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@PaulBiancardi why can't IU ever close and bring in any of the big name top of the class players like UK and Duke? #AskCoachB
— Trey Bickel (@babybickel) November 6, 2013
When you say "big-name" players I am assuming you mean highly ranked prospects. When you look at the last few years the Hoosiers landed ESPN No. 14 Cody Zeller in 2011, No. 24 Yogi Ferrell in 2012, No. 13 Noah Vonleh last year, and are set to bring it No. 19 James Blackmon Jr. and No. 44 Robert Johnson in this year’s class.
Zeller commitment changed the program and gave the Hoosiers the No. 1 class. Ferrell kept that going. Now Vonleh is there to replace Zeller as the star power on the roster. Next year I would take Johnson and Blackmon against almost any guard combination in the class. In fact, IU beat out Kentucky for Blackmon, although the Hoosiers were beaten by the Wildcats for No. 7 Trey Lyles.
The highest-ranked players don't always pan out to be the best college players. Indiana has a roster full of very talented players -- they are just extremely inexperienced right now.
In recruiting you can't be concerned what others are doing as long you are getting who you want and what you need. There is no way to explain how each recruit makes his decision. I will tell you the dynamics of every prospect is so different, so what might be a good fit at Duke might not be as good at Indiana.
The Hoosiers are doing just fine landing big-name talent.
