Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth check in from opposite sides of the country to discuss IU's impending national championship matchup with Miami, dissect the Hoosiers' recent basketball struggles, and explore what reasonable expectations look like for both programs right now.

The Rose Bowl That Wasn't

Bob and Mike open with the bittersweet realization that their long-planned Back Home Network meetup this weekend could have been in Miami for the national championship game instead of Bloomington for an Iowa basketball matchup.

They discuss IU's status as an 8.5-point favorite over Miami, the narrative that IU "hasn't been tested" despite beating Ohio State, Oregon, and Alabama by a combined margin that would make Sherman's March to the Sea look gentle, and why Miami fans might want to check out Homefield Apparel's vintage Hurricanes collection before Monday's game.

Basketball's Reality Check

The conversation shifts to IU basketball's brutal week—blowing a 16-point lead to Nebraska and getting boat-raced by Michigan State at Breslin. Bob and Mike break down what's actually happening beyond the disappointing results:

• The roster gaps they identified in the preseason are showing up exactly as predicted—too many elite shooters, not enough drivers or rim protection
• Lamar Wilkerson is performing at a legitimate All-American level (near 10 BPM), but when defenses key on him and Tucker DeVries, IU struggles to generate offense elsewhere
• Conerway is the only true penetrator, and when teams neutralize him, the offense becomes predictable and easy to defend
• Against physically superior teams like Michigan State, IU's passing windows close dramatically and their carefully designed actions don't create the same looks they get in practice

The Roster Construction Story

Mike explains the brutal timeline Darian DeVries faced building this roster—hired in mid-April right as the portal was opening, with top guards already off the board before IU even had a full staff assembled.

They discuss how next year's portal cycle can address many of these gaps, and why this season's limitations don't predict future struggles.

Scheme and Psychology

Bob dives into the X's and O's, noting IU is getting nearly 20% of their possessions off cuts and off-ball screens—historically high for DeVries—because they have to manufacture offense without dominant drivers or post players. When defenses adjust and take away these actions, IU doesn't have a clear "what's next" option.

The mental side matters too: watching players tunnel-vision toward Wilkerson late in games or run actions mechanically rather than reading the defense shows a team still figuring out who they are.

Looking Ahead

They close by previewing Saturday's Iowa game as a better measuring stick than the Michigan State beatdown, discussing upcoming video breakdowns of IU's offensive schemes, and teasing a deep dive into Curt Cignetti's historical context as potentially IU's greatest athletic department hire ever—regardless of Monday's outcome in Miami.

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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.

This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.