Indiana basketball could use some good news right about now

The news for Indiana basketball on Monday wasn't exactly news. 

By this week, five-star recruit Trendon Watford wasn't expected to select Indiana and follow the path set by his older brother Christian Watford, who once went from the Birmingham, Alabama, suburbs to a hoops career in Bloomington.

There was no surprise. Trendon signed with LSU as expected over finalists Alabama, Memphis ... and Indiana.

And it's not that Indiana didn't try.

Trendon was offered by the Hoosiers about two years ago, and they'd continued to recruit the 6-foot-9 forward as he solidified his status as one of the nation's top 2019 prospects.

There had to be understandable hope for Indiana with this one, considering Christian's heroic legacy (ahem, you might remember this shot, of course) and the fact that Trendon and his parents "were fixtures inside Assembly Hall all four of Christian's seasons in Bloomington," wrote the IndyStar's Zach Osterman back in 2017. 

But it didn't happen, and evidently, it wasn't even that close to happening.

So you have to wonder ... why?

The timing wasn't unfortunate. Indiana has stardom and playing time to offer, especially with Romeo Langford gone for the NBA.

Indiana also isn't in the middle of a coaching change. That's what basically eliminated nearby Alabama for Watford. And, well, it hasn't exactly been a smooth ride for LSU's program lately.

In the big picture, Indiana missing out on one recruit — even such a good one with family ties to the program — by itself isn't a crushing blow. There's opportunity ahead. Time to move on to 2020 and what is expected to be a loaded in-state crop in 2021.

But for now, it's more the perception that Indiana evidently didn't finish in the running for Watford and the fact it continued a negative trend that goes back to the Hoosiers' underwhelming 2018-19 season.

Earlier this month, another recruit opted against Indiana when Lester Quinones picked Memphis, and the Hoosiers were left with two open scholarships for next season and a lack of clear options on which to spend them. Meanwhile, Indiana's 2019 class — with two signees from the fall, including four-star Trayce Jackson-Davis — ranks 53rd nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Too much can be made of that sort of thing in a sport with routinely small classes like basketball (after all, Purdue is No. 55). But again, it's more the direction. Indiana's 2018 class with Langford was 10th nationally, and the Hoosiers didn't build on that this past season, going 19-16 and missing the NCAA Tournament with a squad that was good enough to beat teams like Michigan State, Wisconsin, Louisville and Marquette.

Archie Miller's Hoosiers could really use some momentum and some positive news to feel good about entering next season.

Christian Watford's brother certainly could have provided that, but he didn't.

And the fact that wasn't big news for Indiana when it happened perhaps that says as much about the Hoosiers' recent funk as anything.

Social Hour 

Yes — shockingly — the Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Finals.

Louisville baseball begins play today as the top seed in the ACC Tournament. (Side note: UK's season has already ended, actually, shy of this week's SEC Tournament).

And congrats to this former U of L standout, who also recently was named an analyst for the new ACC Network.

What We're Reading

After this week's big addition, here's a look back at some other big recruiting wins for Mark Stoops at Kentucky.

North Oldham scored a rivalry victory Monday night.

Basketball analyst Deb Antonelli raised more than $80,000 by making 2,400 free throws, or 100 per hour for 24 straight hours.

A look at the rising number of quarterbacks transferring in college football.

Good story by ESPN on the relationship that helped Steph Curry become an NBA star.

Interesting read by David Ching for Forbes on how declining attendance in college football could prompt more schools to follow Colorado's lead and schedule better nonconference opponents.

And if you haven't yet, meet our new University of Louisville football writer.

Gentry Estes: 502-582-4205; gestes@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Gentry_Estes. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/gentrye.