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I understand the problem that the lack of scholarships is going to provide to the coach and his staff, but he at least, on the outside, needs to put forth a face to the fans that shows that he is serious and committed toward rebuilding Indiana into Indiana, and that means that he's going to have to recruit Indiana kids.
I think it could be the start of a pipeline...because the current process of recruiting those kids isn't working
Mahlen, Martin and Chandler are all going to be top recruits out of LN and it would seem to be a good start at getting one of them, by having a teammate of theirs at IU (similar to what kentucky and purdue will have)...
Once the Indiana stars are back in the fold then the role player types from the state will be lining up to play at IU. It's like a funnel.
With that said, it seems like Van Treese is more of a role player and duplicates the Bobby C, Elston Pritchard role, but maybe with less talent. It's clear that for some reason his stock is slipping a bit.
I think Crean has clearly brought in some players that fit perfectly as role players on a winning team, and I assume 1-2 of those if not more will exceed expectations. But with the hard-working scrapping hustle type of roles seemingly filled I think we need to fry a bigger fish with the remaining scholarship, and it's clear that Watford and Franklin are considered more talented prospects (again, all I have to go on is ratings an internet chatter).
We need to add a go-to type player in my opinion to go along with all of these solid role players.
Is Creek a go-to-guy? Not questioning you, I just don't know. Possibly Williams? I also think Hulls could develop into a go-to-guy. Not in the sense that he'll average 20 a night, but he seems like the type of player who down the line you'll feel very comfortable with the ball in hands when the game is on the line.
Scoring the basketball will surely be Creek’s best claim to fame at IU if he does want to prove his doubters wrong, and that’s exactly what Crean hopes he will do. “He just wanted me to do what I do best, and that’s score,” Creek said about his expected role for the Hoosiers. “I can drive, I can take a man off the dribble, I can shoot over the top, and I can definitely shoot when I’m open. I see the whole floor, I create points for other people. If a guy’s open, I kick the ball out.”
When talking about his skill set, Creek finds many similarities between himself and former Hoosier phenom Eric Gordon, who also happened to be his favorite college player this year. “[Gordon] reminds me so much of myself. Both of us are scorers and both of us can shoot the ball very well. He just does a lot of stuff that I can do,” Creek said. He also said that he models himself somewhat after N.O. Hornets point guard Chris Paul, whose invitee-only camp he plans to attend next weekend, as well.
I think we are thin up front and with Pritchard / Elston / Copobianco / Jobe we only have 4 guys on the roster 6'6 or taller...In the Big Ten you need size, rebounding and second chance points...If we go up against teams like Minnesota / Michigan State and Wisconsin who have 3 or 4 6'10+ players they can rotate on and off the court, we are in trouble...
Franklin and Watford may be more exciting to watch, but they would be a luxury in helping us win games...Rather than another big man to contribute on both ends of the court...
Jobe is a project...Elston / Bobby C and Pritchard will be stretched too thin if they are the only big men on the roster...Van Trese is a top 100 player who rebounds, defends and is active around the rim...I'm not sure on why this board is so down on him of late, but I would only ask that we consider the need for size...
Also scoring/shooting threat and go-to-guy are not the same thing. Every team needs a guy they can count on to handle the scoring load game in and game out.
Although I agree with you, in that I too am worried about our inside game. It's a tough call. We need more talent, but we also need more inside help.
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/sit...
With that said, however, picking up a solid big man is never an easy task, and consider how frequently we've had big man issues in terms of numbers. I'll take another solid big man role player, quite honestly.
Van Treese is a big body who can rebound and play in the post...He fills a need by completing a frontcourt that would offer Pritchard, Elston, Copobianco, Jobe, and Van Trese...
We are obviously loaded at guard and Crean likes to run a three guard set, so adding another "big" makes sense to me, more than adding a wing or small forward...
1. Jones / Hulls / Rivers
2. Roth / Creek / Dumes
3. Williams / Story
4. Elston / Van Trese
5. Pritchard / Copobianco / Jobe
This seems to be a more balanced lineup than adding Franklin or Watford at the 3... I think that Jobe is also a project and we shouldn't count on him to be too productive when he is on the court and considering that, we should look to add another big.
Combining the need for a big and depth at the frontcourt, and creating a stronger relationship at Lawrence North, seem to be a priority at this point in the rebuilding phase of Indiana Basketball.