HoosierDPU95

2 minutes ago, IUFLA said:

But maybe doesn't know how to?

Certainly not when he's surrounded by a bunch of guys who are just trying not to lose

1 hour ago, IUFLA said:

So after a half a day to look back, here's where I'm at...

Start at the 5:23 mark of the 2nd half...

Last night, down the stretch, XJ went 0-5 from the field, and 0-4 from the line...The rest of our leaders (Race, Trayce, and Stewart) went 1-6 from the floor and 0-2 from the line...Say what you want about Brad Davison, but when crunch time hit, he showed up, as did Johnny Davis...ours didn't...

That was the difference between winning and losing this game...

In the postgame, Coach Woody said, "I need to find a way to get these guys over the hump." Coach, these guys have been trying to get "over the hump" for 4 or 5 years now, and haven't got much to show for it...They don't know how to win a close game against a good team...at home or on the road...

Someone else mentioned that he was on XJ twice during the game, which I like, but it didn't get the results he wanted...He was actually worse afterwards...Kids, and people in general, are all motivated different ways...At the end of the game XJ seemed to want to prove something, and it just didn't work...

 

What I saw in the last 5 minutes (and probably sooner) was everyone except XJ went "soft". Someone mentioned earlier that XJ was playing pissed and probably trying too hard to make something happen (paraphrasing). I wish all our guys would get pissed instead of retreating into their shells. 

1 minute ago, btownqb said:

Not really. He was unnoticed, which in his case, is a good thing. I still can't get why this is suuuuuch a talking point for you guys. We don't have a capable replacement. 

Lander is basically like the highly ranked freshman quarterback on a football team. When the team loses some games with the experienced QB at the helm, the fans start screaming for the backup to play. If Lander gave us a better chance of winning games, I 100% trust that our staff would play him. People screaming for him to play are just saying they think they know better than the staff.

Hope I'm wrong of course, but I just don't see anything but a double digit loss for us in this one.

11 minutes ago, IUFLA said:

I thought Stewart did a pretty good defensive job on Bryce McGowans (who's a similar player to Johnny Davis) in the Nebraska game...I know he struggled against Buddy Boeheim, but he also made Boeheim take some tough shots that he made...Overall, I think he's a good defender...

And I agree...Kopp on Davison isn't a match up I want to see either...Bringing Phinisee in along side XJ cuts into our depth, but as I said, I don't think Davison particularly likes Rob guarding him...

Agreed. If we rely on Kopp to defend Davison it won't turn out well for the good guys. Refer back to OT in the Syracuse game when they started to iso Boeheim. Nobody we had on the floor could handle him one on one. I think Rob and XJ playing together some would be the answer but if the refs aren't letting our guards play physical (which I've never seen happen in the Kohl center) then that could backfire as well. 

1 minute ago, mrflynn03 said:

The fact anyone evens questions beating Nebraska in basketball makes me sad. 

It's going to be a W.

We're all still recovering from the last regime where we could (and often did) lose to anyone on any given night regardless of home or away. Personally, it will be a while before I don't have some worry about us laying an egg against a bottom tier conference team or ever feel good about winning a game at Wisconsin or even competing with PU. 

I thought another positive from last night (all be it very minor) was Durr's 5 minutes. I cringed when he came in the game to give Trace a blow but when all said and done, I thought he gave us quality minutes. No turnovers, didn't foul, snagged a rebound, and hit his FTs. I was pleasantly surprised

7 hours ago, MSHoosier said:

Everyone is talking about the turnovers, and rightfully so, but if we don't give up 49 points in the first half, we may win the game anyway. I thought the defense was the worst part of the first half and this is where I was really frustrated. Race gave us everything he had, but I thought he showed me that he can't play perimeter defense. I think we have to get Jordan to the point where he can come in and try to lock down the 4 that plays outside.

They posted a stat at one point in the second half (I think) and it showed Cuse had 31 points off of turnovers compared to our 11. Syracuse didn't expose our defense, we did by not protecting the ball.

3 hours ago, Billingsley99 said:

I feel really good about this one. We are not counting on Freshmen to carry us. Our vets will do just fine in the Carrier Dome and a double digit win for the Hoosiers. 

I hope you're correct here but I think if Rob is still out it will be tough for us to win this one as our first road game.

X had a great game as well. Hope Rob is healthy next week to help give him a blow

35 minutes ago, 5fouls said:

Conceptually, there should be times where we can get Rob's defense in the game without putting him at the point.  He's more effective in that role.  Lander can be the primary backup PG against certain teams/matchups while Rob can get some time off the ball.  You get Rob's defense without bogging down the offense in the process.  

💯

5 hours ago, Inequality said:

Why the hate on RP? For three years he was taught to dribble around the arc while the team is executing an action play. Yeah it bothers me as well. Especially when he overlooks a wide open TJD. Maybe in time he will get past that or even come in as a 2. 

The kid can play defense. Best defending guard on the team IMO. He is super strong for B1G play and has mega hops.

If you watched his high school game any at all you would see he can score. Ehh I think his average was 22ppg?

He has great form on his shot. Huge elevation. They just have not dropped consistently. 

Nvm the fact of being an Indiana kid from cow country that wanted to play ball for IU. Good grief

Form and elevation in action

28 minutes ago, NotIThatLives said:

Fans are funny.  Both of Robs 3 point looks looked money, just didn't drop.  If that first one goes down, which he has to start making wide open threes, the roof literally explodes off the building.  His one two point attempt, again, has to make the shot.  Him, Kopp, and Stewart are keys to the height of the ceiling of this team.  If the three of them click offensively, the ceiling is removed.

Listened to the game on the radio last night but watched the highlights this morning. Completely agree with what your are saying about Rob's shots. When seeing them, I thought everyone of them (including the free throws) where going in and they all where in an out.

Lot's of folks dog him but right now his defense (with limited offense) is a greater asset than Lander's offense (with limited defense) IMO. Lander cannot hang with big strong guards

I vividly remember this IU-St. Johns game. Hopefully we fare better this go round.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1999-03-13-indiana.html

First game jitters out of the way? - ✔️

Didn't have to watch a pack-line? - ✔️

Learned plenty of things not to do in the future? - ✔️

Got a win? - ✔️

2 hours ago, dgambill said:

Give Crean credit...he did seem to have Kentucky's number.

Because UK doesn't know how to play zone.