Euroclydon

Nice win. Not the best basketball they've played and plenty still to work on, but they did enough without their starting PG. Take every conference road win you can get and be happy.

Can IU guard without fouling? Can they rebound? Do those two things well and they'll have a chance. If Malik or any of the guards get into foul trouble early, it's going to be a tough game to win.

IU's most complete game this season. Let up in the second half but may have been fatigue at the guard spot. Let's hope Cupps is OK. They are alreqdy paper thin at guard when everyone is healthy. Losing X is tough. Losing X and Cupps would be disaster.

Take the win but I could copy and paste from every game this season. It's not that they don't have moments, it's that against better teams this level of play won't win games.

Rebounding is not a priority. Defense is inconsistent with one exception - they can't keep the ball in front of them. They cannot guard the three point line. Still waiting for CMW to explain why they help into the paint with no chance to recover.

The offense is competitive inside but with little perimeter threat it's going to be difficult as the opponents improve and that's fast approaching.

If X is in and out all season it's going to be uphill all the way. IU shouldn't be in a position where one injured player dictates their season, but here they are again.

The inability to keep the ball in front of them and the constant help inside all but guarantees the other team will be in the game and eventually that's going to burn them against a poorer team.

CJ and Banks are the most disappointing so far this season but Galloway's lack of input is shocking this far into his career.

IU got a first hand look at what it takes to be a highly rated team. Did they learn any lessons other than how to get rolled by one?

They beat Harvard because losing is not an option. But can they do it while looking like they have a plan that works? Do we see a strong effort on the boards and a commitment to defense? 

If all we see is a continuance of the first five games, it will be beyond disappointing. 

Rebounding is desire and they don't have it. They have multiple guys they won't body anyone to block out and turn into spectators when the ball goes up.

Defense is still lost. Will anyone ask CMW what is the logic behind leaving shooters to dig in the post? Disciplined teams with a plan on offense will light uo this team.

Offense? What offense? The open shots they did get they couldn't hit most of them. It's watch MR force something  inside or toss up some junk. Somebody has to figure out how to shoot the ball.

It's going to end ugly but IU had some moments. Still, it's going to be a long season when you don't compete on the glass, your defense is all over the place and nobody can't shoot.

Maybe this opens some eyes.

IUs offense does little to get an open jumper for anyone and I don't think they'd hit it if they had one. 

Wheels about to fall off. That exchange that led to a three point play may have turned the corner for Uconn.

IU has very little in terms of creating your own shot. It's bully ball down low and that's it. 

Rebounding and one team knocking down a few more open jumpers. That's the difference.

IU hasn't played great but better than what we've seen so far. Fouls piling up will be a problem in rge second half. CJ looking more active on defense is a nice surprise.

Trying to figure out the last time IU left a shootervand didn't get burned.

16 hours ago, IUFLA said:

Whether or not it would continue wasn't the statement...

I'd say to be 17th in the nation in FG% vs any schedule shows an offense that works for good shots and makes them...

I don't think you can rely on that stat after playing three teams that haven't won a game. I'm referring to early shot clock decisions where no offense was run, and poor attempts that allow the other team to erase double digit leads. We'll keep an eye on that stat as the season goes along.

It would take a 180 about face for this to be a close game. Disciplined offense that works for good shots, and a team commitment to rebounding and defense. None of which has been displayed so far. 

My hope is they show up and play like they understand how to win. But if not, getting it handed to them on a big stage may open some eyes and help turn it around.

I know some see this as too negative. It's not. It's reality. One that will prevent them from making the big dance if it is not changed.

Hope the best for X. The odds are one of the three main guards would eventually get injured. Game 3 though? Not good. CJ has to step up. Let Cupps start. 

Would love to hear CMW's explanation on why they continually leave shooters to double in the post when IU has more size and better players inside than the other team.

Rebounding and defense. Until that's figured out its difficult to be too excited about this team.

The UConn game will x-ray this team and show what its got or not.

Pretty clear the good shot bad shot discussion is lost on this team to this point. But the lack of willingness to rebound and defend is more frustrating. The least physical team in the CMW era and that has nothing to do with youth or being new to the team.

Bill Parcells said it best. If they don't bite when they're puppies, they probably won't bite.

Maybe getting tuned up by UConn will open their eyes.

In reality they should be up 20+ right now. Clearly the better team. Just not doing the little things.

Don't block out leads to extra chance points. Leave your man for some odd reason and they hit an open three. A couple bad turnovers then the other team throws in some last second threes. Take some bad shots early in the clock equals a gift to the other side.

It all adds up to the other team hanging around in a game that should be safely in hand at halftime.

The defense is still not locked in yet. MM just left his man to double and paid with a wide open three.  Worse -  rebounding is more hope than effort. 

I'd make rebounding practice an absolute nightmare until they figure it out. 

The ball is moving on offense and so are the players. Much better on that end. 

CMW says he wants to get out and run more. You don't rebound at a high level you're not running anywhere. And if you don't lock in defensively you'll be running to inbound the ball and that's all the running you will be doing.

Defense and rebounding. If you can't get that right, it doesn't matter what your offense is doing. The fact the offense isn't doing much of anything is just salt in the wound.

If I see the continued lazy challenge of three point shots I'll know CMW has lost their attention or they're just not smart enough to understand what's happening on defence. 

If I see a lack of effort to body for position to rebound, I'll know CMW had lost their attention or they're not willing to be physical.

It starts with the coach, it includes the captains, but everyone is responsible for poor effort.

Nothing changed since tge first exhibition. Can't keep the ball in front of them and it leads to open threes. Not committed to controlling the boards. No identity on offense.

This is a very slow footed team overall. It's going to be hard to defend anyone playing mostly slow plodding forwards and center.

Not sure they continue with their current rotation but CMW gets locked in on starters and he is committed to MM.

CMW has to be wondering who can I trust?

Take the win. Keep improving. Acknowledge the issues.

I'll keep coming back to what I've seen for three games now. Lack of team foot speed means they can't keep the ball in front and leading to a lot of open threes: not a great rebounding effort as a team; and too much uncertainty on offense.

Willing to let it play out and have roles develop. Expecting some ugly results until things start getting cleaned up.

Winning is the main goal but I'm looking for some key improvements.

A clear plan on offense that they demonstrate they can execute well. Better job keeping the ball in front of them on defense and less open/unchallenged threes. Team commitment to rebounding.

A win is a win but we are looking for signs this team can win against much better opponents. As it stands right now, I can't say with certainty they win tonight.

The good - just a couple turnovers and multiple guys knocked down threes. 

The bad - they gave up double digit threes to Marian and it was almost even on the boards.

Reality - similar to the first exhibition, team footspeed is slow outside a few guys. Too many examples where they were beat off the dribble leading to a lot of open threes. Good teams hit threes. This will be an issue if it continues.

Rebounding is not good right now. Lots of spectators when shots went up. Not a lot of guys working to get position to rebound. This team will have to rebound as a group or it's going to be ugly.

The coaches have a lot of work to do with this team.