Euroclydon

7 minutes ago, Maedhros said:

Funny how narratives get formed and stick. In Big Ten play, Indiana is holding teams to just 31% from three, best in the conference. They're shooting 34.4% from three themselves, right in the middle of the pack at eighth in the conference, and a mark would be 162nd nationally, above the median.

 

Averages can lie. We've watched them against tournament level teams get lit up from three. The B1G has a small number of quality teams and a bunch looking up at the NIT, as it stands today. I wouldn't put a lot of value on that average. Just rewatch the games against the better teams. It's ugly. 

I want to give the team credit for fighting till the end. Any conf road win is a big plus. I also want to be realistic.

They played much better in the second half after a horrible first half. But in the bigger picture it was a big comeback against a poor team that's reeling. It is what it is.

If IU gets smacked this weekend by 20+ nobody will remember last night's win. As much as I want them to turn the corner, it seems unlikely they will suddenly learn to guard the three or shoot better. 

I'm hoping they solve the puzzle but reality says there are more bad games coming their way than good games. More Ls than Ws. 

Congrats to the team. I'd call tonight's performance rope a dope, but I don't think that's it.

Sitting this one out. A win over a poor OSU team means very little. A loss means they've quit on CMW. Not interested in seeing either play out.

Unless you can guarantee a high caliber coach is ready to sign, I'd give CMW one more chance to show he can construct a team. Add Queen, a PG that can control the game, and another shooter to go with McNeeley and they are back in the hunt. 

Nothing changes. The mistakes and poor play from the pre-season continue. No reason to believe this one will be different. 

Maybe I've seen this for too long now, but I'm not willing to watch this nonsense. This far into the season and as a team you have no desire or understanding of how to guard the three? No thanks 

Id like to say one injury to the PG was all it took to dismantle the season. But even with X they're not good enough. Too many holes in this team on both ends.

Let's see who's available for IU. They're all must wins now.

Disappointing. He should be contributing right now in some form. 

I get the impression he's not interested in being a defensive specialist or a rebounding presence. He's certainly not a knock down shooter, at this point. Frankly, when he's on the floor it seems like he's looking to show out. It's not about the team or winning. 

He could be the definition of a late bloomer. He could be a surprise next season if he works at it. But he's not seeing the floor much on a team that's desperate for anyone to step up, and a team with several injuries. You can't get on the floor now? That's on you KB.

Some great play. Some poor. All effort though. 

Some teams are snakebit by injuries. Unfortunate for the kids and team. Really shows how important it is to have depth that can step in. Sadly IU doesn't have what they were hoping they'd have coming into the season. 

When I listen to CMW talk about the team there are clearly things he sees different than the fans. He has more patience obviously and he has a better view of what's going on inside the team. But there are some things he is either intentionally ignoring or just blind to the reality. Both are deadly to a program.

He can continue to say he's got to help them learn and get over the hump, but we've seen a lot of the same issues since the exhibition games. At some point you have to admit something isn't working. Some things are not sinking in with the team. Some of the coaching is lacking. Some of the talent is not where it needs to be. Some of the missed recruiting with no backup plan has cost them dearly. At some point you course correct or go down with the ship.

It's put up or shut up at this point. Regardless who plays or not, IU has to win this game. 

The fan base has put up with a lot of crap play and ignorant decisions. Lose this one and you’ll see the remaining fans start packing it in.

And if X gets another T, I'd send him home for good. Tired of stupid. 

IU is the easiest team to guard in the conference.

The four out one in offense is more accurately a four statues and one Malik offense.

Something has to change.

Credit for the effort but a winnable game is lost. 

Can't buy a three to save their life. Give up 19 offensive rebounds because blocking out is hard i guess. Miss ten free throws, including two late by your super senior. They didn't deserve to win.

It's win the conf tourney or they're sitting at home. Not even good enough for the NIT.

Feels the same as the last two. Nothing we've seen so far suggests this will be close. 

KW not playing? No Ware, no way.

They've lost their composure. Panic has set in and not one player has enough skill or leadership ability to get them through it. Apparently, the coaches can't either.

All season IU has looked lost on defense. Leaving shooters as if by design. Rebounding seems optional most games. Don't understand how to get a good shot and frankly wouldn't hit one if they got one.

I'd suggest simplify the game plan. Slow it down and focus on defense and rebounding. Play up and funnel everything to the 7'0 center. Make every game low scoring. ID the four guys you want to shoot the ball and where they can shoot it. Everyone else plays D, rebounds, passes and sets picks. If not, take a seat. The other option, start playing for next season, focus on MR, Ware and MM and hope one comes back.

Nothing we've seen so far this season suggests this will be a game or in any way close. I'm just looking for signs of life on both ends.

Where's the defense and rebounding? Do they even get open looks on offense? Does it look like they have a clue of how to run the offense 

I'd expect the typical parade to the foul line for the badgers. Really no reason to belabor the point. They either figure it out or they don't. 

No time to quit. It's ugly now but if they can figure out defense and rebounding they can still make a run

B1G is down this season. There are a few teams that are above average and one top tier. The rest is wide open. 

They need to reevaluate what they are doing and set a goal of winning out at home and finishing in the top third of the conference. Then let the dice role in the conf tourney.

Staying the course seems like a losing proposition. CMW has to see it now.

I want to say there are glimpses of hope but then they can't rebound a missed FT with positioning.

Minnesota is like several less than stellar B1G teams this season. It's hard to gauge if IU is improving at anything or Minny is just that poor on the road.

Take the W and keep hoping IU turns the corner and becomes a dangerous team.

The team needs X to have a chance to win. That said, this is not his first screw up and as a super senior he should be better than this.

No suspension X. No suspension MM. Starting to get a picture and it's not good for CMW.

Every home game is a must win for this team until they prove they can win another conference road game. That does not seem likely as of today.

The frustration comes from knowing the reason for losing is lack of fundamental understanding and execution. 

You don't have to be a five star talent to shoot a reasonable percent of your free throws. You don't have to be a physical or athletic freak to block out your opponent.

The team is young for the most part. They haven't played together very long. Readily available excuses that apply to a lot of teams who still have success. That falls to the coaches.

CMW is well intentioned but his approach this season is not working. Every player on the team has significant holes in their game. That doesn't excuse how many of them do not know the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. Doesn't excuse careless turnovers. Doesn't excuse their refusal to block out. Doesn't excuse how easily they get lost on defense and refusal to stay with shooters. This falls on the coaches.

My guess is CMW had to make promises to get some of these kids. Promises to let them play through mistakes. Sadly, it has tied his hands and forces him to tolerate poor play and frankly some selfish play. 

There is a laundry list of issues with this team, and in all fairness they could still grow and develop, but the inability or unwillingness to do the basics stands out the most.

Anytime Holtmann loses, it's a good day. 

Take the W. Ugly. Can't rebound to save their lives and the other team looks like open gym practice for large parts of the game.

They need to win at home because on the road this game is Nebraska all over again.

Senior FTs? Take the gift rebound.