Euroclydon

It's sad there's no other scorer on the team who can go get their own other than X. I know Trey can get to the rim but he's not always reliable. Jordan can get a shot off on anyone but also not reliable. Sometimes Rob can get to the basket but not consistently. Tamar can get past someone but tosses up a lot of garbage with no chance to go it. Parker and Miller are spot up shooters who don't always shoot very well. Who is the guy when things break down that can get points? X when he is on. That's it.

Very reminiscent of the Archie days. Because they lack legit size depth (an issue for most of the past two decades or more) they are forced to eventually rotate TJD and Race. They just don't have the scorers to make up for the lack of D when they don't have both on the court. If this is it for the season it's gotta be about finding guys who can score on their own and adding legit size. And I'm talking more than adding a couple 6'8 types who play mostly inside.

Even a missed FT after the technical seems like a huge deal. They need to get this close before the half.

Outclassed to this point. A step or two too slow. Half a foot or more too small (Geronimo v DIckenson). It appears the hope is they can rest TJD and Race and keep it close - make their move in the second half. As soon as they go off the floor though it's a jail break for UM scoring.

Anyone considered last four in or last four out would be a good start. Xavier losing to Butler would be a good example.

We should know the likely outcome of the Michigan game in the first ten minutes. If IU tries the same defense as the first game, they are going to lose big. First game: UM sets a pick 22+ feet from the basket, IU is caught chasing the ball, IU forced to rotate as UM passes the ball around the horn until they get a wide open shot. At no point does IU do anything different. They don't trap the ball. They don't sag under the pick up top and force them to restart the offense. They don't refuse to engage the pick that far out and make them try it closer to the basket. They just keep chasing and watching shot after shot go in including 11-17 (64%) from three while IU in all too familiar fashion puts up 5-19 (26%) from three. If it comes down IU getting in a shoot out with UM, it's an L. IU's D can be really good but they have to offer more than just hoping UM doesn't shoot well on wide open shots.

IU is good enough to play good teams close, bad enough to lose most of those. They are good enough to beat most poor teams, bad enough to lose a few of those too. Add dumb enough to get five guys suspended for one game. I'm willing to write it off as a learning season for CMW. I'm concerned with what may happen with player moves in the offseason. Hopefully they figure out you need size that can play and scorers that can get their own shot. Still holding our first a miracle B1G tourney run.

It's going to take a big effort just to keep TJD, Race, Durr and Geronimo from fouling out. Here's hoping.

I agree to some extent but there's more to it. Most of these kids were winners in high school. What's missing is more legit size and guys who can get their own shot and score at a high level. Other than X and Trey there's nobody who can beat their guy and get to the basket. Maybe some day Tamar can add that to his game. Hopefully JHS can bring that next season. But the size issue stands out as a yearly problem. 6'9 and 6'8 are IUs best bigs. They're not getting much from Durr and a absolutley nothing from Logan. Tonight TJD had two rebounds in the second half and he sat a long enough time to rest. When your team doesn't hit shots you better have multiple guys to rebound. IU does ok on the boards but they need to dominate for to make up for poor shooting.

It has become a given. Go back for at least four seasons. The other team gets a one on one against Race out top in the closing seconds and they bury a shot. It's like clockwork. Race is good at some things but staying in front of his guy out top in not a strength. In all fairness, why is he in that position guarding a quicker guy out top so often?

I don't know. They played exactly as one guru recently suggested they should- perimeter dominant to the tune of 6 for 21 from three I believe. And TJD played great... as long as you forget he only had two rebounds in the second half. What more do you want was the insight they provided. Anyway, another failed opportunity while playing with a lead. On to Purdue. It's set up for an epic season saving win or a complete wipeout.

And for the 30th time in his career Race gets a shot buried in his face out top. Iu still have not figured out how to guard it.

Good start. Definitely punching it inside with success and adding on fouls to Rutgers. No let up tonight.

No season would be complete without articles on Coach Knight rolling out in March. SI just did an article on the friendship between Coach Knight and Dean Smith. Good read. I'd expect more to follow. As much as some seem to detest Coach he is a staple of the game and writers will continue going to the most iconic and polarizing figure in the game's history.

My original post is what I believe and it simply stated I take this team for what it is, good and bad. Some on here seem clueless and want us to think it's ok to stop playing with 8 minutes to go as long as you scrape by with a win over a poor team. They see last night as a nice win. OK? They talk about lucky shots from the other team but those shots still count and there have been a ton of lucky shots against IU over the course of the season and last several years for that matter. That kind of thinking bothers me. It's shortsighted thinking that's doomed to failure. I hope the coaches and players don't live in the same Pollyanna bubble. I find it comical some argue in favor of that line of thinking. It's the Creanization of the IU fanbase.

That's it? That's the response? You can go sit down now. Let me be more accurate so it helps some feel better. They gave up 24 points of a 27 point lead and had to hit a FT with under four seconds to prevent a potential complete collapse. One of many large leads to evaporate this season. I guess we must ignore the obvious about this team because they beat a Minny team with all of four wins in conference this season. We "WANT" to rely on the perimeter game and getting 14 points for TJD is all they need, so seven shots is all that is required. That should work out great. Can't wait to see how well that thinking plays out going forward.

As long as you read only what you want to read and see only what you want to see. Must be a politician. Give up a 27 point lead in about 8 minutes but it's not a collapse. Got it. I guess all is great and no need to worry. And IU is now a high percentage 3pt shooting team and TJD is dominating the conference even if he only gets seven shots in a game. This is the attitude that's led to crap season after crap season. Should fans start booking those Final Four flights? We all want IU to succeed but being realistic makes more sense.

They got the W. They looked very sharp for a lot of the game. Another collapse of a large lead. This team is clinging to tournament life and 28 games in I don't see a lot of big changes coming to how they play. It may be the most we can hope for at this point is they get healthy and one or two guys start figuring it out. Bates and Geronimo were positives last night combining for 15 points, 6 rebounds and ZERO turnovers in 26 minutes. If they can continue to play at that type of level it really helps. TJD has to figure out a way to get more done on offense and on the glass. Understanding teams are doubling it's going to take him being more active around the rim to get some put backs. Outside of the 30 points against Wis on 2/15, he hasn't scored 20 points or more since he put up 23 against Nebraska on 1/17. He's also put up double digit rebounds twice over that same time. It is asking a lot but for this team to be successful he has to show up every game in a big way. While TJD seems to be slowing down XJ seems to be taking off but you really have to look at the numbers. Yes, his points are going up but so are his shot attempts. His actual shooting percentage has not been great outside of his 7 for 7 against Maryland the game before. When you look closer he is still turning it over at a high rate (last night excluded) but the big improvement is the number of times he gets to the FT line - and he is hitting them. Overall, this team seems to be the same roller coaster we've watched all season. Good enough to challenge really good teams but bad enough to lose most of those challenges. Good enough to easily beat average/poor teams, but also bad enough to inexplicably lose some of those games. Looking at the B1G they are right where you would expect a team like that to be right now. The are 9-9 with two to go. The season hanging in the balance in a conference where you win one and lose one in a week, and the team that goes on a modest 3 to 4 game win streak ends up as the regular season champs. One more positive - they are likely top 10 in conference so they won't have to play day one of the conf tournament.

Just win. I'm not expecting anything to change with how this team plays at this point. They either figure it out or they don't. If the offense is destined to suck they need to play lock down defense for 40 minutes. That means TJD has to stay on the floor. Stop trying to block every shot.

Inconclusive. Although they did not immediately let them back in the game the end result is the opponent IS back in the game.

TJD doesn't seem to be able to adjust his approach when in foul trouble. He's more valuable on the court than the one or two extra blocks he may get.

Double digit theory test number two in progress.

The key issues with this team have been discussed repeatedly over the season. There are apparently no answers to be found. The things we need to focus on is how to prevent this team from having 2, 3, 4 guys hurt all the time. The other issue is TJD getting in foul trouble consistently as the season goes on. Beyond not being able to shoot or maintain a lead, these two things have become an ongoing thorn in the side of this team.

Test the theory - when IU gets a double digit lead they must immediately let the other team back in the game. Done and done.

Any updates on injuries?