DISQUS

BFowler · 8 months ago

BeerTruck, I agree with the Vern Flemming comparison (see my post a few weeks back).

I think that Wisconsin always gives us trouble, they are just really well schooled and it was senior day. Krabbenhoft would be 1st team all B10 if he played us every game.

I think all the pressure will be on PSU, but I don't think they feel comfortably in the Myles Brand tourney, so we may get a heroic effort from them. After all, all we have to play for is 2009-10.

That being said, I have enjoyed watching this team, and the B10 is going to be scary for a while the way these coaches are recruiting. I only hope we can continue to root for a team that plays its heart out every single game like this one did (see Santa guarding Marcus Landry toward the end of the game, classic).

redyard · 8 months ago

Did anyone else notice Jobe's improvement? Don't get me wrong, he still has no skills on the offensive end and has no idea what to anticipate on defense, but he looked like he had an idea how the game of basketball is played tonight. I'd say he's 1 million percent better than those first few games when he looked like a gazelle in headlights. At this rate, he could be good enough to put in some minutes next year.

It was really nice to see Williams assert himself on the offensive end - with Dumes out, we had a threat other than VJIII.

Kelin Blab · 8 months ago

Wow.....I see the team is not the only one's a little drained from the season.

I will be the first to pat myself on the back for remaining the captain of the VJ bandwagon since day one. I knew the kid just needed time to figure out a few things and he did....don't hand it over to J-Rivers just yet....

Where oh where, has my Tom Pritchard gone?

I recommend to many of you to get out and see some of the recruits during tourney play, it has made me feel better.........South and Tipton have big games in the first round of the regionals.......

MikeyD · 8 months ago

VJ III is a baller. He, Williams and Story will get much playing time next year. All the returning players will be tough next year. They will challenge the newbies next season. I can see the team going at least .500 next year in big ten and winning 18+ games next year. Wow...I don't know when I have seen a team play this hard.

Taskmaster75 · 8 months ago

Pritchard has gotten into foul trouble so much this season, and he is really our best offensive threat, so teams have keyed on him.

MillaRed · 8 months ago

I hear you Kelin but did you notice he plays just as well at the two? There are intriguing options at the one and the two for sure. I have been ptiching Rivers all year because he has a few things going for him that plagued VIII all year. Experience, strength, limiting TOs and defense. VIII's defense is suspect, he turns it over 5 times a game and that isn't what you want from the point.

I like the idea of Rivers at the point and VIII at the two. VIII does more for the game than Dumes who could be a great scoring threat off the bench.

Don't get me wrong. VIII is my favorite freshman. He made a strrong push for frosh of the year and is no doubt first team All Big-Ten Frehsman if not All Big-Ten honorable mention. The dude can flat out score and improved every game. I'm loving the thought of the depth we have at the skill positions for years to come.

JerryCT · 8 months ago

Hmmmmmmmmmmm ..........thought you were the Roth , Moore guy !............kidding.......sort of

Kelin Blab · 8 months ago

Plenty of bandwagons to go around....Moore baseline drives then turnovers hurt my membership with him....

JerryCT · 8 months ago

I admit to agreeing with you on Moore early in the season but his difficulty in resisting trapping himself along the baseline showed how bad HS habits are tough to break in college. Worries me for next year's crop.

MillaRed · 8 months ago

I know its a cruel world guys but Daniel Moore will never see a significant minute for IU again. He needs to transfer and get some real PT elswhere. Thanks for your efforts.

When we have Moore, Finkelmeier and Taber on the court together, I want to crawl through the TV and start jacking three's.

When Danny boy ran in and out of the lane doing his fire drill deal my wife started laughing hysterically.

Please fast forward to September! Please!

Luke · 8 months ago

This season sets us up for success for at least the next couple of seasons. With the valuable experiences and lessons brought upon these players combined with our talented 09 class we will be good next year and scary for the years after. The players on this team will not forget this season and use it as motivation not only for the rest of their college basketball careers but also for whatever career they may pursue. With that said, im calling the PSU (i think thats who we play) upset first round of the tourny

Taskmaster75 · 8 months ago

Don't call me a conspiracy theorist (I've heard it enough), but what is the incentive for the refs to call the game in IU's favor? What if these refs were told to give Wisconsin the game so more Big ten teams can get into the tourney, like Wisconsin, a bubble team. Sorry, but there has been some poor officiating for IU, and besides old referees not being able to keep up with all the games they go to, this is all I got.

MillaRed · 8 months ago

I agree. Not to say that we could win in Madison with this team, but even if we played our best there was no chance. 3 touch fouls in 7 seconds while these guys have their hands on us all game? It's a joke.

silkyslim · 8 months ago

Our cream & crimson team is running on fumes.

I think they need a spring break in Hawaii or the healing springs in French Lick to lick their wounds.

I still like our team & their progress. Go IU!

IOUIU · 8 months ago

It's not unexpected, but still weird to be at this point of the season and knowing that no matter what they do in the B10 tourney, their season is finished very, very soon. No wondering about what seed or region we may be in. All of that stuff is for other schools to think about. It's just an odd feeling.

But in the end, my wish for this season came true. We played our butts off. I don't know if you can point to any game where the kids didn't go all out. If a team can do this in a year where there was only 6 wins, I'd say they should be able to really issue some paybacks once the talent level gets back to where it needs to be - assuming of course the new guys will play this hard too.

BeerTruck · 8 months ago

VJ sure looks like a young Vern Fleming...but w/ better range.
All the frosh just need to be stronger with the ball next year --- when Pritch got stuffed by that 150lb dude from N-Western a couple weeks ago that just typified the issue.
Williams played pretty well the last few games, and he's holding his own on the defensive end against guys a lot bigger than him. I'm sure he'll be looking forward to playing the 2/3 next yr instead of the 3/4 this year.
Story likes to get in the lane and draw fouls --- so does VJ. It's great to see those guys go in there wanting contact. Granted, they give the ball away a lot, but they're ready to mix it up.
The freshman are playing B10 basketball.
PSU will beat us (we'll fight, but we won't have enough gas left in the tank to beat 'em). They'll then beat the Boilers and Illinois. They're going to the B10 tourney finals and the BigDance.

JerryCT · 8 months ago

I tried to project next year's minutes based on position , team needs etc and got the following ranking in order with Pritchard, Rivers, Watford, Jones, Capo, Williams as the top 6. I sense VJ will give up some PG time to Hulls but take over alot of Dumes minutes and maybe WIlliams/Story minutes.

With the new players, depth, more experience, fewer TO's etc I am hoping for 68ppg on offense( +8 from this year ) and a 2 to 4pt improvement on defense. If I apply this to the current year we win about 18 games.

Roth, Bawa and Creek will have their hands full getting more than situational minutes.

PACINO and others I am sure will think I am crazy but I believe we are going to be that good next year . This is the attitude and expectations with which I end this season. I am proud of this team.

Kelin Blab · 8 months ago

Jerry I see Mo' Creek getting some quality minutes given he comes in with the ability to score and get his own shot. I have heard he is one of our more ready recruits.....

I appreciate your optimism...I do know we will win more games next year and win some of those close one's we lost last year.....

I am interesting in seeing...who gets red shirted, who ha their scholly taken, and how those minutes get dispersed...

Hardwood83 · 8 months ago

I am interested in Redshirts & where that other scholarship is coming from too. I would guess Jobe is the most likely candidate to donate his-right? And certainly 1 or 2 guards will R/S next season- Roth seems like a good candidate to me. Thoughts?

JerryCT · 8 months ago

Creek looks skinny to me and I donot know his defense ability but it will be really difficult for him to displace VJ/Dumes and Williams/Story just like it will be for Roth. I am hoping Roth has the capacity to work is ass off and maybe 'elbow" Dumes out of some minutes.

I like the idea of Jobe getting done with his career sooner rather than later . I see no value in red shirting him. He is just basically not agile enough for the game but you have to love the enthusiasm

Kelin Blab · 8 months ago

To be honest I rather have Tijan on the team even as a walk on next year....he is STILL a BIG BODY. It will be hard to redshirt Roth, he is our BEST shooter and with more slashers coming in ....a drive and kick to him would be deadly......

BFowler · 8 months ago

One more thing, it is a good thing we got beat in Wisconsin last night, in my opinion. If we won this game, Wisconsin drops to 6. This way we get Penn State in the first round. Much better match-up (clearly the way Wiconsin handled us both times). Hopefully, we can get plenty of fans in there Thursday night to help spur the kids on!

cookcmc · 8 months ago

where is everone's thoughts on Bawa and Elston?

Alex · 8 months ago

Someone try sorting out this back court depth chart.

In alphabetical order:
Creek
Dumes
Hulls
Jones
Rivers
Roth
Story
Williams

Plus you have Finkelmeier and Moore at the walk-on spots.

Hardwood83 · 8 months ago

I don't know anything about the incoming guys except what I read online so assuming they're as advertised and eveyone returns I would expect Rivers & Dumes to start the year in the backcourt. I also see Williams & Story more in the 3 guard/small forward role. And would think at least one, if not 2 guys, will redshirt. My pick is Roth to develop consistency & learn some 'd'. So that leaves Jones, Creek & Hulls off the bench.

JerryCT · 8 months ago

As usual people "breath their own exhaust" when it comes to freshmen.

The players and why:

Rivers - PG at 24+ min pg, we get 6 fewer TO's pg and shut down perimeter D, exactly what we have missed this year. He is worth a net 6-8pts
Jones - SG for 18min and 8 min at PG, displaces Dumes because he passes and is more consistent scorer, can play w/o the ball
Pritchard - C/FW for 24 min pg, we have no other inside experience
Watford - 20+ min pg becasue he can score and rebound and we donot have to have 6'3" players defending 6'8+"
Williams- aggressive and scores ,when we go small , 18 min pg
Capo - 20minpg because he bangs and picks doing Taber's dirty work

Elston plays to relieve Capo & Pritchard,
Dumes plays to relieve Jones and help Hulls when he is on the floor
Story relieves Williams

No room for a skinny Creek to replace Dumes or Jones and cannot beat out Williams or Watford unless his defense is dynamite, No room for Roth either unless he becomes automatic from 3pt land and much easier to get open.

These are not criticisms but more like realities of the work ahead for these guys.

memphisHoosier · 8 months ago

well let me start this off by saying thank you to all of the guys on this team who put in their blood and sweat all year. I am impressed with how hard everyone played till the end. however, lets be honest here we've seen the last of a lot of these guys. Tijan won't be on the team next year. Moore may only because he doesn't use up a scholorship. Anhy of those who think Jones will start next year are forgetting about who all is gonna be on this team next year. I believe Rivers starts the point with watford and Creek at the two and three. The four and five spots will rotate somewhat between Tom, Capo, Elston, and Bawa. They might go small and put another guard like Dumes in there but I don't see Many if any of these guys starting next season except maybe Dumes or Pritchard. They'll be a strong bench and I think Jones might start some depending on how much weight he can put on and how much he can cut down on turnovers but if he doesn't learn to get in front of the guy with the ball on defense he'll see a lot of pine.

IU Marine · 8 months ago

I did not expect VJ to get much playing time next season, but I have been impressed with his improvement in the last 6 or so games. I am not ready to write off William's playing time yet. He was one of our most consistent rebounders/effort guys. A little time in the weight room in the off season and a lot of us may be impressed. I vote that we recover our "missing" scholarship from Dumes. I noticed some undesireable attitude from him even before it blew up at Northwestern and Michigan state.

I'll have to see about the incoming recruits next year based on their work ethics over the summer, but from what I have read, I have high hopes for Creek. The team should be way ahead next year with the number of players that have a feel for the Coach Crean system.

Go IU beat Penn State!

MillaRed · 8 months ago

Where did this Maurice Creek "skinny" deal come from? I'm hearing he's up to 205 pounds and is the same height as VIII who is 175 soaking wet. He is the leading scorer on a Hargrave team with 4 high major scholly commits. He will lead the Hoosiers in scoring someday (yes I love to dream big). Regardless, this guy plays next season and contributes.

I like the entries for next year's top 10. I never really thought about redshirting a sophomore so thanks for that possibility. I was wondering what we were gonna do and that sounds like the best option. It's tough because we only lose Dumes and Jobe and have zero commits in 2010. Sure would love to have a beer with Coach Crean to discuss.

First Unit:
PG Rivers
SG VIII
SF Watford
PF Pritchard
C Capo

That's a starting five at 6'4", 6'4", 6'8", 6'8", 6'8" - Thank the Lord

Second unit:

PG Hulls
SG Dumes or Roth as a zone breaker
SF Williams or Creek as we go small
PF Elston or Story
C Maniru only if the other 3 are in foul trouble

Realit ycheck....no way all of these players return in 2010. The guys that show the most ability stay on and 2 or 3 bolt or redshirt during the season or before 2010. We are going for high profile 2010 recruits. Why wouldn't we with this foundation? The fact someone has to go is no different than the fact we had walk-ons playing major minutes this year. It's just inevitbale. I don't see any way around it.