EvilleHoosier

4 minutes ago, BGleas said:

We're absolutely mediocre. 

I've said this before, but you don't bring Woodson, Matta, Fife, etc., in for a slow build. 

I give them a pass for now because they had to use bandaids on this roster, but you bring in a 63 year old with 40 years of experience, as well as Matta and Fife, to go get ballers immediately. 

Whether it's the portal or some kids like Bates that get out of their LOI's because coaches get fired, but Woodson needs to add some legit ballers this offseason. 

4 minutes ago, BGleas said:

 

Whether it's the portal or some kids like Bates that get out of their LOI's because coaches get fired, but Woodson needs to add some legit ballers this offseason. 

Agree.  This program is in no position to set around waiting for guys to contribute as upperclassman.  Need guys that can compete at the Big Ten level right now.  Unfortunately it may mean guys we like and want to see develop, will need to seek opportunities elsewhere.

2 minutes ago, kyhoosier29 said:

Prob because neither has made a whole lot of them this year. They can’t get their own shots, so they typically don’t get a bunch of looks. I’d say tonight was an anomaly and both bombed. 

can't remember where but i heard someone talking about Kopp and Stewart recently and how most of their made threes were spot up catch and shoot threes and that both are shooting poorly of screens and obviously can't shoot off the dribble.  

31 minutes ago, AxnJxn said:

Do we need more talent, particularly on the wing? Absolutely. But, turning over half the roster for potentially better talent and sacrificing familiarity with the system, the coaching staff, teammates, and even minor things like experience playing in SSAH seems like at best a zero sum gain. 

Whether we barely make it into the tournament, or barely miss out, the goal for next season should be to comfortably be in the tournament.  If we return most of our rotation guys plus the incoming freshman, will the team be in position to make forward progress next season?  A lot of things will have to go right.  Our collapses at the end of games have a lot to do with fatigue, in my opinion.  We lack the quality depth to adequately rest our best guys enough to be able to compete at the end of games.  Part of that was due to injuries.  Phinisee and Galloway have missed significant time and we've only had them together for 10 games.  We are 8-2 in games where both are active(two of the games were cupcakes and 2 were wins against PU and OSU) and 10-8 with just one or neither active (5 of those were cupcakes).  Those two are generally our 1st and 2nd guys off the bench and have also been on the court to close games out.  We need a roster with enough quality depth to sustain losing a rotation player or two for significant time. 

3 guys will have to move on in order for there to be room for the incoming class.  Depending on who leaves,  we may have 3-4 guys who aren't quite ready for significant minutes against Big Ten competition unless some of our end of the bench guys get significantly better over the summer or a couple of the incoming freshman are ready from day one.  On top of that we have to stay healthy. Like I said a lot has to go right for us to take a step forward, if we are basically running it back.

3 minutes ago, IU Scott said:

Do we really have that much talent and having your two best players in today's game doesn't win games.  Our perimeter players really are not that talented.

Completely agree. For those saying we have talent, go through the teams in the conference above us in the standings and see if there is any starting guard you would pass on for one of ours.

2 minutes ago, Indykev said:

If you have a G before your name on the roster, every one of them need to be sent packing after the N.I.T. None of them are good enough to play in the Big Ten. Maybe give Bates another year to see if he can play. Everyone else good bye.

Pretty sad when a team goes 1-5 with their backup point guard out of the lineup.   Our talent level needs a major upgrade.  Should be able to to sustain losing 1 or two rotation players without going in the gutter.

6 minutes ago, Hoosier51 said:

 Tonight was the first I have watched the NBA in quite a while, so I hadn't seen really seen Haliburton play much but watching him tonight he looks like a star PG in the making to me. He had 14 assist in the victory tonight, and is averaging 20 points and 10 assist in the 4 games since the trade. The Pacers have a nice young backcourt developing with Duarte and Haliburton.

The Pacers have been much more entertaining to watch with Haliburton running the point.  They play more up tempo and the ball moves so much more.  Guys are cutting instead of standing around and he is finding them for easy buckets in the paint.   

8 minutes ago, kyhoosier29 said:

I don’t think Leal and Galloway should be completely left out. Both offer positive minutes the majority of time. But the key, and what we’re all saying, is that we don’t want wholesale changes. Mix the subs in with the starters depending on the game situation. 

Forgot about Galloway since he is injured.  I would include him in the mix as well.  If he can at least become an average outside shooter, with his passing abilities and energy, I think he can really help this team.  He may be our best passer after XJ.  

I've liked some of what I have seen from Leal too.   He got one look today.  One 3 from Leal today and we win.  With our current roster, if Stewart or Kopp are having off nights, might as well give Leal some minutes.

1 minute ago, BobSaccamanno said:

I didn’t watch the game because it’s a pro football Sunday. I recorded it so maybe I will look later to see what went wrong.

Looking at the box score, should we be running Stewart and even Kopp off s screens to get them open looks?

When we have stretches of not securing boards, especially at the defensive end, maybe a guy like Geronimo could fix that.   And he could be a screener too.  
 

Who do we have as a “plus” athlete for his position?  Not many.  And we are very unathletic at the wing.  You need skill too, I get that, but we don’t have the athleticism to be a top team.  But, to make chicken salad out of chicken-you-know-what for the time being, run shooters off screens, IMO.

I'm with you.  Run some plays to get open looks for Stewart and Kopp.  I would also like to see Geronimo more, but rather than having him in with the rest of the subs, I would like to see him in there with some combination of 3-4 of the starters.  Honestly, at this point, I think the bench needs to be shorted to Phinisee, Bates, and Geronimo and mix them in one or two at a time with the starters.

9 minutes ago, kyhoosier29 said:

And based on the ability to use the transfer portal now. 

I have no idea if Woodson will work out, but I want to see the rest of the season play out and how he addresses the roster in the off-season.  I think we'll be in good shape if he realizes this the team is not talented enough to be a contender in the conference, and is willing and able to do something about it. I liked the additions of XJ, Kopp, and the Bates signing, but I don't think that was enough for a team that finished below .500 last season and lost two starters and a rotation player.  Need to increase the talent level, even if it means some guys end up leaving.  Definitely need more guys that create offense for others and themselves.

2 minutes ago, BGleas said:

Just a terrible loss. 

IU is still severely hampered as a program with our talent level at the guard and wing spots. 

I'm not talking about high school ranking, I mean actual college talent. We don't have shot makers. We don't have anyone on the wing or at the guard spots that can consistently break their man down and step back to knock jumpers and 3's down. 

PSU hit numerous difficult 3's as the shot clock was winding down, IU has nobody who can do that. 

I hope Hood-Schifino is ready to play next year.  Even if he is, it definitely wouldn't hurt to add another wing scorer from the transfer portal, preferably one that can create their own shot.  

4 minutes ago, IU Scott said:

So far it looks like we were a get well game for MSU with them up 24-16 against UI

That is what I am afraid the Rutgers game will be for the 2nd time.  1st game, they had lost 5 in the row and had their get right game against us, winning 4 in row.  Since then they have gone lost 3 of 4.  

3 minutes ago, IU Scott said:

I doubt that can happen with Gonzaga not having football

Didn't think about that.  Don't really follow college football other than Indiana.  If they are stuck in that conference, as good a team as they are year after year, you would think they would have one of the toughest non-conference schedules every year  Their KenPom non-conference strength of schedule the last 5 years starting with this season is 97, 245, 105, 78, 127.  

Gonzaga needs to join the Pac 12.  The only challenges in conference play are the occasionally good Saint Mary's and BYU teams.

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27 minutes ago, Mike said:

70 -59 Alabama

 

Not nearly as entertaining a game as their last few.  I still think Oats has a bright future.  Will be interesting to see if they take a step back next season after losing 4 of their rotation players next to graduation, 2 of which are likely their best players in Petty and Jones.  Looks like they have the #9 ranked recruit coming in next season though.   If Archie doesn't turn this thing around next season and Indiana makes a move, Alabama will probably give him enough of a raise to keep him.  He is already making nearly 2.5 million and can compete at the top of the SEC with the level of talent he will be able to recruit with his playing style.

12 3's with 6:30 to go in the 1st half.  This team is fun to watch.  They defend pretty well too.  That was a question i seen some folks have about Oats on the fire Archie thread.  Alabama was ranked 16 in defense on KenPom coming into this game. 

Alabama hitting more 3's in the 1st 4 minutes than we do in an entire game!