Fundamentals

Heck of a win, let’s roll Sunday, and keep it going!   Go Hoosiers!

On 12/13/2021 at 3:54 PM, ba43056 said:

I think Shifano has timing in his favor. There's a scenario that could put us in a place where we have none of our 3 pgs return. 

JHS will start from day 1.   He may even be better today than any guard on our roster.  He is 6’5 and crafty with the ball. 

X, Parker, Rob, Tamar, Leal:

7-25 shooting.  
 

Friends: the names have changed since last season, but 58 points, terrible shooting, road woes, scoring droughts, getting torched from 3, and just flat-out underachieving?  Groundhog Day.  

This is exactly the type of loss that has us watching selection Sunday and lamenting the “what ifs.”  Yes, it is only one game for those who crave voice of reason, but it’s really not.  
 

It is a bad loss to a team, who, before last night had zero wins over the top 100.  It is a team with a first time D1 coach, who took a remade roster and won against an overwhelmingly more talented team.  
 

Further, IU has nothing of resume importance accomplished yet, will struggle to win on the road, and the recipe is present for us to miss the dance again.  
 

Yes, last night was one game, but it’s impact on NCAA resume was significant.  

Ohio State won @ Penn State by 12.  Probably a reasonable barometer for us, so maybe a 7-10 pt win?

18 hours ago, IUFLA said:

This has been the Penn State starting lineup for the past 2 games...

J. Cornwall ·6'0 so I'm thinking XJ on him

M. Dread ·6'4 Parker?

J. Harrar ·6'9 Trayce

S. Lundy ·6'6 Race?

J. Pickett-6'4 Kopp?

Kinda strange matchup for us, but I think if we see any defensive breakdown on Pickett or Dread, Rob will be in quickly...

And I know Race has the athleticism to guard the perimeter, but we absolutely cannot let Lundy get a good start, especially at home...Our depth might prove to be a difference maker here as well...if they play like they can...

Sounds like a game Jordan Geronimo could make in impact with their smaller front line. 

On 12/29/2021 at 12:03 PM, Seeking6 said:

6-11 from 3. Gunn to me is going to be a perfect compliment to whatever elite guys we bring in over his years in Bloomington. In the mold of Greg Graham, Hornsby type guys and his shot is only going to get better. Glad he's still coming.

Greg Graham is the same player I had in mind.  Very good comparison.  Size, frame, game.  Should be a load to handle by junior/senior season at IU.  

Also, I will take my lumps with X this season.  Guard play has already been identified as the greatest need by our coaching staff on the recruiting trail:

2022: Jalen Hood-Schifino

2023: Jakai Newton, Gabe Cupps

6 hours ago, mrflynn03 said:

I'm loving all the positive energy after a P5 win.😝

Holy hell, it wasn't the best game but we won and if you can't see the improvement in defense and shooting compared to the last few years,

I know a couple guys named Harry and Lloyd from Rhode Island that will sell you a parakeet with its head ducked taped on while they drive a dog van to Sunny Aspen in winter looking for a Readhead named Samsonite. 

Holy shit, where's the Tylenol. 

Honestly, what the hell do some of you expect?

Absolutely.  Coming off finals week, and playing a sluggish first half, I thought IU showed some grit to find a win on a day they were not at their best. 

22 hours ago, Hippopotamo said:

You can tell this team is learning how to win together. Every single talented transfer came from losing programs, and everyone previously on IU’s roster hasn’t won anything. 

Most-level headed post after Wisconsin loss.  Spot on. 

1 hour ago, Purdue7 said:

Lines on gym floor were insane?

Not elite athletically or long

Good handle and ability to get in the lane and pass or finish 

sees the floor well

good 3 point stroke 

poor mans Luka Doncic ?

Not elite athletically?   Disagree.  
 

Painful loss.  But, seeking to identify the good.  
 

Baby steps 

1.  IU played the best basketball I’ve seen for years, in the first half

2.  Mike Woodson, although not his best in the second half, walked down the bench giving X an earful as he was subbed out, TWICE.  Thus, I didn’t think Woodson was aloof to his struggles, but gambled he was best chance to lead us to a win

3.  HSN family: I am as restless as the rest of you, but do believe a full season of Woodson’s leadership will have us improving as the year goes on, but EVENTUALLY to walk out of the basketball purgatory to which we now have a membership card, WE NEED TO BEGIN WINNING games such as we’ve lost this season.  
 

And while on topic, anyone else feel like they have a dartboard of Coach Knight or voodoo doll B1G officials play with before games.  
 

There was a time where we would get a fair to more than fair shake.  No longer.  
 

Props to Coach Woodson, who leaves the refs alone.  Should help down the road.  

51 minutes ago, 13th&Jackson said:

In 2016, in IU's OT loss at WI, IU was 16-18 on FTs, Nigel Hayes was 17-22.

Yep.  Further, officials are getting savvy about keeping fouls (total fouls per team) at least in the neighborhood of fair.  The one workaround is not calling fouls on the home team being physical and keeping the road team from breathing on the opponent.  So at the end, fouls look close, but physical contact is WAY different.  This tends to be the B1G method, in particular, at Wisconsin and Mackey.

IU has to be patient.   Watched VCU play Syracuse this past week in the Battle 4 Atlantis.  
 

VCU was patient, worked the middle of the zone, found creases and took quality shots.  Add to that timely and quality shots from 3, and I think IU will be fine.  
 

Guard their shooters tightly.  Overall length and athleticism is not close to what is the norm for Syracuse.  Defend, rebound, patient on offense = WIN.  

It is also the reason we need to “beat someone” to move up.  Still seen as last year’s team by statistical analysis until schedule gets tougher.  

Statistics-based rankings become valuable after conference play has been underway for a few weeks, until then it draws on previous season and what little can be learned in the new, current season.  Any ranking that shows Iowa ranked is validation of this.  They will be in the lowest third of conference standings at year’s end, but still seen at the moment as top-20ish in most polls.   Iowa will struggle to finish above .500 overall by year’s end.  

Another consideration is Lander has, for the most part, been playing with the second unit.  
 

Would be interested to watch Lander play with the first unit, while X is out of the game.

On 11/18/2021 at 9:25 AM, BGleas said:

I said it in the game thread last night, but Woodson has got to find a way to get Lander real minutes in this cupcake portion of the schedule. 

He cannot got a full game not playing or just playing in garbage time in this portion of the schedule. 

A decision has to be made by the staff, over these next three games, which has the better long term impact on this season and beyond, trying to get Phinisee right (which has been attempted for 3 years) or getting Lander comfortable and growing?

Very difficult to do both because the minutes just aren't there. I'd lean to the latter at this point. 

Excellent post.  Rob seems to be a high quality person, but Lander, averaging just 12 minutes to Rob’s 20 per game, leads in every statistical category over Rob, and your point about what is known and building for the future is exact.  Regarding the defense, play Lander and let him learn/be coached through his learning process.  

Would be a good game for Miller Kopp to get going from 3.   He has been quiet through first 2 games.  

Hate to lose out on Clowney, but love my reliable sources:

Road to Zion

Billingsley

5 hours ago, OGIUAndy said:

IU is out recruiting Purdue. Since they beat us out on Kaufman, IU has landed Bates #30 '21, Hood-Shifino #20 '22 & possibly Newton #67 '23. Best guy Purdue had landed since then has been Colvin #80 in '23 (a Purdue legacy).  Hopefully, MW can do something with the talent. But so far (without coaching a game) what Woody has done is impressive. 

True, and Purdue will need the portal in the spring.  They have some guys, but will head into next season with very little experience with the following almost certainly or def gone:

Williams

Stefanovic

Ivey

Edey

Hunter

I’m with IndyKev on this one.  Looking like he may go elsewhere, but with the portal and incoming class, IU will be just fine.  Would love to have him, but guessing Bama or Tech will get him.