Leaderboard

Agree here. If you write off four year players based on their freshman and sophomore contributions you miss the point of having four year players. Looking forward to the payoff with Justin.

Bit of surprising news out of today's closed scrimmage between Michigan State and Gonzaga. In two 20-minute periods, Zags won, 103–87. Corey Kispert led Gonzaga with 28 points. Cassius Winston led MSU with 20 pts. Brendan Quinn Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

That's not it.... "Illinois’ new facility has a bowling alley." Can't go bowling without actually knowing how to bowl.

Gotta give credit to Ramsey, he’s one tough SOB...HATED the play calling down the stretch but our defense FINALLY came around and sealed the deal for us. Great win!!! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I think we have similar ideas but just approaching it from opposite perspectives. Smith could potentially increase his 3PT% this season. He shot quite poorly last season so I’d hate to see it fall. In his first few seasons, VO had the drive just not the skill (time) to pull off the moves he thought he could. In his first few seasons, Smith has appeared to be disinterested at times. Sure, we can have a great year without Smith. However, if Smith were to play with the drive of a McSwain and within himself we’d have a better year. Although, I do think we see a bit of that junkyard dog mentality from TJD once he gets his feet wet. I think Indiana has sacrificed being a good to great program to groom certain players for the next level. I’d like to see that reversed and see players sacrifice to make the program better. If that starts with Smith being the rebounder, defender, and trash man I referenced earlier I’d be happy. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Wonder if ole Natty was able to go to the game today. Magnanimous if you see a man with a Zima and an IU shirt on then you know. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I don’t run over turtles on the road. Love them as a kid. But let’s run over these mf’ers! [emoji41] Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

Maybe everyone should wait till next Tuesday’s preseason game and let CAM and staff coach the team and see how players have developed and are utilized before saying how they will be utilized. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

No bowling alley AND drop ceilings, might as well fold up the program. Although, technically they could go to the IMU to bowl but *gasp* they'd have to share it with students.

We have drop ceilings.. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Zeislift signs w Golden State! No details on contract Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I’d love to see Smith play with McSwain’s intensity and passion. He’d be on an All Big Ten team if he played with that type of determination. If we get production from TJD, Davis, and Brunk at the 5 while Smith rebounded, defended, and was the garbage man we think he can be I’d pencil us in to the NCAAs this season. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

IU is now 5-2 on the season. That’s five straight years on which IU has won five games. It’s just the second time in #iufb history that that has happened. Ken Bikoff Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Gradman...... Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Tom Allen is too scared to go for the win. The tough guy, I'll run through the wall to win, bravado is all an act. This happens every single time.

Learn from the MSU game, don't go full turtle here.

A run there??? Hahaha man this program is the gift that just keeps giving.

Agreed and it’s not Archie’s job to fit a square peg into a round hole. It’s his job to win. I don’t doubt Justin is trying to improve his 3 this summer. I also won’t be surprised when his minutes are dramatically lowered when he still struggles to do the things we need to win. He is an upperclassmen. We need him to be a leader for this program. Not himself. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I think we get Lander, but I think the 5 star market is open for business at UM again. Coaching? Eh, we will see but talent can win despite if you have enough of it. Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

The only way Justin Smith is seen in the NBA is if he buys a ticket like the rest of us. I don't care about his profession aspirations, I only care about how he can help IU.

I don’t know about no team as bad. Northwestern, Nebraska and Purdue. All are about the same level if not worse.

Hol----leeey crap man the defense won us our 5th game. That was ugly but in every way possible a win is a win.

Win or lose, tom Allen hasn't learned from his mistakes. Add the horrible timeout management and it's really hard to feel good about him.

Stupid conservative bs will lose us a game again Sent from my SM-G960U using BtownBanners mobile app

Defense saved our arses there. Didn't learn a thing from the MSU game, still conservative as hell when they should've been aggressive.

Why do we not line up and at least TRY to draw them offsides??? What’s the downside there??? Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Please don't let this be another Michigan State game, I can't witness another game where we are afraid to win

I take your 3rd and 17 and raise you a 52 yard pass.

Minnesota over Iowa State 77-68 in a Secret Scrimmage, per release. 17 a piece for Gabe Kalscheur and Marcus Carr. Jon Rothstein Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

There is a UK fan next door who will come Waltz with Willy! What should I do? [emoji848]she looks pretty good! Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

Never seen a quarterback push more balls than throw them. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

It’s ok because Ramsey is able to is give them a breather.... Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Whoa I am at kids school carnival and checking my tv off my phone last I seen it looked guaranteed iu would be down at half. Dang right we will take it. Our defense needs to be better though Sent from my SM-G960U using BtownBanners mobile app

I mean, I admit that Penix is the better option, but I still think that Ramsey is a really solid backup. He's 12/17 for 139 yards and a touchdown today. You can't ask for much more than that from your backup. Pigrome really isn't very good. He's a career 56% passer. We're making him look like a superstar though unfortunately.

Wow, that was a hell of a catch! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Ramsey is really good at recognizing offsides and taking shots downfield on those free plays.

Last play of first quarter he got slammed to the ground and got up and looked visibly in pain. Win this game for us Ramsey! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Chrissakes Tom, there's gonna be 10 guys on concussion protocol if you keep smacking everyone in the head without a helmet on.

You should try enjoying the game

Mine has UI celebration for the next two weeks... weird. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

We are talking about a 50% free throw shooter. How many free throw shooters improved their 3 pt shooting 13% from the year before? Come on man. Vic was a 75% free throw shooter going from 20-44%. There is a reason that was possible. Free throw shooting is the easiest form of mechanics and repeatability. If he can’t do that? I don’t expect him to improve from three 13% or there to be any chance. Let alone in a season where the 3 is more difficult from one year to the next. Why are some folks assuming he can improve? Vic had many telling signs he could improve. Justin has 0 of those. He has not improved at any level of his shooting over his first two years. Sorry that isn’t chipper enough for some. He could still play a huge role on a good team. I personally would prefer seeing his free throw numbers improve along with his motor. That would do more for this team than moving his percentage from 22-34% (won’t happen). But I am sure with him averaging taking .9 3 per game that additional .1 made per game is the difference between making the tournament or not. So every 10 games that gets us 3 points back. Every game he is leaving a point at the line on average. Sometimes the simplest things will make you a better squad. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I would be an awful coach because I wouldn't play a guy who can't shoot or dribble on the perimeter. Ok Joe. Just because someone is the size of a perimeter player doesn't mean they should be one. You didn't answer my question. How many 3s in the NBA can't shoot or dribble? Archie's job is to coach the IU basketball team. If he's playing players in roles because that's what the NBA wants and not because it's what's best for the team then he's not doing his job. Tom Crean "helped guys get to the NBA." He still got fired because he didn't win. We have two players on our team with realistic NBA hopes: Jerome Hunter and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Could other players end up making it? Sure. But it'd be a long shot. No one has said Smith shouldn't "work on his game". But if he's out there hoisting up threes every game we're in trouble.

Juwan Morgan was a great college player. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. There are players playing in the NBA that he was better than in college. That happens. Smiths career isn’t over. His dream to make it to the NBA isn’t over. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

How does he not fit the role that HoosierAloha described? He isn't a perimeter player. He can't shoot and he can't dribble. How many 3s in the NBA can't shoot or dribble? Hell, how many 4s in the NBA can't shoot or dribble? He shot 22% from 3 and 51% from the line last year. Of the 9 guys who played 10+ minutes last year, he had the 3rd highest turnover percentage. Smith had the 9th worst 3 point percentage last year on a team that was dead last in the B1G in that category. I'm all for players improving their games, but it'd be rather silly for his focus to be on 3 point shooting. Ideally he wouldn't shoot any next season. If he wants to make the NBA then that's great, but he can do that on his own time. Archie's job isn't to get players to the NBA, it's to win basketball games. Right now Smith plays for IU and his job is to play the role IU needs him to play to help the team. Making the NBA is a whole lot harder than you make it out to be. Juwan Morgan went undrafted and was just waived by the Jazz and he's 10x the player Justin Smith is.

Kansas, UNC, Arizona. UCLA off and on. Lowkey Michigan State. Syracuse of yesteryear. Memphis trying to play it this year. We’ll see on Michigan. I don’t put it past Ohio State or Michigan when it comes to athletics. Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

I'm not writing him off. There's a role for him on a successful team. I just question whether he's willing to play that role.

This has been your stance. This isn’t the first time you have said this. Joe, agree to disagree on many things. There is no point in rehashing this discussion. I have no ambitions of arguing any points you are trying to make. I can’t keep up with your craziness unless I am on acid. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

You guys rule smith out way to early. Look again at VOs 3pt % increase year to year. Sure VO had great work ethic but none of us really know what smith is doing this offseason. To me he is not necessary to have a good year but if he can bump his 3pt shooting % up enough to be a threat from there than that is great. It is not out of the question. Is it likely, no. And if he doesn’t we move on to the next guy. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Justin Smith can't shoot and he can't dribble. You need those skills to play on the perimeter. People want him to play like a Freddie McSwain because he doesn't have the skills to be a wing. So, what else would he be?

Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners