DISQUS

MillaRed · 1 month ago

I think when we need to look at the bigger picture here guys. Rivers was an underclassman on a Final Four team. He's lucky he played at all.

Many power houses in the NCAA this season have juniors to be who rarely saw the court last year that were McDonald's All-American's!!!

The two projected starters in Louisville that got into trouble (in Indiana) last week averaged what? 3 and 5 points a game last year? Louisville is a Sweet 16 team easy.

My point is, throw away the stats folks. This kid is the real deal. No one is taking his job. He will face every challenge this year and won't flinch. Hell, he probably has played open gym with 50 NBA players. Rivers will be HUGE for the Hoosiers. He is our best incoming player from a "winning" perspective.

HoosierGirl · 1 month ago

Hulls has to come close to Rivers "from a winning perspective". I know it is on a high school stage, but is still worth noting.

MillaRed · 1 month ago

We're both fond of Jordan HoosierGirl trust me. The fact we have both makes me very happy. Hulls just doesn't have the experience that JR has at this stage. I think the fact he has someone like JR to learn from is huge because it appears he is a great leader.

The future at PG likes bright for IU. CTC obviously made that position at priority.

GFDave · 1 month ago

Duped? I don't know. It seems everybody has been high on Rivers from the very start when he transferred. If there is any duping, and I don't think there has been, we've done it too ourselves.

Living in the DC area, I've seen Georgetown on TV quite a bit. Saw Rivers play numerous times both seasons. He was ok on the ball and better than average defensively. They didn't look to him to score much. Now that he's a junior with 3 years of college practice and 2 years of game play behind him, I think he will be good. Great? Probably not. Way better than what we had last year at point? Hell yes.

because it's Indiana · 1 month ago

We have not been duped. He will be the real deal. He doesn't have to be Magic Johnson, just a cool head who can distribute and lockdown Kalin Lucas (ok..slow down Lucas). I keep thinking back to Jerry CT's analysis: 6-10 pts less allowed because of defense and 4-6 more on offense and we are a .500 team.

iumarine · 1 month ago

As Rivers goes, so goes IU. This team high on talent, but low on experience. Rivers is now ready to start his 4th year of D1 experience. I am expecting a lot from him and if he delivers we should be a vastly improved team.

Go Hoosiers!

Duder · 1 month ago

Practicing against poor competition is irrelevant. Is he an NBA superstar because he plays with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce? Is he as good as Rajon Rondo because they play one on one?

He played 18 minutes on a great team that made it to the Final Four and played his role. If he plays his different role for us we will be contenda's

Name · 1 month ago

I think when he sees a dramatic increase in minutes per game, he just might develop a scorer's mentality. Something he did not have at Gtown.

IUMIKE1 · 1 month ago

The "he hasn't been going up against teammates with alot of expercience in practice" angle has not been talked about alot if at all and is a very good point. Then there is the " there is no subistute for actual game time expercience" thing and so on and so on. There should be no denying that the fact that his dad is who he is helps in more ways than what we probably realize. Just being around his practices and players cannot hurt. Maybe the most reassuring thing is the amount of time Crean has had with him before he hits the floor. He can't help but have gotten better and more ready to go on day 1. This is but one question of many that we will not start to get answers to until the opening tip of the first game. Unfortunatly what there is no question about is that if he is not what we think he will be we will struggle again at that position at least for good while in the beginning.

BGleas · 1 month ago

He wasn't around Celtics practices very often, although I bet he was around the Magic practices when he was younger. But, just having a Dad that played in the NBA and is a successful coach is a good thing.

I'm with Jerry's past analysis that Rivers cutting the TO's and better defense at the top will result in a certain amount of ppg and add several wins this season. He might not be the best player on the team, but he'll be a calming influence and the leader/PG this team lacked last season.

stevealford · 1 month ago

By the time conference play comes around , I expect Hulls to be replace him in the lineup. He is a good defensive player , but his offense is very bad unless he has GREATLY improved since Georgetown. Hulls is a better ball handler, better shooter, and better passer. Rivers should add great depth to our bench.

CreamandCrimson · 1 month ago

I understand the concerns. However, I think we need to put what he does for the Hoosiers into perspective. He brings a winning attitude and an on-court leadership. He brings steadiness with the ball (turnovers and empty possessions kill you, Rivers will help eliminate those). He is a lock down defender.

Anyone suggesting that Rivers is an 1st team Big Ten point guard is kidding themselves. However, he is a big upgrade and his presence on the floor will help the rest of the lineup. Whatever points he provides will be gravy.

Hoosier Clarion · 1 month ago

His year under Coach Crean's eyes means IU will have far fewer turnovers, mature leadership, strong defense at the point and crisp accurate passing using good floor vision. Some gravy might include strong to the bucket, good free throw shooting % and clutch baskets from outside. He is a Senior in years so I am not expecting anything less with his pedigree.

Peter · 1 month ago

And wqe know he can dance!

socalhoosier2005 · 1 month ago

Correction: Crean is correct when he says that Rivers won 3 Big East titles; Georgetown won two regular season titles (2007 and 2008) and one tournament title (2007), so that's probably what he means.

tberry · 1 month ago

I have to admit that I am a little concerned because I believe that past performance points to future performance.

Maybe he will be better than what we had but I doubt that he will be a star.

In fact, that is why we should fire Lynch....lousy past performance that has lead to lousy current performance.

BGleas · 1 month ago

I don't think people are expecting him to be a star. We're just expecting he'll be a leader, calming influence and reliable point guard that plays good D, cuts down on team turnovers and shows improved offense from his time at GU.

GFDave · 1 month ago

Exactly. You nailed it.

MillaRed · 1 month ago

Well said Gleas. I don't expect him to be an All-Big Ten performer. But I won't be shocked if he is 3rd team in the category.

Call me crazy, but i just cannot see a kid with this size and handle throwing the ball away 6 times a game! How hard was that too watch? Good point guards have a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio or better. I think he'll do that and more this season. Did we have any guards with more assists than turnovers last year? Let me know because I doubt that happened.

HairyTutchens · 1 month ago

Regarding Crean's comment that Rivers won 3 Big East championships - I was at Crean's speech to the student body and I interpreted that comment as including regular season and conference tournament championships. So, in one of the seasons that Rivers was at GU, the Hoyas won the regular season championship and the conference tournament at MSG.

gregmquinn · 1 month ago

I look forward to seeing some experience on the floor. Rivers and Dumes along with all of the playing time Pritchard got last year should be a big improvement. I am one of the only Hoosier fans who didn't mind losing out on Irving because I think Hulls is going to be an all-time great Hoosier. I hope Rivers abuses him in practice for a couple of years and helps elevate his winning attitude and toughness.

Marcus Gresham · 1 month ago

I don't remember specifics of who won what, but could the reference to "three Big East Championships" be including regular season and tournament championships? If that's the case, he could have been a part of three.