Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth wrap up their conversation with IU historian Bill Murphy, exploring the Hurrying Hoosiers era, legendary shooters, early NIL deals, and the dramatic transition from Branch McCracken to Lou Watson that paved the way for Bob Knight.

The Splendid Splinter

Bill shares unforgettable stories about Jimmy Rayl's two 56-point performances, including how Rayl insisted he would've scored 80 against Michigan State if Branch hadn't pulled him with four minutes left—and how 17 of his makes would've been three-pointers.

Mike recounts witnessing an elderly Rayl at a Larry Bird exhibition game, calibrating his first shot then draining seven straight from Steph Curry range, hitting nothing but net each time.

Early NIL and Record-Breaking Rebounds

Bill reveals a forgotten piece of IU history: Walt Bellamy was promised a car by a Bloomington auto dealer if he set the Big Ten rebounding record.

During the final home game, Branch McCracken and Jimmy Rayl sat on the bench with a gum wrapper and golf pencil, tracking every rebound to make sure Bellamy earned his wheels. Bellamy's 33-rebound performance still stands as the Big Ten record.

Watson's Rollercoaster Ride

Lou Watson inherited disaster in 1965—just 120 points returning after seven seniors left—and finished tied for ninth (dead last) in his first year. But he engineered the first last-to-first turnaround in Big Ten history the very next season, winning the 1967 championship.

Bill then reveals the shocking reason Watson's final team collapsed: two players stopped passing to each other because they were dating the same girl, derailing what should've been a championship run with one of IU's greatest recruiting classes.

Branch's Final Stand

When doctors told Branch a heart attack meant retirement, he shocked everyone by celebrating: "How many people know how they're gonna die? I'm still coaching."

Bill also shares his lingering frustration with AD Bill Orwig, who accused Branch of illegal recruiting and forced him to take a lie detector test, and praises Lou Watson's grace in helping Bob Knight transition into the program.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth continue their conversation with IU historian Bill Murphy, shifting from football glory to basketball history.

This installment dives deep into the Branch McCracken era, revealing why Bill's favorite IU coach isn't who most fans would expect.

Branch McCracken: The Sheriff

Bill makes his case for Branch McCracken over Bob Knight, drawing fascinating parallels between the two legendary coaches.

Branch coached 24 years (1938-1965, minus three years serving in WWII), finishing first or second in the Big Ten in 12 of those seasons with two national titles. Knight coached 29 years, finishing first or second in 16 seasons with three titles.

Bill argues that had NCAA tournament rules been different, Branch might have won in 1960 when IU beat Ohio State by 16 in Bloomington after their last 12-game win streak, while Knight's 1987 title came when IU tied for the Big Ten title with three other teams.

Bill recounts meeting Branch as an eighth grader in New Albany, a handshake he didn't want to wash for a week, and describes a six-foot-four presence who earned nicknames like "The Sheriff" and "The Bear" while drinking coffee at every shop on the Bloomington square to keep tabs on his players.

The Van Arsdale Twins' Supernatural Symmetry

The conversation turns to Tom and Dick Van Arsdale, whose three-year careers produced jaw-dropping statistical similarities:

• Separated by just 12 points over 72 games (1,252 to 1,240)
• Only 10 rebounds apart (729 to 719)
• Both hit exactly 15 field goals in their career-high game against Notre Dame
• Constantly pranked Branch by wearing mismatched socks after he tried to distinguish them by color
• Officials sometimes let the wrong twin shoot free throws because they couldn't tell them apart

Mike shares stories from his father, who lived in the SAE house with the twins and John McGlocklin—three of IU's seven all-time NBA All-Stars living in the same room.

Chesty Chips and Television History

Bill reveals how IU became the first university to televise basketball games in 1950 when radio announcer Paul Lennon convinced a Terre Haute potato chip company to sponsor games for $1,500 each.

After one broadcast, Chesty Potato Chips went from one shift to three and sold out across the region, causing the price to jump to $5,000 per game the next year.

Branch's Boys

Bill shares his favorite McCracken moments—from officials threatening a technical for every step back to the bench (so players carried him), to another ref getting him to sit down by saying "your fly is open," to Branch's simple philosophy: if he could only win one game all year, it would be against Purdue. That hatred paid off in 1940 when IU swept Purdue but finished second in the Big Ten, yet still received the NCAA tournament invitation over the conference champs.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth welcome back IU historian Bill Murphy for part two of their deep dive into Indiana football history, perfectly timed as the Hoosiers prepare for their first Rose Bowl appearance in nearly 60 years.

The conversation picks up with the 1967 team's journey to Pasadena and weaves through decades of IU football lore.

The 1967 Rose Bowl Journey

Bill shares fascinating details about how the '67 team learned of their Rose Bowl invitation—John Pont called Harold Morrow around 7:30 PM after the Purdue victory.

The hosts discuss the historic irony that had the Big Ten started sending teams to the Rose Bowl in 1945 instead of 1946, Indiana would've been first rather than last. Bill reveals that IU sent 35 charter jets to Pasadena, the largest airplane migration of any school that year, and recounts how Hoosiers literally founded Pasadena in 1874 as "the Indiana Colony" before T.B. Elliott renamed it with a Chippewa word meaning "Valley Between the Hills."

OJ Simpson, USC, and What Could Have Been

The conversation turns to the Rose Bowl matchup against USC's dominant team featuring OJ Simpson and Ron Yary. B

ill shares player accounts that Simpson was so fierce he bent face masks while being tackled, though multiple players insist OJ didn't actually cross the goal line on the second touchdown. The 14-3 final score was respectable against what Bill calls one of the best teams in the nation—USC had demolished top-five teams Notre Dame and Texas that season, making IU's performance far less embarrassing than the score might suggest.

Deep Cuts: The 1945 Team and Eisenhower

The trio uncovers a remarkable piece of history: in 1945, Army wanted to play undefeated Indiana to determine the national champion, but Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower refused to let the game happen.

Bill discusses his definitive book on the '45 team and shares memories of George Taliaferro, who signed a book for him "To Murph" at a 2007 homecoming signing, recounting Taliaferro's profound impact on both IU and civil rights.

Herman Wells and the NCAA Probation Era

The conversation takes a serious turn as Bill explains the Phil Dickens era and NCAA probation. Dr. Robert Mizon once corrected Bill's understanding: Dickens had proof that Purdue, Michigan, and Ohio State were doing the same recruiting violations but Herman Wells refused to expose them, throwing away the evidence and insisting IU follow the rules regardless of others.

Bob shares personal stories of Wells' presence and character, including how Wells integrated Bloomington restaurants in the late 1940s by threatening to make the Gables off-limits to all students if George Taliaferro couldn't eat there.

1968 Robbery at Purdue

Bill recounts the controversial 1968 game at West Lafayette where Purdue was given a first down after officials measured twice, moving the chains between measurements to give Purdue the yardage they needed—what Bob diplomatically calls "recalibration" but Bill calls what it is: cheating.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth welcome IU historian and author Bill Murphy for a deep dive into the legendary 1967 IU football season - the "Cardiac Kids" who gave fans heart attacks every Saturday on their way to the Rose Bowl.

Bill's Personal IU Journey

Bill Murphy shares unforgettable stories from his youth as an IU superfan in the 1960s, including some decisions that seemed perfectly reasonable at the time.

There's the 11-year-old refusing to wear his coat at halftime (mom got blamed for the loss), the 14-year-old challenging Bubba Smith to a fight outside the locker room, and the simple joy of $1 knothole tickets at a Memorial Stadium that looked completely different than it does today.

Memorial Stadium and Old Bloomington

The evolution of Memorial Stadium from its 1960 opening through the temporary bleachers era, plus what Bloomington looked like before it became a modern college town.

The stadium was built to double capacity and prove IU was "a Big Ten team," while married student housing trailers sat where the south end zone parking is now. TV games were rare - maybe one per year if you were lucky - so most fans relied on radio broadcasts with Max Schumacher.

John Pont's Revolutionary Offense

How Pont's innovative system featuring dual-threat quarterbacks and remarkable player freedom created one of the most entertaining teams in IU history.

Harry Gonso at 5'9" ran the option and rolled out to see over linemen, while John Isenbarger's notorious fake punts got him benched mid-game against Michigan - only to be brought back to score the winning touchdown after Gonso pleaded his case. "Punt, John, Punt!" became the rallying cry, and Terry Cole even predicted his own star performance the night before the Purdue game.

The Cardiac Kids: Nine Games, Nine Near-Heart Attacks

Bill walks through a season where every game came down to the wire, featuring comebacks, fake punts gone wrong (and right), and a fumble on the 4-yard line that saved the season.

• Down 10-0 to Kentucky, scored twice in the 4th quarter (one called back, scored again anyway)
• Michigan: Blew 20-0 lead, Isenbarger benched for fake punt, brought back to score winning TD
• Purdue: Boilermakers on IU 4-yard line, 19-14, roses on the line - then the fumble
• Only blowout all season? Arizona at 42-7
• The 63-yard punt that sealed the Bucket Game and sent IU to Pasadena

The Forgotten 1945 Championship Team

A brief detour into the team that might deserve a share of a national title, featuring future MLB and NFL Hall of Famers returning straight from World War II.

Bo McMillan had players hitchhiking from Camp Atterbury with discharge papers to make the season, and famously soaked footballs in hotel bathtubs the night before rain games. With Ted Kluszewski, Pete Pihos, and George Taliaferro on one roster, Galen Klaviyo thinks they deserve co-national champion recognition.

Part 2 will cover the Rose Bowl game itself and the Branch McCracken basketball transition.

On the mics: Bob Moats, Mike Wiemuth, and Bill Murphy

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Bob Moats, Mike Wiemuth, and special guest Josh Burton from Everything College Basketball reunite to break down the rekindled border wars between Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisville as the three programs meet over consecutive Saturdays in December.

Growing Up in Basketball Country

The guys open with personal stories about how geography and family shaped their allegiances in the heartland of college hoops. Josh Burton shares his journey from a Kentucky-loving kid playing College Slam on Sega Genesis while his IU-fan dad looked on, to becoming one of the voices of Everything College Basketball.

• Josh's dad from Kentucky roots, moved to Indiana, raised UK fans
• The "ugly girlfriend" Brian Evans comparisons at the Boys and Girls Club
• Geography matters: South of I-64 = Kentucky rival, North = Purdue rival
• Economic migration brought Kentucky fans north decades ago

The Golden Age of the Rivalry

A walk down memory lane to when these matchups defined college basketball in the Midwest, featuring 50-50 splits at the Hoosier Dome and Freedom Hall that felt more like college football atmosphere.

• The Dome and Freedom Hall rotating neutral sites with perfect 50-50 ticket splits
• Bob Knight's late entrances causing entire stadiums to erupt (only 2% could see him)
• Mike Davis's 2002 incident liquidating 35% of his chip stack in one moment
• Freedom Hall's designated smoking room and nightmare parking lot
• The 2012 Sweet Sixteen in Atlanta: IU-UK reunion on the way to UK's title

The Modern Coaches: New Chapter, Same Synchronicity

All three programs now feature modern, uptempo coaches running similar five-out systems after years of divergent philosophies. The synchronicity creates potential for recruiting battles and on-court drama not seen since the mid-eighties.

• Kenny Payne: Possibly the worst major hire in 30 years (lost exhibition games to start)
• Pat Kelsey's beautiful flare screen offense at Louisville proving doubters wrong
• Mark Pope's year-one home run at Kentucky vs. year-two injury crisis
• Lamar Wilkerson recruitment: DeVries beats Pope for the elite shooter UK desperately needs
• First time since mid-eighties all three programs are nationally relevant together

Breaking Down IU vs. Louisville

The hosts dissect Saturday's Indianapolis matchup with tactical depth, focusing on Louisville's 36 three-point attempts per game and IU's rebounding challenges.

• Sananda Fru as the X-factor: relentless rebounder who gets all his points within three feet
• Why this is a Sam Alexis day, not Reed Bailey day
• Mikel Brown vs. Conerway/Enright: Can IU frustrate the talented but sometimes immature freshman?
• Long rebounds from 36 three-point attempts require boxing out 3-4 feet beyond the rim
• Foul trouble could doom IU's seven-man rotation against Louisville's 10-deep bench

Kentucky's Crisis and the UK-IU Preview

Josh Burton provides honest analysis of Kentucky's early-season struggles, from the Louisville loss to getting boat-raced by Michigan State and North Carolina, while explaining why Pope isn't on the hot seat despite fan outrage.

• Three marquee losses in three different ways: quit when opponents throw haymakers
• The connectivity problem: Do these players even like each other?
• How injuries have devastated Pope's shooting-based system
• Why 50% of Big Blue Nation needs to "shut the hell up" on Twitter
• Still 15th in KenPom at 5-3 with incredibly difficult schedule

The weekend ahead: IU-Louisville at 2:15pm in Indianapolis, followed by IU-Ohio State Big Ten Championship at 8:17pm - potentially the craziest IU sports weekend ever.

On the mics: Bob Moats, Mike Wiemuth, and Josh Burton (Everything College Basketball)

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth break down how player compensation is forcing coaches and programs to think like Billy Beane, analyzing roster construction through the lens of buying wins instead of just buying players.

IU's Hot Start & The Omar Cooper Parallel

The guys open celebrating IU's 4-0 start under Darian DeVries while drawing parallels between miracle plays in football and basketball. Finding ways to win isn't just about spectacular moments—it's about putting yourself in position through smart aggregation of talent and data.

• Omar Cooper's impossible catch as a "games of inches" lesson

• IU rising in metrics by beating predictors

• Conerway's passing, Wilkerson's elite shooting on display

• Penn State fans still bewildered in grocery stores

The Moneyball Framework for College Basketball

Mike and Bob lay out how the classic "Moneyball" approach translates to today's NIL-driven college basketball landscape, where buying wins through buying points is the new reality.

• The key quote: "Your goal shouldn't be to buy players. Your goal should be to buy wins."

• One-seed teams need roughly 540+ point margin over opponents for the season

• Box Plus Minus (BPM) as the "on-base percentage" of basketball

• IU's last 500+ point variance seasons: 2013, 1993, 1992, 1990

Finding Undervalued Talent

The hosts identify the statistical thresholds and player types that offer the best return on investment in the portal and recruiting landscape.

• Players with 5.0+ BPM at mid-majors show "stickiness" when jumping to Power Five

• Elite one-seed starters average 8.7 BPM (roughly Yogi Ferrell level or better)

• 85% of one-seed starters have 6.0+ BPM

• The "Lance Jones bump" - finding best player on mediocre team who can elevate

• Target the Mountain West, A-10, and top mid-majors for 5+ BPM players

The Money Problem: Who's Overpaying?

Bob and Mike examine which programs are spending wisely versus which are trapped by their own wealth, using real scenarios to show how compensation complicates roster building.

• Example: $3M five-star with 3.0 BPM vs. $1.7M A-10 POY with 6.8 BPM

• The "hammer looking for nails" problem when you have too much money

• Ohio State's Anthony Thompson situation: Overspend or necessary premium?

• Why 50% of one-seed starters now come from the portal

• BYU reportedly paying AJ Dybantsa $5-7M - only 3-5 schools can compete

The New Three-Dimensional Reality

The compensation era adds a third dimension to roster construction that constrains even wealthy programs and creates new strategic challenges.

• Pre-NIL: Two-dimensional (program fit + player development)

• Post-NIL: Three-dimensional (add budget constraints)

• Top NIL programs creating their own pressure traps

• Market correction concerns: "Is that guy still worth $7M after a 25% correction?"

• Underground economy going public usually lowers prices—this did the opposite

Coming up: A rivalry show with Everything College Basketball's Josh and Peyton Burton (UK and UL fans), plus an extended film room session with Tony Adragna and Brian Tonsoni breaking down DeVries' system.

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth assess which college basketball coaches are playing with house money and which are one bad loss away from the unemployment line in today's volatile college hoops landscape.

IU's Dominant Debut

The Hoosiers opened the Darian DeVries era with a statement win, completely eliminating mid-range jumpers in favor of modern offense. Bob breaks down film showing the conceptual principles that make this system fundamentally different from the past decade.

• Zero mid-range jumpers: the long two is officially dead at IU

• Tucker DeVries diving into opponent's bench, Conway's elite passing

• Rose 9 spots in KenPom after demolishing Alabama A&M

The Chip Stack Framework

Bob and Mike introduce their coaching evaluation model that replaces the outdated "four-year plan." In the portal era, coaches are playing Texas Hold'em, not building dynasties.

• Why the 4-year grace period is dead - it's all-in poker now

• The five tiers of success and where programs expect to be

• The "Earl Bruce Syndrome" - stuck at 20 wins with no upside

Coaches in Serious Danger

Four high-profile coaches face make-or-break seasons with dwindling chip stacks. From Carolina to Rutgers to Kansas State, these are the hot seats getting hotter by the day.

• Hubert Davis at UNC: From Final Four to 15-20, lost key transfers

• Steve Pikiell at Rutgers: The five-star experiment backfired badly

• Jerome Tang at Kansas State: Can't recapture year-one magic

• John Calipari at Arkansas: The perpetual talent churn continues

On Thin Ice & High Stakes

The guys examine coaches ranging from Butler's Thad Matta (stabilization hire gone stale) to Vanderbilt's Mark Byington (skipping levels on the way up). Plus, why football budgets are now eating basketball money at dual-sport schools.

• Micah Shrewsbury's boring Notre Dame after Penn State's offensive genius

• Porter Moser trapped in the Earl Bruce 20-win zone

• Mark Byington's high-risk, high-reward Vanderbilt entertainment

• Why midseason firings are the new normal

Coming up: A Moneyball conversation about roster construction in the NIL era and a potential IU-Kentucky-Louisville preview with Everything College Basketball.

On the mics: Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth

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Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth are back to preview the 2025-26 college basketball season, diving deep into IU's transformed roster under first-year coach Darian DeVries and analyzing the landscape of college hoops in the NIL era. Even with football still riding high in Bloomington, it's time to turn attention to the hardwood.

Segment 1: The Big Money Conversation

The hosts discuss the seismic shifts in recruiting and compensation:

• Cignetti's $3 million raise and IU football's impact on the athletic department
• Ohio State reportedly paying Anthony Thompson $3+ million while their head coach makes $2.5 million
• Why IU's "whiff" on Thompson was actually smart strategy
• The psychology of the hot seat driving desperate roster decisions

Segment 2: Indiana Basketball Deep Dive - The DeVries System

Bob and Mike break down what makes DeVries' approach fundamentally different:

Offensive Evolution

• Pick-and-roll revolution with multiple skilled ball handlers creating unpredictability
• Screener deception making the screener a weapon again
• The passing upgrade: Two players with 30%+ assist rates (first time in 15 years)
• Conceptual principles vs. rigid sets from the past decade

The Defense Question

• West Virginia's top-20 defense proves DeVries can scheme effectively
• Tucker DeVries as a "free safety" goading turnovers
• Why size concerns about IU's bigs might be overblown

Roster Construction

• Experience over elite talent: The sweet spot model in action
• Team chemistry from players who've already played together
• Translatable skills from mid-majors to high-majors

Segment 3: Big Ten and National Landscape

• Purdue: Highest floor in the country but ceiling questions remain with Braden Smith's penetration limitations
• Houston: Kelvin Sampson's shocking three five-star haul after landing just two in 17 years
• Michigan: Portal royalty additions but can Elliot Cadeau finally live up to his potential?
• Kentucky & Louisville: Pope's spending spree vs. Pat Kelsey's three-point shooting arsenal that could set records
• Illinois: "The Belgrade of the Corn Belt" with multiple Balkan players including both Visic brothers
• Iowa & Minnesota: The Battle of the Drake Boys - seven former Drake players split between IU and Iowa as the Big Ten moves away from traditional Painter/Izzo/Bo Ryan models

Segment 4: The Clarity Problem - NIL Era Questions

• Big schools now poaching from each other (70% to 30% flip in three years)
• The $12-15 million championship roster question
• Sweet spot vs. superstar models after Florida's unconventional title run
• Economic limits forcing strategic choices even at major programs

Bob and Mike promise more Moneyball conversations about roster construction, an upcoming chat with author William Murphy about IU basketball history, and continued analysis as DeVries' system meets Big Ten competition.

On the mics: Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth

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