DISQUS

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

For all the good Devan did tonite, that foul made it really really bad.

For all the bad VJ does at times, he made two BIG shots that made it good.

IU will win at least ONE Big Ten game this year, not sure against who but I can say this...........not that it will EVER happen but if there ever was a time for a coach to get some votes or recognition of coach of the year it would be Tom Crean this year.

He coaches these guys 'up' but it is up to them to get over at least one time. His intensity never changes, his enthusiams comes through the screen and you can see he loves this team/IU. A positive things.........wait until these guys get some more talent, experience, and confidence........IU will RULE the Big Ten.

silkyslim · 9 months ago

Wow, awesome game!

Never have I enjoyed a game so much where we still came up short. Reminds me of an old college girl friend, a lot fun but will break your heart.

Still lovin' the improvement!

You said it Kelin, Crean looked like he was ready to lash 'em up & go play. Great intensity.

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

I would have to agree with you...It was a good basketball game to watch because it had the things that you like to see in basketball: Kids playing hard, emotion/enthusiasm, good execution by both teams for the most part, and 'big shots' being made.

I cannot stress, how I like how Verdell earlier in the game got chewed out by crean, came back in, showed some maturity and made two big shots......that is a sign of growth...........(And Crean lit into his ass good for whining about a call)

BFowler · 9 months ago

Kelin, I loved that Crean moment too. When Crean turned and Daniel Moore popped off the bench, I had flashbacks. It suddenly felt like 1987. I also loved Crean pounding the floor on key defensive possessions; when the players start doing that (ans making stops) we will have something more.

The kids played hard, it actually looked like a college basketball game. They put up 72 points on the best defensive team in the B10/11. I thought Dumas gave the Moore kid a little bit of a cheap shot on the floor, which got him going. Also, they dominated the boards, Pritchard did not score a ton, but he got 10 rebounds.

How can you control Coble throwing in those ridiculous shots? He is starting to remind me of Larry Bird Lite with his shot making ability.

The final turnover killed me especially when I thought I saw someone standing in the corner to at least get the ball in. I also was not sure if there were any timeouts left or not....I thought I saw Calbert Cheaney behind the bench, it's just a matter of time before he is on the staff.

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

Yes that was Cheany behind the bench and I think it would be awesome to have him on the staff in some capacity.

Coble is a player! that is about all I can say about the kid. I just hope he is a senior. I did see a mock NCAA tourney that had NW in the tourney and I hope that happens.

They didn't have any timeouts at the end but....WHen Pritchar set the first screen he was open underneath for 3seconds then flashed to the ball.."without" meeting the ball but it was a slow bad bound pass....

Again.......Helluva Game.

JerryCT · 9 months ago

In these close games I keep thinking that Rivers would make the difference in winning and losing. Probably he is the next best thing to having Crean out on the floor with the kids.

Is it me or did Williams have monumental trouble playing the game last night ? Fouling out in 19 minutes of PT w/o much to show for it really hurt.

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

Jerry YOu are right, Rivers would and will make a difference in games like this....and wateford, creek, and my favorite recruit Derrick "Badass" Elston

dale11 · 9 months ago

There is a nice article in the indystar's sports section today about Hulls.

MillaRed · 9 months ago

If nothing else this team shows us what you get when a number of freshmen are on the floor together. I'm still a little frsutrated by the 5 or so utterly rediculous turnovers a game that only IU puts on display in the Big Ten. When Verdell bounces the ball off his thigh that turns into a layup, you can bet all the marbles you just CANNOT win a Big Ten game.

What else does Story have to do to get more minutes? He ABSOLUTELY should be in the starting lineup eating into Taber and Williams minutes. Aside from Dumes and at times Jones, he's the only true offensive threat that can create for himself. I really like that guy.

The defining moment of this game for me, in terms of the future of the program, was in the game tying possession with 30 second left. (I love DVR so I can go back and slow things down) Matt Roth is camped in the corner on the weak side. He is jumping and pointing to the wing for the cross court pass. We pass to the wing and he is SCREAMING for the ball with his hands in the ready position. Next thing you know "swish!"

That's the IU we fell in love with. A Coverdale mentality. He know's he's a shooter and wants the ball and knows he can drain it. Sweetness.

Everyone is in love with the incoming class but I'm telling you we have five freshmen right now that will be solid and Dumes has a chance to be All-Big Ten next year with more support around him (and a little more ball control).

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

Milla I liked what Leary said about Roth last night.....Roth missed his first two shots...and he KEPT shooting. The kid has confidence and knows his role. He is not a great ballhandler so doesn't try to do that too much, he prepares to shoot every time!

CutterInChicago · 9 months ago

A few comments: I thought Taber did a really good job on Coble most of the night, I mean that was a tough, tough assignment and Taber did a nice job. Last night the turnovers were what killed us, we shot FTs well enough to win but we gave the ball away too easily (I like VJ3 but I could swear he had 10 turnovers himself). After he took Jove out of the game, Crean completely explained to Jobe what his role is at the top of the 1-3-1 zone, with emphasis.
They played a decent game last night., glad I went

BGleas · 9 months ago

A lot of fun watching that game last night, would have been nice to pull out the win, but I think you can feel it coming at some point. It was great to see Jones respond to Crean's coaching and not sulk, but come back and have a huge impact on the game. You can see that these kids really respond to Crean. Kudos to the coach and players.

My one criticism is on the last possession of the game. I think it was a mistake to inbound the ball with 6.2 seconds left and then call another timeout once they crossed mid-court. I know Crean is worried about a young team in a helter-skelter situation and wanted to set something up, but I think their best chance to score would have been just going full speed and attacking the rim. Either get a lay-up or draw a foul. Plus, you let NW set up their defense and had a freshmen inbouding the ball with no timeouts left.

Not a major issue, just something I thought during the last sequence.

Will · 9 months ago

You are absolutely right about going fullcourt for the last shot. That was just not a good coaching move, not with these young guys. Its incredibly hard to inbounds halfcourt in a pressure situation like that.

BGleas · 9 months ago

I love Crean so far, so I'm not trying to be overly critical, but I hope that's just him over-coaching a young inexperienced team and not how he'll operate in that situation when we have an experienced talented team.

Taskmaster75 · 9 months ago

I thought that was Taber inbounding the ball? Probably wrong, but that's what I remember off the top of my head.

BGleas · 9 months ago

Jones tried to in-bound to Pritchard.

Gary · 9 months ago

IU is coming along nicely. You can see the improvement. I think the rebuilding project might not take as long as some think. We could field a very nice team next year.

PG - Rivers
SG - Dumes
SF - Williams
PF - Pritchard
C- Muniru

Bench

Story
Roth
Hulls
Elston
Watford
creek

I think we can compete for the big ten next year. Rivers experience this year setting on the bench with crean will be great for him as a leader!

Taskmaster75 · 9 months ago

Forgot Capobianco :)

Disco_Briscoe · 9 months ago

I know we don't know and its too early to tell but this is pretty funny. Watford and Creek are fighting to start and probably should be included in the starting lineup.

Biggest thing is Muniru? Why is he starting over the studs of the class. We cant get numbers on him and whats to say he's even better than Capo or Elston...which I don't think he is.

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

Creek, watford, or Elston starts next year without a doubt

cooper · 9 months ago

I missed most of the game but from what others are saying they played better which is good. Looks like Williams and Pritch struggled and for IU to be in the game when they both struggle is promising. I think VJ is really coming along, and from watching short clips of Hulls I don't think he is going to unseat VJ next year as backup PG. Hulls is small, doesn't appear all that quick and has an awkward shot though he shoots a good % he is a much better dribbler but I think he needs a year to get stronger before he gets significant minutes over Rivers or VJ. Interesting that Marquette is number 8 in the country without Crean when they were picked 6th in Big East. I'm not saying anything bad about Crean or that he was a bad hire, just an interesting fact. I don't expect any wins but will be happy if Dumes, Pritchard, Wiliams and Jones continue to improve as I think they will be the core players from this team getting minutes next year.

JerryCT · 9 months ago

Marquette has played the weakest schedule in the BEAST so far. It now gets tougher and you may see more losses.

Next year I donot see Williams or Muniru starting very often . The way Watford is rebounding in HS along w his scoring he will be impossible to keep on the bench. That leaves one slot for alot of players.

Todd Welch · 9 months ago

It was a great game to watch until the closing seconds, ouch, not exactly how I was hoping the last play would go. Turnovers hurt once again but we hit some great shots under pressure which will be a great learning experience for all those kids. Speaking of those kids, I really enjoy watching the play of TP, MR, VJ, MS and NW as I think they will make a great foundation for what we are building.

Now while I'm not making excuse for the lose, I must make a comment. The kid Coble is good but come on refs, do you even understand the term ESTABLISHED PIVOT FOOT! While he was making his dramatic shots we was walking every time!

HoosierSmitty · 9 months ago

I've just become a little numb to the season at this point. I went ballistic when Roth tied it up, but I tempered it quickly with the realization that we would almost surely lose - and by some bonehead play. (It turned out to be two - a foul at the top of the key and trying to inbound from half court)

It's just so frustrating to see that we've had chances to win four BT games and then lost by a combined total of 17 points - one of those in OT. (I'm not counting Penn State).

It's encouraging at the same time...but ugh...I just want that DAMN WIN!

When a team is terrible - as IU supposedly is - they should be getting blown out by like 30 points, not scrapping for these wins. It's surely a testament to these kids' hustle and teamwork, along with Crean's ability to coach and motivate...but we've got to find a W sometime soon or I'm going to lose it!

Go Hoosiers!

Spencer_D · 9 months ago

Did anyone else laugh their asses off when Moore popped off the bench and threw his tear-away pants on top of the old dude sitting in the announcers section?

Every time they showed that replay I giggled like a little school girl.

Kelin Blab · 9 months ago

That was nice........Moore is a stud. I can see him next year coming into the game....popping that uniform off throwing on Fish's head...and slapping the floor at midcourt...........

MikeinNC · 9 months ago

They are so close now. I think it is now 99% mental and when they get that first win to get them over the threshold we will see rapid improvement going forward....right now there is a pattern consistent with a team that, deep deep down, does is not really sure it can win the game - they can stay close, come back from a deficit and make it close, even get a lead, but in the end they just cannot finish. It's like a salesperson who can do everything right but just can't close the deal at the end because they haven't done it yet and lack the belief - once they close their first deal they start closing more and more...you see signs of this in the variety of ways that they are losing the winnable games - a poor decision with the basketball, poor FT shooting, poor 3 pt shooting, a dumb foul...whatever...it is not the same thing all the time, which tells me they are still finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win....when they finally break through this (and they will pretty soon) I think we will be surprised at the rapid progress. TC is going to build one he** of a program over time.

MillaRed · 9 months ago

Gary, I think we'll look more like this to start 09. The depth really looks good. As a matter of fact, I would expect a transfer ot two over the next few seasons unfortunately.

PG Rivers
SG Dumes
SF Watford
PF Pritchard
C Capobianco

Rivers has been waiting to lead a team for three years. To say he is mentally ready is an understatement. Dumes gets talent around him that can give him more space to create. Watford is a match-up nightmare at the SF position. Pritchard gets a lot of garbage points on the weak side. The C position is the question mark. Capobianco fits the mold. Maniru is a project at best much like Jobe.

PG - Jones or Hulls (expect this to be a 2 year battle behind Rivers. Jones very well could transfer at some point. Is he patient enough behind Rivers for two years?)
SG - Creek with Roth busting those zones when needed
SF - Nick Williams
PF - Malik Story
C - Elston (Either Pritchard or Capo will always be on the floor, and Elston gives them a 3rd option in the paint) I think Maniru is at least 2 years away. I hope I'm wrong.

Sorry guys but I don't see Moore getting anything but garbage time after this season unless he can start hitting threes.

JerryCT · 9 months ago

Millared- My thoughts almost completely.

The only modifications I would offer is that the most competitve kids today on the roster, based on who is getting better and more consistent, are VJIII and Story. It will be fun to see how they come in next year ready to compete. I imagine VJ as the next Devin Harris....we cannot lose him. I think he can replace Dumes by next year sometime.

I fear Roth, Williams have the most work to do. Is Williams a shooter, a rebounder, a ball handler, a defender or is he all of these or none of these ? Same with Story . It is hard to fit either into a lineup role next year but yet they do many things partially well.

Story being from Ca may be ready to go home but I hope not.

With increased scoring ability next year I think defense will separate who plays who does not. This is why Hulls, Moore, Roth, Creek may be limited in PT even if they can hit 3's. They will need to show they are not a liability on D. Same for Muniru

MillaRed · 9 months ago

Well said JerryCT I won't disagree. I have high hopes for Story. He just seems to be a comfortable scorer doesn't he? Hope he sticks it out he could go for 20 ppg as a senior.

The jury is still out on Williams too isn't it? I think Nick will also benefit from more talent on the floor. He's automatic from 12 feet in and can get tough rebounds at the 3 spot.

We'll see about Verdell. Ask me again after a game that he doesn't have 7 turnovers! I agree though he has talent.

I think the problem in the future we will face is we have all these kids getting playing time as FR when honestly they should be getting stronger and honing their skills. So when the talent pool immediately doubles, will they have the patience to wait their turn after getting the minutes as underclassmen?

Hey, it's a nice problem to have. But it's still a potential problem.

elling2008 · 9 months ago

We are getting there...just wait.