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I like it better when iu is winning and recruiting is going good. This board is so much better. Please archie turn this thing around! Sent from my SM-G920V using BtownBanners mobile app

It's about that time folks! We open the season on Friday against the Tigers @ 5 pm. Starting rotation out - Milto, Gordon and Sommer. Go Hoosiers! Radio // Live Stats // Stream 2/15: Game 1 @ 5 pm 2/16: Game 2 @ 3 pm 2/17: Game 3 @ 2 pm

Better know what side of the bread gets the butter though. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I don't post too often, and have had many different thoughts and emotions about this season so far. Finally had an opportunity to sort through them and would like to offer some hard reality but also some optimism to help quell all the negativity. As much as it pains me to say it, and I'm sure as much as it pains you to read it, we are not in the same conversation as UK, KU, UNC, Duke, MSU, Nova, etc right now. It's not fair at all to compare us to them... yet. However, I absolutely still believe we can and get to that level. This process with Archie is going to take some time, and perhaps most importantly its going to take buy in from the players and us, the fans. Yes, losses have piled up this year and that's frustrating to everyone. But when I take step back and look at the big picture, there are some very encouraging things going on. Our defense is markedly better, we are turning the ball over less, and we are recruiting the hell out of this state again. I also look at Archie and it's obvious how much he cares and how bad he wants to build this program. He understands it's going to take time to build the culture that is going to lead to long, sustainable results. I believe in him and I think its time for us to all buy in cause he's not going anywhere anytime soon. I also think its time for us to stop bickering about player rankings and whether certain players are worthy of us. Its clear there is an organized plan of attack to Archie's recruiting and it's already paying off. If he continues this we will be in a great position. Do we need top, high profile, five star players...absolutely. Some have argued against one and dones, but the reality is we need them. We also need the 3-4 star program builders (AKA the Sheeheys, Hulls, Zeisloft, Watfords of the world). One of which I really believe is Leal. Kid from our own backyard, loves IU, will probably be Mr. Basketball, and most importantly has arguably the greatest skill our team lacks this year...shooting. Hell yes we need this kid. We've had a guy we picked up from the rec center starting on and off for us for two now haha. He is absolutely worthy of an offer. You have a solid core of these players (which is what Archie is building) and sprinkle in some top talent every year and you have a very solid and sustainable blueprint. Romeo has not been a pure waste just cause our team isn't very good this year. Romeo has been a symbol and ambassador for other top players when it comes to Indiana. He will continue to help garner interest from other top high school players just like he did with TJD and Keion Brooks. Top players are necessities just as much as the core 4 year players. To close, lets all take a step back from the ledge and have a little faith in Archie and this process and give it some time. If we do, I don't think we will be disappointed.

The program being in ashes is a Fallacy pushed by Crean to buy himself plenty of time with no expectations. By his third year he could have fielded a competitive team and instead he went 12-20 and 3-15 in the BIG (Losing one more game than the year prior). IMO without the Zeller commitment, he gets fired after 2012. The BigTen Championship in 15-16 and the UK win in the tourney was nice, but I would gladly have traded that in for a gamble on a new coach after the 2013-2014 season. For example if we hire Archie after the 2013-2014 season we have a chance to recruit some top Indiana talent and we wouldn't be looking at missing the Tournament for the third straight year and going through a "rebuild". Had Glass just pulled the plug when he should have, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today. Imagine this roster with Kyle Guy, Kris Wilkes, Romeo, Rob Phin, et al. Now that's a title contender. Crean stayed way too long and once we see his results speak for themselves after 8-9 years at Georgia, then hopefully everyone can look back on his time here and say, "Yeah, he needed to go sooner" Such a poor decision by the AD. The writing was on the wall based on both coaching philosophy and roster management, it was evident in 2012-2013 when Crean "Creaned" Matt Roth and Ron Patterson in favor of Peter Jurkin and Hanner Perea. Ya I get the counter argument, but a lot of the fan base thought he was a fraud.

Yes, if Romeo is exhibiting, call it, the toxic one and done behaviors... that's incredibly disappointing. I choose to believe that he's not though, given all we heard about the kid coming into his time at Indiana. Regardless, it's February 2019 and he's about four months out from the biggest night of his life thus far - it's got to be difficult to remain focused on the task at hand, especially when anyone can see it's going to take more than four months to fix Indiana's problems. On 2021 - sounds crazy, but I absolutely agree. Everyone knew we were undergoing a massive culture shift switching from Crean to Archie. Indiana fans of all people should realize as well that there's only a handful of right ways to succeed at Indiana, especially if we're to remain "clean". I know discussing "giving Archie years" get's people upset, but culture isn't a thing you go out and acquire. You know you established a culture when you see the same trends year over year over year. Consistency is key, and that's why regardless of who the coach is it will take years to understand if they're successful or not at Indiana.

You do you boo Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

I just want to see heart, toughness, and solid basketball. Is that too much to ask?

Since when could Freddie McSwain freaking dribble!?!

Ohp and I thought we were getting somewhere. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Partially. No one is going to fire someone after three years, especially when you were in the situation Crean walked into, but the warning signs were all there by year 3.

Freddie's 2 rim rattling slams.

2015, at the absolute latest. We could have hired Archie then, and he would have inherited a much stronger roster. Instead, we kept him two more years, allowing him to bring in two dud recruiting classes that set us back further. Was that second Big Ten title really worth all the hell we've been through since?

We could really use a Watford this year Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BtownBanners mobile app

I agree. After that win at MSU, and a great road win that was, the team struggled every game. Losses to teams we should not have lost to and the wins were unimpressive (remember Temple). It goes way beyond Syracuse but that Syracuse game topped off a terrible month or so of basketball. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I re-watched Brown's game against Daleville and his 54 point scoring binge. Before the game, the 2 game announcers were predicting a 35-40 point margin of victory for Blackford and the final score was 93-59. With 3'25" left in the 2nd Q, Daleville actually took a 30-29 lead but it was all Blackford after that. For the game, I had Brown with 20-32 FG's; 5-13 on 3's; 9-10 FT; 8 assists; 3 stls; 2 TO's;1 blk. Someone indicated he could have had another 10 assists if teammates hadn't missed layups. Not something I was particularly watching for and I only counted 3 such instances. Of his 19 2-point field goal attempts most were on drives to the basket. To say Daleville had a matador defense would be reasonably accurate and also helps explain why he made 15 of those 19 attempts. In part, I suppose it's to make sure he stays out of foul trouble, but he really doesn't make much of an effort to keep his man from driving around him. By quarters: #1 - 8 points on 3-8 FG; 0-3 on 3's and 2-3 FT #2 - 13 points on 6-8 FG; 1-2 on 3's and no FT. #3 - 22 points on 7-8 FG; 3-4 on 3's and 5-5 FT. #4 - 11 points on 4-8 FG; 1-4 on 3's and 2-2 FT.

You asked the question they answered. If you want to be less stressful not to have any expectations for the ncaa because a fellow poster posted their expectations more power to you. Since your expectations will be lowered no need to post any frustration next year. I’m going to remember that As far as Beverly goes he plays for power house prep school. He would be able to come in and contribute. His shot has gotten better but he is far from a lights out shooter. Biggest hurdle here will he his family and his thoughts on B1G basketball. Things can change if they can get him on campus Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

IF players are not doing what Archie is asking them to do, he should play the end of the bench, period. Would absolutely love to see principle in action. IF that's the case. Might not be the case though of course. I hope Archie succeeds here. I really do. I still think he will...just need another year to get in new blood.

Hoosier Guy says Iu. Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

I have no dog in this fight, but Crean put Zeller at the FT line against that zone. Zeller had not been asked to make jumpers from there in the entire time he was at IU. Syracuse was long and had good shot blockers down low. First play of that game, Zeller catches at the foul line...has an open jumper; but elects to drive the ball instead. Shot blocked. We kept driving the ball against it...and Syracuse had 11 blocks. Like we didn't learn. Indiana only shot 34% for the game and the only two players who had even a modicum of success were Sheehey and Oladipo...and both had some success with mid range jumpers; which is where that zone was vulnerable. Butler...when they played against the same zone...had put Shelvin Mack, a good shooter at the FT line against that zone, and he made a few from there, causing the zone to collapse and opened up opportunities for other people. Zeller being there was not a threat to shoot and score from that spot, so it allowed Syracuse to pressure the perimeter a little more. As a result, Hulls only gets 5 shot attempts, all contested and missed them all. It allowed Syracuse to completely take Yogi away. Zeller being in the wrong spot was a primary reason we played like we did. That happened. It's something other than flawed logic. One can reasonably assume Zeller was in that spot because Crean told him to be there. The formula was there for beating that zone, and it wasn't perimeter oriented. Not saying Crean should or shouldn't have been fired for it; but the game plan for that one was flawed and played a major role in the loss.

Both of those classes were ranked in the top 25 and few if no one thought they were duds at the time. Hindsight is 20/20 and anyone who wants an AD who's going to fire a guy like you and others are suggesting doesn't know how this works. That would be a disaster and would turn our program into Penn State in no time. What player is going to commit to a program knowing his coach will get fired if he misses the tournament regardless of past success? Crean was fired at the right time. Although I don't think he's as bad of a couch as most of the fan base paints him out to be, I understand wanting to build and grow higher than Crean's capabilities. He also deserves to be appreciated for the tireless work he put in to rebuilding IU from a joke of a program to a contender. Archie hasn't proven anything yet....it remains to be seen if he ever will.

As much as I love the toughness/defensive mentality; and was around it through the Knight years; his teams also led the Big Ten in scoring almost every year, despite what his roster looked like. Indiana can't score in the half court. We don't even GET good shots much of the time, and it seems kids who make mistake after mistake aren't held accountable; and kids who should be more ready to contribute by now.....aren't. If Chris Holtmann didn't have Ohio State at 16-7, I might be more willing to "be patient," but I don't think it's too much to ask for a coach to get his team to compete at a pretty high level in year 2. I do understand it can take time; but with Morgan, Davis, Durham, and Green....we had 4 returning players who, when new faces were also added, should - in my mind - be better than losing 9 of 10 games, three of them against Nebraska, Rutgers, and Northwestern; plus a very beatable Ohio State team at home. We win those 4? We're 17-7 and I don't think anyone's upset. But lose all of them for myriad reasons, and the natives are rightfully restless. Offense doesn't move much; some defensive players are lazy and out of position; and I don't see coaching. In fact, I see at least one assistant who basically stands with his hands in his pockets. I think there are problems. I wish I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and a great direction; but right now, I just don't. I'm willing to hold off judgement for a couple of seasons, but next season should really begin to show growth, regardless of the roster. We'll have enough players to compete and win more than we are now.

This is a very tough pill to swallow. In today's landscape, patience is often dismissed very early on. If you look at many of the successful coaches it often takes a while to build the program. Indiana fans have already had to endure a lot of patience with the Crean years. Just to play devils advocate let's look at a few coaches that have inherited a less than talented roster and have already been able to turn things around quite fast. Will Wade - LSU Year 1 -18-15 Year 2 - 20-4 Eric Musselman - Nevada Year 1 - 24-14 Year 2 - 28-7 Year 3 - 19-1 Rick Barnes - Tennessee Year 1 - 15-19 Year 2 - 16-16 Year 3 - 26-9 Chris Beard - Texas Tech Year 1 - 18-14 Year 2 - 27-10 Year 3 - 19-5 It's not always apples to apples as far as resources available to turn the program around faster. Archie seems to have been really restricted with the APR hit and guys transferring. I also know there are examples like Tony Bennett and John Beilein that prove that Archie needs at least a few more years before we can really judge. However, the guys above were all dealt a hand that wasn't that great and each turned it around within 3 years so it is possible to do. All of those destinations are less attractive than IU.

And an Oladipo. And a Zeller. And a Hulls. And a Yogi. And a Sheehey.