DISQUS

tg1438 · 2 months ago

I really like all that I am hearing about Capo. I have also been impressed with the video that I have seen on him. I think that his shooting touch for a guy his size is amazing, and will really help the team out (I remember him hitting 3's in transition from of the tapes). I'm also glad that he and Elston bring some big strong bodies that we were missing last year.

psvirsky · 2 months ago

I'm actually pretty excited for Capo. 10-15 minutes a game isn't huge but in the Big Ten you have to have big guys that can come in and bang - this he can do. And I didn't realize he could finish with either hand, that has to be incredibly useful after pulling down an offensive rebound. He feels like the kind of guy who can play 12 minutes, grab 3-4 offensive boards and score 8 points without running a single play for him. It's a huge boost to have a guy like that. He also seems like a great kid off the court that will help enhance the team's image and do well with reporters.

P.S. I like these early morning posts so I can be the first comment before heading off to class

JerryCT · 2 months ago

I think 10 - 15 minutes would be about right if we are not in foul trouble and are forced to use him more. In those minutes I expect to see a Taber-type player who gets reb's, steals, disruptive defensively, passes and gets garbage pts. He and Hulls can become the poster child for the team's "brand".

AHelt · 2 months ago

I think Capo is going to be able to help off the bench this year, but where his strength is going to be more this year than in years to come is by practicing against Pritchard and helping to make him a lot better. Two big bangers going against each other everyday will make each of them a better player. I also think it will help TP finish stronger, which he struggled with last year.

Love the site - have been reading for a few months and am just now starting to comment...everyone's comments are great and I look forward to being in the discussions.

Alex · 2 months ago

Welcome. Glad to have you.

CreamandCrimson · 2 months ago

JerryCT, the Taber comparison is a fair one but I think Bobby has more athleticism than Taber ever did. I loved Kyle and he always played hard.

10-15 minutes is very reasonable. Capo can be a good player to rotate with TP, Elston and even Bawa to give IU some flexibility in the paint. I think having additional big bodies will take some of the pressure off of TP. He should see fewer minutes but increased production at the end of games because he won't be asked to play 35 minutes a game.

Foul trouble won't be near as disastrous as it was last year. If TP gets in foul trouble, Bobby will be one of the guys asked to step up.

GFDave · 2 months ago

I became a big Capo fan when I first saw this video. He presents himself very, very well. Not surprising given that both his parents are Vandy grads.

His game will come along the next couple of years and should be a solid contributor in the future. I look forward to seeing him mix it up with some of those Wisky dudes that always seem to want to get a cheap shot in.

JerryCT · 2 months ago

In perspective, using Taber and last year's stats he will get 3 Rebs, 1 steal and 2 pts per game if he is as good as Taber. From there it can only get better. He had a broken leg last year so perhaps we have not seen the best of him coiming in either. I feature him developing a mid range jumper which could be deadly on a drive a dish scenario

psvirsky · 2 months ago

Yeah the comment of having a decent 15-17 footer is very encouraging. That would open his game up exponentially. Looking at a guy like Jeff Foster on the Pacers (who I love as a player), his career has pretty much hit a plateau because he can't make that shot (and could be what helps Hansbrough have a better career).

Taber's senior career should be the baseline for Capo's freshman year. With hard work he can make some strides as his career moves on

iumarine · 2 months ago

My big concern with players like Capo coming in off the bench is they not become a fouling machine. I can think of a few player over the years like Capo that come in and commit 2-3 fouls in 3-4 minutes. This does not give our starters much of a rest and hurts our chances of winning the game.

Go Hoosiers!

IU Mike · 2 months ago

I see Capo being a positive in many ways. I feel he will be a contributor this year, how much of a contributor is the question. Started to take real notice of him when I read a comment he made while last years high school season was still going on when he said he simply could not wait to get to Bloomington and start working on getting stronger and better and working even harder than what the coaches ask for. With the kind of rebuilding that we are going thru he is exactly the kind of player we need. Someone that will accept whatever role he is asked to fill and play his heart out every time he steps on the floor. Whether he eventually becomes a starter or is forced to come off the bench because we have recruited someone better than him is a win win thing. He is just what the rebuilding doctor ordered. If we do happen to recruit someone that plays ahead of him we still benefit in that they will have to earn it by beating him out for that position and plus still have to go against him in practice. I guess to put it in short form a four year player that has nothing but an upside any way you look at it. IMHO

JerryCT · 2 months ago

On the Alford championship team we had a PF named Thomas who is what I think Capo can become. Thomas set the tough picks, defended the other teams PF ( Syracuse's Derrick Coleman ) , passed the ball , rebounded or at least blocked out, could hit the mid range , hit his foul shots.................all round a solid player but not spectacular. W/O him we would have had no chance against SYracuse.

Andrew · 2 months ago

I think the comments have been very realistic...until this point. Darryl Thomas averaged 15 points a game as a senior. He scored 20 in the title game against, as you noted, Derrick Coleman, who played in the NBA for how long? It's always been funny to me how time changes things...players either become a lot better or a lot worse than they actually were. I know it was 22 years ago, but Thomas, when finally able to play his natural position b/c of Dean Garrett's arrival, was an outstanding player. If Capo puts up half those numbers as a senior, IU will be lucky...in other words, about what Jarrad Odle did, which I think is a far better projection.

Michael · 2 months ago

Capobianco is a bball equivalent of a grinder in hockey; a guy who is expected to come in and play tough defense and grab a few rebounds in order to give the better players a breather; he should put in solid minutes his first two years but i bet by the time he's a senior he'll be sitting at the end of the bench cheering the team on. not a bad place to be though

hoosierboy · 2 months ago

Maybe Im losin it, but could he develop into a player like Joe Crabenhoft? I prolly killed his name.

GFDave · 2 months ago

I think that would be great if he gave us that kind of energy and physicality. I'm not sure Capo will be as mobile, but I think Capo could end up being stronger.

stevealford · 2 months ago

No, Krabbenhoft was a 4 star high level recruit. Capo may be able to give some valuable minutes deep off the bench, but he does not have anywhere near the talent of a Krabbenhoft.

GFDave · 2 months ago

After 4 years of college ball its time to put the stars away and talk numbers. Krabbenhoft averaged 8.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior. He also provided defense and some intangibles. But I see no reason why Capo can't get to that level.

stevealford · 2 months ago

I understand you have a hard time seeing things for what they are in regards to IU. Some fans are like that. Capo just is not nearly as talented as Krabbenhoft. He may work just as hard, but the talent is severely lacking. Capo will be buried on the bench behind Elston (who is the real deal), Pritchard, Watford, etc. He will be lucky if he ever averages 8.2 minutes let alone points.

GFDave · 2 months ago

You don't much go in for data huh? BTW your understanding of me is as off as your opinion of Capo and Roth.

stevealford · 2 months ago

I don't understand "You don't much go in for data huh?" so I can't really respond to that. I like your optimism, but everything and everybody involved with IU is not perfect as you like to believe.

Diesel · 2 months ago

Capo is going to be a guy that gets lost on the bench some games due to matchups and other games might play 20-30 minutes because he outworked everyone in practice

Name · 2 months ago

If an IU player were really bad, would you print the truth about him?

MillaRed · 2 months ago

Azur Allen · 2 months ago

love this site guys. i visit here everyday! i really like this freshman class. i see it a lot like the purdue class a few yrs ago with hummel, moore, jajuan johnson. watford is like hummel, creek like moore. these guys all want to be here and already have a certain level of chemistry, like purdue, which enabled them to succeed from yr 1. that said, i'd like to see 4 freshman and rivers start. i know most people have pritch, dumes, and vj starting. but these are the same guys that started on a team that won 1 big 10 game last year. i know they have improved, but i think hulls, elston, watford, and creek, if not ready to start from day 1, should at least have serious consideration especially by seasons end.

Alex · 2 months ago

This is off-topic, but we've made a couple of changes on the back end of the site. Let us know if you've noticed any changes in load time, whether they're positive or negative.