Rev_AK

Looks like this will depend on who can ultimately impose their will on the other. Let’s go IU!!

Who are these guys?!   loving it!!

Microsoft Teams meetings from 11:30 to 2:30. Cannot wait to watch when I get home!! 

Can’t complain about the effort. This just goes to show losing a tight game against a highly ranked rival at their place while they got near historic imbalance with foul calls shouldn’t be the game that eliminates a good team from the Dance. That’s the frustrating part… this is a good team and should have literally won 6 other games. There will be plenty of discussion about the merits of CMW’s first year as a coach. So, I’ll just save that for later. I feel like they truly gave all they had today. Is it telling that XJ played the best PG game we have seen in years, with a 12-2 A/to, but the 2 to’s were at crunch time? Something about this team folding at the end of games… I’m in end of season mode. Anyone have faith that we will go on a run and win the BTT? I don’t. I’m frustrated with this season as a whole, but not this game. Great effort. Let’s see how the next 8 months go. That’s becoming part of the ritual, unfortunately…

XJ playing his guts out

Couldn’t stay away….

Maybe this loss will be a referendum on the job CMW has done this year. 
I was happy with the job he did getting players to stay

We can’t complain about recruiting, even though in the B1G, you HAVE to recruit some size. Id be even happier if we can get a big guy like every other good team seems to have.

One thing that I already mentioned was the platooning, or mass substitutions, or giving players too much rest. 
 

Another thing, there really did not seem to be much of a sign or signal that there is any Matta influence on our play. Or, it also seems like the staff have given CMW full autonomy, which, I guess is how it should be. 
I think it boils down to all the close games that we had a lead in, and ended up losing. By my reckoning, including tonight, we could easily have something like a 23-6 record. Very easily IMHO. So, there are going to be glass half full guys who will say the only reason we were in these games was because CMW maxed out the talent and took the team as far as it can go. 
Glass half empty guys will be like with 3 5 stars, a shooter like Stewart ( except tonight) and TJD, ( who did not really show too much improvement this year) maybe some things were mismanaged, especially in the second half. 
I tend to be glass half empty on this one, and if this season ends how the overwhelming odds look like it’s going to, then I have to give “C+” as my grade. 
That being said, maybe intentionally blowing the NW game, which will be the game that knocks us out of the dance, was a brilliant RMK-like move to “set the cutlure.” OR, it was stupid and stubborn. Without knowing what those kids did, time will tell. 
GO IU

2 minutes ago, IUwins0708 said:

Question for the people that say we need to recruit winners.  Weren’t most, if not all of these guys more than likely on highly successful high school teams?  

I think you’re right. I think we have a decent roster. We may not have 5 stars everywhere,  ( but we have 2) I think there is something psychological that happens when these guys are in AH and have the chance to hit the big one and blow the lid off the place, and then…… clank

But guys on the other teams seem to feed off our crowd and do what IU players can’t- stick the big shots.

I don’t understand the confusion against the zone. We scored our one of our highest point totals of the season against the coach  who made a career perfecting the zone. 
My biggest criticism against CMW this season has been taking out too many guys at a time. Taking out guys when they are hot. Crean and Archie had similar issues. Maybe I am too out of touch, but these guys shouldn’t need so much rest, especially not with the Great Cliff Marshall there to get them in NFL ready, er NCAA basketball ready shape. ( that doesn’t effect their shooting at all)

i kid, i kid. 
 

im just bitter and enjoy coming here to vent.

When Harper hit the miracle 3 at the end of the shot clock, the miracle 3 before the half, and we came out and turned it over and fouled 26 seconds into the second half, I have to admit, I had a strong feeling that a loss was on the way. 
I have to handle it like a grown up and move on. But making the tournament shouldn’t be too much of an ask. Not for IU. 

I’m actually taking it quite well. I mean, it’s been in front of me for 5 years. The other guys hit pressure shots, and IU doesn’t. Every. Single. Time. 
Anyone doubt that Rutgers was going to hit the pressure free throws?

Anyone doubt Harper was going to hit?
Watshot, and the Yogi 3 at Iowa to clinch the B1G are the only( meaningful) clutch shots I can remember in the last 10 years. I may have missed some I guess. 
 

I have watched a lot of basketball in 48 years, and I think there is some kind of psychological issue when someone comes to IU. Maybe we put too much pressure on them to bring the program back to prominence. I have never seen a team miss shots over and over and over, while the other guys hit the Big one time and time and time again. And it always happens in the same games. Woodson, Fife, Matta, Dolson: please find some guys who can shoot

We have a simple problem really. We miss big shots and the other guys seem to always hit theirs

I can’t stand Geo Baker

I can’t stand Harper

I can’t stand Brad Davison

that is all

Id like to see JG have a moment defensively like OG did against KY in the tournament 

I’m glad to have won, and I love it that someone said Minny became the ‘92 Dream Team for 8 minutes… BUT, I can also see some Frustration because after all, we have seen the other guys go completely off so many times in the last 10-15 years that it seems that it can’t just be a coincidence. I mean, I’m still mad about “Falzone” from Northwestern having the game of his life against IU, how many seasons ago now? Many were commenting on the game thread that they were nervous even with a 27 point lead. You just KNEW those shots that Minnesota was taking were going in, because we have seen it so many times before. You just KNEW we were going to lose this historic game, and crush all of our hopes for another year… but this time we held on. With all the other things going on in the world, I chose to be glass half full on this one. It’s not over til it’s over, and as the great Farmer Fran said, “we live to play another day.” I’m going to enjoy this season til the end. Either we can celebrate making the Dance together, or we can all commiserate and wait til next year. Good thing Falzone didn’t play last night for Minnesota 

When we play a half like that, it makes me think about how close we truly could be to being something like 22-5. It’s about learning how to win, and finishing this game strong could be a big step to making the dance.

So much improvement from X. I’d love to see this version the rest of the way.

We need more of this version of XJ. It’d be so nice if IU could put the hammer down and win by 15+

7 minutes ago, IU Scott said:

I actually thought Woodson did a good job tonight and didn't see any questionable coaching tonight.  He put the players in position to succeed and that is all a coach can do.  Tonight at the end was about player execution and our lack of play makers on the perimeter.

I agree with others who have pointed out that pounding the ball inside to Trayce when Stewart, Kopp, and even Bates were mildly hitting shots was not s good move. The pass that Race tried to force inside that was stolen was telegraphed by everyone. We can all agree that we did not want XJ taking the last shot. That is on the coach 

Microcosm of the season. Blown opportunities, missed free throws, questionable coaching. XJ both keeping us in the game, and making plays that lose the game. Good Miller Kopp, bad Miller Kopp.  Stewart coming alive on offense, but not being able to stop the drive over and over. Getting blown out, and then being in perfect position to win. Guy on the other team who averages 3 a game, going off.  This one had it all. Not to mention it’s pretty hard to lose by 11 in overtime. When anger and frustration turns to apathy, that is the moment the fan base is lost. I am there. Too much emotion to put on the shoulders of 20 year olds. Even if they are 20 year olds who can’t shoot free throws. Season done. 

Shot fakes? Never seen a team take so many choreographed shots. But hey- just a few minutes ago, the whole season was over, so I’ll take it.

Rope-a-dope strategy for Kopp- brilliant!!

This team makes me so frustrated, I could punch Greg Gard.

-Juwan Howard

Not sure we’ll win another game

Just not very good. Yet.