Blazin Hazin

A little surprised...at this stage in the portal/recruiting....we seem to find NBA-type versatile bigs pretty easily... but can't find a solid 2 that can knock down 3's yet. 

16 hours ago, BGleas said:

Spencer would be a great add, but I think a lot would come down to what his goals are?

No matter what some think of him, the reality is we have a 4 year returner at that spot that played 27mpg last year, and Spencer also played over 30mpg. 

Hard sell to tell Galloway and Spencer that they'll be splitting time. I'd think Spencer's overriding reason for transferring would need to be straight up winning for that to happen. 

I know everyone has said Mgbako is gonna play the 3....but I'm honestly not sold on it.    Kind of think 2/3 he, Malik, and Ware will split time and be used pretty interchangably, with Sparks and Walker being used situationally.  

If this were the case...then I think Spencer would be a perfect 3rd guard. 

KenPom has us at 12.  I find it humerous that certain writers are calling our 13th ranking in polls "extremely generous".   Just an objective look at our previous season and returning minutes/scoring should place us near where we are. 

Let's face it...that's how media and the internet works.  If the same writer says..."I'm not as comfortable putting them that high, so I put them at 20 until I see someone who can hit an outside shot" then none of us are clicking on the article.  

18 minutes ago, IUFLA said:

But by oversigning you change transfers from a possibility or probability, to an inevitability, no?

That's what I'm a bit uncomfortable with. If no one beyond the 4 that graduate wants to go, then you're looking at booting kids who want to be at IU, and have put work in to help the program...

And I think we all know the kids we're talking about... 

 

I don't like it when done to extremes.  (6 guys for 3 spots)

However- if basically got 4 commitments from lets say Cupps, Newton, Kaiser, and Page, would we accept a late commitment from Booker?  I think we all know the answer to that.  

Not gonna lie

I dont' get why we're seemingly giving up on Carr- but going all-in on on Harris-Smith. 

I guess I'm more thinking that McGary was initially a guy that people felt potential wasn't worth the baggage....then exploded in a spring/summer and people felt otherwise.  I think initially he was a 100-150 ranked recruit and I think he once shot up to the top 15 before dropping to the 20-30 range.  

The other day, I was thinking that the things people are saying about Booker(low motor- doesn't love basketball) kind of reminds me of Mitch McGary.  

20 hours ago, btownqb said:

Facts. 

People have said--- CZ, TJD, Bryant, and Vonleh were going to play the college 4. No, they weren't ever going to do that, and didn't ever do that. 

I won't get into the mis-categorizations at the 4. 

Yup

And don't forget about Watford.  Move him to the 3, and he'll be Scottie Pippen/Grant Hill.

Nothing against Watford, but there was a reason he played the position he did, as there was also a reason Perea/Jurkin sat on the bench

19 hours ago, IowaHoosierFan said:

Its interesting how many times we have had this discussion about a 6'7 forward who is uber athletic but doesn't/wont get enough time at the 4 and isn't quite skilled enough with his handles and shot to play the 3.

It's the offseason...and the discussion always veers into...

If we could just take our center and play him at his true position...the 4...he'll flourish....

And then we can take our power forward and move him to the 3 where he always belonged....

And then we can move our small forward to his natural spot at the 2 because I saw something on twitter where he did a couple of shooting drills.

2 hours ago, bluegrassIU said:

I hear you guys. Yes, we have talent. But all these answers provided....none include actullay having a lengthy, athletic wing player. They provide workarounds.

It is not a must have. But I still think it is the biggest weakness at this point.

There are many teams that have better shooters than we have.  Shooting is definitely a weakness.

Are there that many teams with wings that are bigger and better defenders than a guy like JHS?  

29 minutes ago, dgambill said:

All I have to say to IU fans is this….it was nice having no expectations before….and we made fun of Purdue for underachieving…but now the shoe is on the other foot….hope we do a better job then they did….or we will deserve to hear about it.

I understand why Purdue's season can be viewed as disappointing, but if we get a 3 seed and make the sweet 16, I won't be disappointed.

Bart Torvik's numbers are here

https://barttorvik.com/rosters23.php?team=Indiana&year=2022

I don't agree with all of these, but I do think this is a healthy counterbalance to the message board crowd that often prefers potential over experience.  (Although I have a hard time envisioning Kopp getting 26 min, while Geronimo gets 7.)

5 minutes ago, Bustout said:

Agree on the starters being X, JHS, TB, RT and TJD. This second unit brings experience and depth too. 
 

Only overall holes I see are perimeter shooting (hoping guys improve from last year) and a backup PG.  Would Leal play any PG?  He did his freshman year. 

JHS will be the backup point- even if he starts.  He will likely be the point guard when XJ is out, and we'll likely almost always have one or the other on the floor.

Shooting will be the likely weakness of this team.  If Bates can emerge the way Arman Franklin did two years ago, it would help a great deal.

Woody is pretty conservative on his starting lineups. XJ, Race, and TJD are virtual locks.  He'll likely start Kopp in the beginning of the year.  The final spot...probably TB or JHS.  Galloway wouldn't shock me either.

By the time the Big Ten season starts.  I'll be interested in who starts at the 2 and 3. I think Kopp and JHS  are the most likely, but Bates and Galloway could be in there too.  

We've had a lot of flops lately in the last two classes.  Lander was obviously a bust.  Early returns on Bates and Duncomb were underwhelming.  Don't we have to get a little lucky at some point and get a diamond in the rough?

With JHS and Cupps....not completely devastating to loose out on a point guard....even if he was damn good

I think some forget how many close heartbreaking games we lost this year.

Wisconsin twice

Ohio St

Northwestern

Syracuse

Iowa

Rutgers

Penn St

A slight improvement on the floor could mean a huge improvement in wins and losses.

15 hours ago, btownqb said:

 

 

Yes- but you do know that the first injury this offseason will lead to accusations that Clif doesn't teach proper technique on hurdler's stretches.

One thing that does drive me nuts is how everyone just always piles on the administration.  They're easy message board targets.  They usually wear suits.  You don't see them on the floor.  There's no features on them on the Journey.  

Scott Dolson's job is probably harder than any of us know.  There's different factions to please, and he probably knows things that he can't comment on publicly. And while everyone takes a crap on him, it's often times difficult for people in his position to defend themselves publicly.  

My reaction on the university basically saying Fife was fired is that they probably asked him to resign nicely but he refused to quit.  Or that the situation deteriorated so badly that Woodson just decided he had to release a statement making it clear he supported the people who were pissed off by him, be it players, other coaches, or the athletic department.  

I find it funny that some people feel the university is supposed explain their decision, but do so in a way that doesn't make Fife look bad.

A lot of people said Lander would blossom with a new NBA coach leading the way.

I don't yearn for Archie to return, but I think it's clear Lander's failures were not because of him.  

Duncomb didn't play when half our team was suspended.

He himself was suspended.

The early returns have been very concerning and if it works out for him here- I'd be surprised.

I think the whole "coach in waiting" was weird and a bad idea.  I'm not sure if the administration brought it up to get Fife here, or if Fife just made it up, but it's just a bad idea to have anyone discussed as the "coach in waiting" when he's working with people he's never worked with before.

I think Fife's own NIL rant gives pretty solid evidence that he wasn't the easiest guy to work with.  In today's day and age, when colleges are trying to figure this stuff out and sell their school to the best recruits, Fife's posts were not wise.  

2 hours ago, IU Scott said:

I agree that there are just to many social media outlets that really does no good.  I think this is why I am starting to get annoyed with the culture that is around sports today.

I think the opinions of the Assembly Call are far more reasonable than Dan Dakich.  

Given the lack of hospital beds in the state- I think playing without fans should be under consideration.  This sucks, but I simply can't justify indoor crowds of 20,000 until the hospital situation is better. 

Are there any more mock draft boards with Clifton Moore going lottery?