Inside the Hall - Latest Comments in The Morning After: Tennessee State

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Tsell — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:46:44 -0000

For anyone going back to this thread...

...I should have started with the fact that I really like how Stemler plays. I even think he should start sometimes. IU needs him. This team needs him. I am super glad that he saw a sports psychologist to get over that shooting slump.

The media though...definitely has some extra love for the "hard-working, blue-collar, carries his lunch pail, "Rudy", "Norman Dale" fundamentals, smart, high basketball-IQ" white players out there, Stemler included. If you don't want to see it (or hear it), that's okay.

If you think that racism doesn't exist, move to Kentucky, and go cheer for your Wildcats in Adolph Rupp Arena!

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

widget — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:08:51 -0000

The thing that makes me nervous is just how thin our team is without Gordon right now. For a sizeable stretch the other night no one on the floor wanted the ball. We couldn't break a press, we were looking for someone to take the game over.

For that I give Stemler credit. He stepped up and knocked down a few shots, breaking the mental log jam.

We're gonna need to grow up pretty fast.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Winston Morgan — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:14:21 -0000

It is not just Stemler. The whole team except for number 23 and White are marginally talented division 1 players.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Kyle — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:46:55 -0000

If you all new anything about basketball, then you would understand the value that Lance Stemler brings to this team.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

PostmanE — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:20:56 -0000

Keith:

I didn't infer the race issue, for the record.

And lastly, everyone: I'm not hanging on the comment simply for the merits of the comment itself; I only care about it because it is an example of stuff we've been hearing all year, from both media types and fan types. That's all I wanted to discuss.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

KeithB — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:16:53 -0000

Hoosier Hound said it all, just hit the mute button. Why is it that some mega corp put together the BIG TEN Network and couldn't find any decent announcers?

In last nights game, excluding DJ, everyone had a low light to be concerned with. Unfortunately these POP Warner announcers shouldn't be calling any games at all, but for someone to hang on to some stupid comment by them and then to rant about racism shows how little you care about the TEAM and really need a life.

It's a game people, nothing is perfect. My glass is half full and Thank God I realize it.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

McD — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:42:19 -0000

IU vs Kentucky 1990 on BTN right now, talk about all 5 players playing hardnosed man to man, rebounding, and motion offense, even the bigs Nover and E Anderson. What a lineup with Bailey, Chaney, and the Graham brothers. Linden Jones the only senior. Dakich is still on the bench.

I think it's going to take Kelvin a couple more years to have these kids playing like this, getting all the kids to buy-in and usher the MD era out of Bloomington.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

sizeless — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:39:21 -0000

TSell and MKM..... go peddle ur racist b.s. to al sharpton or jesse jackson.... noone on here is gonna
take the bait.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

casey — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:03:52 -0000

I am getting REALLY burnt out with all of this negative Stemler talk. KS feels that Stemler is the best choice, the players feel that he is the best choice. Leave it alone. There is a lot more worthwile conversation that we could be having.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

McD — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:01:20 -0000

Echo David on that one, this is really getting out of hand with the race card and man crushes. PostmanE - I think you are reading way too much into the analyst's commentary and he was just filling dead air. Everyone can see that Jamarcus made the play happen.

I happened to be at the game last night and Assembly Hall rose to their feet more times because of the play of Lance Stemler than any other person on the court. What a turn around from the 1st game of the year. Also, not sure if it made BTN, but the big screen showed a fan holding a sign that read: "If you have Insight, you can't read this." The place erupted with laughter.

I think in general it is easy for the fans to identify with Stemler because he plays with heart all the time, which is different than playing hard. And I would argue that the whole team does not play hard all the time - go back and watch the Xavier tape and see some of the transition defense and blocking out and help-side rotation efforts.

A couple of other thoughts:

Where would this team be without Mike White the last couple of games with his production and a needed extra body?

This team gets immediately better on defense and rebounding with the return of AJ Ratliff on Dec 15. He gives us another excellent on the ball defender with shot blocking ability and goes to the glass well.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

PostmanE — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:38:53 -0000

Hound:

Pretty excellent point. Fish is so great; it's too bad I can't get him on over the air here in Chicago.

David:

I know it's just one broadcaster and one statement, but it is a perfect example of a larger problem I think is worth looking into. I don't think this is getting out of hand; on the contrary, I think this is healthy discussion. It's good to question why we say the things we do from time to time, and why perceptions are perceptions even if they don't seem all that accurate.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Hoosier Hound — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:21:08 -0000

Here is some good advice to keep you from getting worked up about the ruminations of moronic tv announcers:

MUTE BUTTON

Then you can put Fish on the radio.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

David — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:10:01 -0000

It was one broadcaster making one single statement and people are blowing it all out of proportion to suit their own arguments.

Some see it as racist, some see it as a slight against Ellis, some see it as unnecessary adulation for Stemler.

See for it what you will but this is getting out of hand.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

MKM from Indy — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:02:07 -0000

I agree with TSELL. There is way too much love for a guy who couldn't hit the broadside of a barn last year. He certainly had nothing to offer against Xavier. That's how basketball is these days. The white dude is the hustler and a "smart" ball player, and the black dude has the god-given athleticism. It is a racist and more broadcaster should temper their statements.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Mike from Atlanta — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:52:33 -0000

You 're right CC. It was the GT game. Nevertheless those were 2 needed scores. Even last night, the lead was down to 7 and back to back Stemler 3's put the game out of reach. Once we have all 5 guards in the rotation, I think you will see alot of 3's from Stemler.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Mike — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:40:38 -0000

Please quit criticizing Lance all the time. He does what he is supposed to do and is a good compliment to our TEAM! Also, since when did Laskowski become one of the best in the business! He is about as exciting as watching paint dry! If he never did another IU game the rest of his life it would be OK with me!

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

ccmoney — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:35:31 -0000

Mike in ATL - Stemler hit 1 three at SIU, and we won by 13. HIs back to back 3's were big against GT.
He COULD be a good outside shooter, but has yet to show it. Just like Hornsby in his senior year - you've got to have confidence and Davis ruined his, Lance is still looking for his. 8-22 this year is adequate, but 38-115 last year was weak, and I know all about the injury excuse. Gordon, Bassett, Ratliff, maybe even Ellis and McGee have a better permieter shot, right now. That could change, I hope, because Lance will get his minutes.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Kevin Q — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:01:22 -0000

Let's keep in mind that aside from Laskowski (where was he?), the people hired at the BTN are not the best in the business; far from it. They have been and are going to make a lot of silly statements. I wish there a was a way to sync up the radio with the TV so I could listen to Dandy Don.

P.S. No problems with this site for me.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

PostmanE — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:45:47 -0000

Like I said in the post, I wasn't trying to diss Stemler at all, simply the media fascination that can credit him for making an obvious pass, while ignoring a considerably more difficult play by Ellis. It's been said before, but I think Lance is good for what he is, and I've learned to temper my expectations.

I guess my point is that I've yet to see anyone on this team not play hard, or not work hard, so praising Stemler for that at the exclusion of the rest of the team -- or for the example I wrote about -- just seems silly to me.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

MKH — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:42:00 -0000

Free Eli Holman!

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Tom — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:34:07 -0000

There's no doubt Stemler lacks the athletism of others, however he has a common-sense towards the game I admire. He is willing to take a charge when others give it the matador wave.He doesn't do the AAU fancy stuff when it isn't needed. You might be surprised by him if he were playing for a Butler-like team. With I.U., he fits in best when two other bigs are playing and we play zone to cover some of his deficiencies as well others on the team. He appears to be a good kid and deserves our support as an I.U. team member.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

David — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:25:33 -0000

Damn, Stemler sure is becoming a favorite to kick around. I'll never understand the fascination people have with continually finding ways to take a shot at Stemler. The opening statement on Stemler was completely unnecessary.

As for DJ, he's played cupcakes before and he hasn't scored that many. With Gordon out of the lineup, DJ had to shoulder most of the load and he did a great job (against obviously inferior talent). I agree with MikeyD - give the man credit.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

MikeyD — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:09:02 -0000

Tsell is just trying to get a reaction. Sorry T...not worthy.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

Tom — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:04:29 -0000

could not disagree more with the racist thing.

lance gets the "rudy" treatment because he's not a good player but does try hard. anything he does well is a bonus so it might excite people a little more. he's still a garbage time only player, though. ks plays him too much.

Re: The Morning After: Tennessee State

MikeyD — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:02:33 -0000

Dang E...those Wheaties taste a little tart this morning? "Stemler sucks...DJ is overrated...other media types are goofy". I'll take the W. I'll take Stemler in my "foxhole" any day(Mike in Atl). And, you guys gotta "talk" about somethin'.

Whether it's good bad or otherwise, the media has this strange fixation with Stemler. Some love him, while others couldn't see him making the JV squad at their sons' high schools. He is as important a part to the puzzle this team is as Keith Smart was to the '87 team. Without Stemler, the complexion of this team changes dramatically.

As far as DJ goes...when somebody "gets it done", give 'em credit. Remember all the praise EJ was getting during all the other cupcakes earlier? I rather think DJ is getting into his groove and trying to get his game established going into B10 play. I hope he and Stemler keep it up and continue to set extremely important examples for this otherwise young team. Maybe try a Sunshine Skillet tomorrow.