Inside the Hall Twitter Mailbag: November 29

  • 11/29/2010 8:49 am in

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Tom Crean the Head Coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team during the game against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Assembly Hall on November 23, 2010 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana won 72-56. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Inside the Hall Twitter mailbag is a weekly collection of questions tweeted to us via our Twitter account, @insidethehall.

Tweet us your questions each week and we’ll answer as many as we can. Now, onward …

@zipsofakron writes: So are the Hoosiers formidable this year or this a smoke and mirrors-type thing?

Ryan Corazza: For now, formidable is probably too strong a word for these Hoosiers. But the facts remain: Through six games, they’re better on both sides of the ball, more mature, flashing confidence and having some fun, too. I’ll have a post up detailing the specifics of their improvements soon. Now, as I wrote Friday night, tougher tests are around the corner against Boston College and Kentucky. If IU pulls out victories on the road in both these contests, expectations will rise for this team. A record above .500 and sneaking into the top half of the Big Ten would be a reasonable talking point. Lose one or both and we’re about where we’re currently at: A team on the rise that still needs more time and experience to blossom into a formidable collective.

@0caleb0 writes: I read that a renovation of assembly hall does not make sense $ wise, any longterm plans on the table for a new gym??

Zach Osterman: In 2007, the board of trustees officially decided not to make anymore capital improvements to Assembly Hall, meaning that additions or renovations like the hanging scoreboard will no longer be an option. The department can — and has had to — invest money in necessary repairs, like the leaking roof, but that’s the extent of it. That said, I talked to Fred Glass about this recently: There are no current plans to build a new arena. It’s something the board acknowledged would be necessary in that same 2007 meeting, but put absolutely no timetable on the issue, and especially given the capital improvements just completed (North Endzone, Cook Hall) and ones Glass still plans to pursue (badly needed new baseball and softball fields), I wouldn’t expect a new arena any time soon.

@rick_park writes: What can you tell us about Mitch McGary? Do we have a realistic chance at landing him?

Alex Bozich: McGary is a 6-9, 230-pound forward who was originally a member of the 2011 class, but has since reclassified to 2012. He’s also changed schools, moving from Chesterton to Brewster Academy, a preparatory school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. That move was made for McGary to get his academics in order. He was a visitor at Friday’s Northwestern State game and IU is said to be very interested in him, but the Hoosiers have not yet offered a scholarship. I only saw McGary briefly at the adidas May Classic, but was impressed with his ability to rebound and his willingness to fight for loose balls. If IU does indeed offer McGary, the chances of landing him are certainly realistic.

@A_Smithers writes: So with yogi committing what does that mean for gary harris?

Zach Osterman: Alex talked to Gary Harris last week, and all indications were that Harris is very serious with IU. Now, it ought be noted that Harris has said more than once that he expects to take his time in making a decision, but it also bears mentioning that Yogi Ferrell said something pretty similar, then two weeks later he verballed. I think Harris probably sees his obvious role in the class, filling in the only real opening as a wing to compliment Ferrell and Patterson, and I think IU sits well with him right now. It’s just tough to tell exactly when he feels like making a decision.

@jjclick17 writes: is the podcast available on itunes?

Ryan Corazza: Yes, the podcast is now available on iTunes. Sweet victory!

Subscribe here (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-hall-an-indiana-hoosiers/id406047366), and tell your friends.

@JSizzle32 writes: Where do we stand with 2013 players like Irvin and the Scott brothers. What is the most likely 2013 addition.

Alex Bozich: I think you just stated the most likely 2013 addition: Hamilton Southeastern’s Zak Irvin. The 6-5 sophomore guard, who made his varsity debut on Friday, is high on the Hoosiers and is a friend and AAU teammate of Devin Davis. I would not be at all surprised if Irvin is the next addition to the 2013 class, especially given the commitment of Davis and the recent recruiting momentum in Bloomington. Ft. Wayne Northrop guard Bryson Scott committed to Purdue last night and his brother, Brenton, is unlikely to garner more than mid-major attention. A couple of other names to keep an eye on: Jeffersonville’s Darryl Baker, Heritage Christian’s Basil Smotherman and Ft. Wayne Harding’s V.J. Beachem.

@bjhicks78 writes: Do we feel better about the our standing now that Evansville has knocked off Butler, or are the Dawgs in for a rough season?

Zach Osterman: First of all, as a Georgia Tech fan, I will be happy to tell you that it’s “Dogs,” not “Dawgs.” Go Jackets. Second, that all depends on Butler, frankly. If the Bulldogs put together another Butler-like season, then sure. But if Butler continues to struggle — and if they don’t win the Horizon especially — then it’s hard to judge the win and the loss side by side. Evansville could also exceed expectations and put together a strong year, and then the win means something more. But it’s too early to tell right now. Also consider that strength-of-schedule considerations probably aren’t something Indiana is going to be worried about without a really strong Big Ten season. NCAAs aren’t out of the question, but it would be a tall task to expect that of this team as constituted right now.

@DocLibby writes: what are the names of all the team members that will b present on IU Bball team in 2012

Alex Bozich: If no one leaves early for the NBA Draft, all of the committed players sign with IU and no transfers occur, the following players would be on the 2012-2013 roster: Bobby Capobianco, Christian Watford, Derek Elston, Jordan Hulls, Maurice Creek, Victor Oladipo, Will Sheehey, Austin Etherington, Cody Zeller, Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin, Ron Patterson and Yogi Ferrell. This would be 13 scholarship players in total, which is the NCAA limit for college basketball. The Big Ten allows member schools to sign an additional player beyond the limit (commonly referred to as an over-sign), but 13 is ultimately the limit when it’s all said and done.

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