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I'm happy we got the win, I was pretty disgusted with the team's play, not just Gordon's. Defensively we gave up easy buckets, did not jump out on the shooter fast enough. Offensively, I thought we ran the ball effectively in the first half and just couldn't hit open shots. In the second half, we lost any sense of offensive rhythm and just waited to win the game.
An effort like this isn't going to get us a win in East Lansing.
Nice win, but we can do better Hoosiers!
I think the win is important for team morale, I would have liked to see them put Ohio State away early in the second half and give guys like D.J., Gordon and Armon a breather but that's not the way it works out.
This team will have to do a better job of taking care of the ball and that includes Gordon and turnover machines Jamarcus Ellis and Jordan Crawford. The three of them are usually good for 12-15 turnovers a night recently and if they're going to beat Michigan State at Breslin, they're going to need to get a hold of that in a hurry.
patrickdonohue.freedomblogging.com
Get up and down the court, boys.
Dakich needs to work that offensive set into the scheme.
A W is a W...but we need to start building momentum...
But at least this isn't the Mike Davis era where we blow the game in the end...
It could even happen in the B10 tourney if they don't snap out of it!!!
On the other hand, they looke pretty poor on both ends of the floor and (I hate to say it) Kofus outplayed D.J. tonight, (Although White looked kind of gimpy at the end, I hope he's ok.)
One other thing I noticed is Matta totally worked the refs over to getting the favorable calls. Calhoun did the same thing when UConn came here to play. Good coaches make the refs see things their way...Phil Jackson is one of the masters at that, and watching Dakich it was pretty clear he knows how to get the refs in his favor.
24-4. 13-2 in the Big Ten. 12th in the country.
EJ and DJ have to be the focal point. Bassett, as we're seeing, thrives as the 3rd option.
Hopefully they all can set their negative emotions aside and focus on the positives and the excitement of winning a Big Ten title, or better, do something no Hoosier team has ever done, and that's win the Big Ten Tournament.
Point guards win close games and EJ isn't a point guard. With 10 seconds left, put the ball in Armon's hands and let him do the creating with DJ or EJ as secondary scoring options, and IU will win.
And I could have KILLED Jordan Crawford when he was arguing with a ref about a travelling call and starts running down court to get on offense while osu still had the ball! The Refs were terrible tonight, but when you're playing defense you need to play DEFENSE not trying to help the ref with his job. And I hope Dakich gets a platter of cheeseburgers for Deandre and glues his ass to the bench.
It's impressive to win a game where EJ was horrendous, DJ was mediocre, and the team without Basset was 1-17 from the arc. They will definitely need to play better in East Lansing if they want to get out of there with a win.
* Deandre serves ZERO purpose on the court at this time. (sincerely Brandon McGhee)
* Dak is in a tough position now of keeping these guys together yet COACHING them....tonite, THEY needed there asses chewed ESPECIALLY EJ. He needs to be coached and ripped a new with all these bad turnovers and overdriving...HOW MANY times does it take....
* Lets just say it together beginning next home game for EJ "One more year, One more year" I love this kid since H.S. but his game is flawed and by NBA standards EJ best attribute scoring would be nulified by his ball handling, lack of mid range game, and turnovers.....Wade, Kobe, Battier, and other guards would eat his lunch....."One more year"
* Was Jamarcus at the game tonite?
* The whining...would not have happened to the extent it did if KS was on the sidelines. There is some respect these guys don't have fully in Dak yet and it is understandable. NUMEROUS of times, they stopped playing to whine....I wished ONCE Dak would have called a timeout and lit EJ and Jordan up for doing it ...WHILE a play was going on.
* I hope Kellen Sampsons hardwork and allegiance pays off. For that young man to stay there and do his job given all of this mess his dad produces, is to be commended greatly..........GREATLY.
* finally....Kevin Stallings is on my list. Forget the non cool guy look he DOESN't have, he will NEVER get blamed for being out coached. If he got hired I would be happy. Dont expect the Bruce Pearl type of rah rah or the KS chest bumps....expect a prepared team every night!
Good points...minus Stallings...I don't care if he'd lead us to 5 more National Titles...I don't want a Purdue guy. The last thing I want to hear from Purdue fans is that it took a Purdue guy to get IU to an elite status again. I'll shoot myself.
Also, how many times must I remind you...it's McGee...NO H! If you're going to clamor for the kid, get his name right.
BUT, i'd rather have Gordon shooting free throws down the stretch, he's the best on the team at free throws.
Also, even in the games Gordon plays terrible, (like today) teams still need to prepare for him like he's the best player. I think indirectly he makes guys like Basset and Ellis better because everyone is so focused on stopping Gordon...(Like on the fast break where Crawford dished to Basset for a three...Gordon was on the other side of the court and two OSU guys trailed him leaving Basset open.)
Again, Gordon had a poor game...but c'mon let's not be too tough on the leading scorer in the Big Ten as a true freshman. I think people just expected Kevin Durant when he got here and he's just not that guy.
However, this kid needs to have his ass put on the bench every now and then and needs to get an ass chewing when he screws up. You're going to get fouled when you drive the lane and you may not make every shot, BUT when someone bumps you and you flop and just give up the shot and don't go up strong...you need a little talking to. 1-7 from 3point range in the first half...quit pulling up from 3, and I blame that just as much on the coach as the kid.
His recklessness, however, is mental. He needs to stay calm and play his game. I don't like the way EJ complains after fouls going against him, but man, it looked like he was getting fouled when penetrating. The refs weren't great tonight.
Go Hoosiers. Beat Spartans.
GO HOOSIERS!
On a side note, how about the state of Indiana having 4 teams in the top 20? Very nice, I like.
How about the year when we sent seven teams to the Tourney? Followed up a couple years later by no teams...but hey. No one else has come close to 7 in.
Name calling isn't going to be tolerated. We're usually lenient on letting things go, but there comes a point when it goes too far.
All you Stemler haters sure were quiet when he hit big shots to help beat GT.
By the way, he also has 6 games this season when he's been perfect from 3. 6 more games when he's been 50% or better.
Maybe missing the 3s early had something to do with it, or maybe bad officiating (it's hard to tell from TV).
He needs to add a stop and pop and a little bit more dishing out. Sampson was getting him to do that right before he went away . . .
EJ has some developing to do, but his skill set as a freshman is better than 99.9% of college basketball players. You could put together snippets of him doing well at every single aspect of the game from various points this season (including mid-range). He is the complete package, and is as ready as he needs to be for the NBA. Has anyone seen the Bulls?...EJ has to be better than Duhon, Hinrich, or Ben Gordon...certainly after a couple years to improve. Give EJ a break for one off night.
Think about it...how many pieces of this team were playing together last year?
DJ-Bassett-Stemler, really, and that's it.
We're a vastly different team this year. We've been spoiled on how well this team has gelled. Good teams win on off nights. We did so.
I will also agree that we are spoiled this year. The Hoosiers being this good is a long-overdue treat. I've seen a handful of teams that I know are better than IU (Tenn., Memphis, UCLA, Kansas for sure...maybe a couple others), but it isn't that many. I also think IU has a good shot of beating any of those teams on a neutral floor on any given night. I'm loving this season despite the turmoil, and really looking forward to the Big 10 and NCAA tournaments. It's been a while since I could say that with confidence.
As to your last point...I agree that teams are picking their poison with EJ and forcing him to put the ball on the floor and then attacking with help-side defenders. That is giving the rest of IU's team WIDE OPEN LOOKS...No other player on our team demands such attention...and he doesn't demand it by SUCKING.
White and Gordon are gonna get double teamed any time they touch the ball within 20 feet of the basket. DJ can recognize that and pass it. Gordon still struggles with the concept of what to do when there are multiple defenders.
DJ's play has been pretty consistent all season long. It's Gordon's play that will make the difference between this being a Sweet 16 team and being able to go further into the tourney.
Ej's flaws are his decision making that has NOT gotten better 25 games in
His lack of midrange game continues to hinder him
His HIGH amount of turnovers for a NON POINT GUARD
His shot has become inconsistant....
His Whining is a PROBLEM
If you put this game EJ played in the NCAA tourney IU losses.
7 turnovers erases every assist and steal he has made.....
His mid-range game was pretty good in the PU win. He needs to use it more, but I know it's there.
I can't argue with the high turnovers. But he more than makes up for it by drawing contact, hitting foul shoots, and opening things up for the team.. If he could dish out a few more assists...
Absolutely disagree that his shot has become inconsistent. 45% from the floor and 38% from distance on the season. Not too shabby.
I will agree with the whining. He always gives the "why wasn't the foul called, look". It's tired and should stop. Let the coach deal with the referees.