the portal and on his signings

His moment isn’t coming… To be honest, his value and his brand was tied to Indiana State. He might not like it but his value since leaving has diminished significantly. I’m not sure to this day that JS single handily made him one of the more valuable players in college basketball and single handily responsible for crashing his value. Go drink your wine and seltzers JS. He will never be welcome back to Terre Haute - not now, not next year, not ever. I will go to great lengths to make sure he’s never put in a position to come back here and fly his flag - because it will be the same bull shit LM flag he flew all over social media after he came here - it’s all a facade for him.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I don't really get why people like St Louis. The Arch is neat to look at, but the half dozen or so times I've gone to the tournament over there I've never done anything in StL besides watch basketball. I have made the trip enough that I do know the route very well now, so that's a plus. The neighborhood isn't great, but it's easy enough to get in and out of.

I will say that unless someone else was driving their vehicle up, I would never attend any tournament held in Chicago. Between traffic, parking, and the unsafe neighborhoods up there it just wouldn't be worth the time and effort to me. The lack of traffic coming from Illinois is probably the best thing about having it in St Louis. You cross the river and boom you're there.

I'd be out on Kansas City too, although with WSU, CU, and soon MSU all gone I think that idea that was floated around from time to time will hopefully be buried forever. It's simply too far away.

The only other reasonable alternative would be Indianapolis. Of course I think most of us on this board would support that move, but I'm not sure the Iowa schools would like it much, although according to Google Maps it only adds around an hour to the drive for both Iowa schools. If NKU is added next year though it would probably be just as central of a location as St Louis at that point, maybe more.

 

[Sycamorefan96]

Not a free read… But unless they;

1) Go on a heck of a run.

2) Win the conference tournament title.

3) JS loads up in the portal and on his signings

His moment isn’t coming… To be honest, his value and his brand was tied to Indiana State. He might not like it but his value since leaving has diminished significantly. I’m not sure to this day that JS single handily made him one of the more valuable players in college basketball and single handily responsible for crashing his value. Go drink your wine and seltzers JS. He will never be welcome back to Terre Haute - not now, not next year, not ever. I will go to great lengths to make sure he’s never put in a position to come back here and fly his flag - because it will be the same bull shit LM flag he flew all over social media after he came here - it’s all a facade for him.

This take is ridiculous besides the part that he'll never be welcomed back to ISU.

1) It's his first year. He went 11-20 (8-20 vs D1) / 4-14 MVC his first season at ISU even with a couple of his guys tagging along.

2) Unless he started recruiting for SLU during the NIT run or MVC season (which might be possible with this guy) then he almost got about as late of a start recruiting as Matt Graves did.

3) I'll admit I don't follow St Louis U (big surprise), but based on what I've read from those that do on this board it sounds like Robbie Avila has or had been fighting some kind of injury this year.

So yeah I'd be very surprised if they aren't very competitive next season when he gets all of his pieces put together. The guy has done nothing but win his entire coaching career. If he could win here then he will likely win there too.

I'll also say this. The guy might be a jackass or whatever, but if it wasn't for him we probably don't win the MVC or have the NIT run either. This constant bitterness on here towards the man sounds like an ex that can't handle that they got dumped for someone else. He's getting paid more than double what he would have made here. No one is turning that down unless they have direct ties to TH and/or ISU, which he obviously doesn't. The only thing that's surprising is that apparently it caught most of you guys by surprise that the coach took a major payday and that the players did too.

 

[treeman]

His moment isn’t coming… To be honest, his value and his brand was tied to Indiana State. He might not like it but his value since leaving has diminished significantly. I

This is true. Honestly, unless the entire starting 5 came back I'm not sure Avila's stock would have gotten any higher than it already did. I mean he was one of the most talked about players on one of the most talked about teams. How much higher can you go? P

 

[treeman]

To be honest, his value and his brand was tied to Indiana State.

This is also true. People take/took an interest to us because an entire generation(s) love Bird and that 79' team is a major part in NCAA history. Whether people like it or not we do have a marketable brand compared to most MVC or mid-major schools because of that. Millions of people aren't tuning in to see the NIT if Evansville, McNeese, High Point, etc. if they had a comparable season like we did. America loved the "goofy white guy balling out at Indiana State" (yes I know Avila is Hispanic) story line, because it's happened before. and of course it just took off. You don't don't get that ANYWHERE else. RA marketability left the minute he hopped into the portal. Could he make more money elsewhere? Sure. But a lot of his marketability was tied to ISU.

 

[Bobbyk60]

Not a free read… But unless they;

1) Go on a heck of a run.

2) Win the conference tournament title.

3) JS loads up in the portal and on his signings

His moment isn’t coming… To be honest, his value and his brand was tied to Indiana State. He might not like it but his value since leaving has diminished significantly. I’m not sure to this day that JS single handily made him one of the more valuable players in college basketball and single handily responsible for crashing his value. Go drink your wine and seltzers JS. He will never be welcome back to Terre Haute - not now, not next year, not ever. I will go to great lengths to make sure he’s never put in a position to come back here and fly his flag - because it will be the same bull shit LM flag he flew all over social media after he came here - it’s all a facade for him.

I agree. Most people associate him with the goggles in a ISU jersey. He stated on the Pat McAfee show he was talking with an eye wear manufacturer to endorse their products. With the start they have had, nobody is paying attention to him or the team.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Money is nice and all, but you don’t mess with happy. Hard lesson to learn for all of them.