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Not sure if this was posted on here, but I'm going to miss Freddie. He was limited talent-wise, but he always gave his all and brought a lot of toughness to the team. I wish he had another year. He made great strides under Archie this season.

As you wish. Franimal with Tom Crean's hairline.

CAM watching tonight. Pickerington North vs Mount Vernon in the OHSAA Division I District Semifinal.

This feels blasphemous. My source: https://imgur.com/a/LAUpM Enjoy, everybody. This came from a reddit user in the College Basketball subreddit. He was taking requests.

You guys make fun of Bryce Drew, but his Vandy team just cut the Georgia lead down to 22. Progress! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

The most impressive aspect of this transformation: The birthmark moved from the right side of his abdomen to the left. How in the world did they accomplish that!

Enjoy the rest of the week hoops junkies Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Well that escalated quickly. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Coach Clif Marshall‏ @ClifMarshall So proud of Redshirt Freshman Race Thompson. Over the last 6 months he has changed his diet, worked hard in the weight-room, & transformed his body. Body fat - strength, power, & lean muscle mass.

Looking good, Steve-O!!

You're a jinx. Stay home! lol

USPS at some point you have to go out and deliver the mail. I've been waiting on my birthday card for months now.

Here's what's on tap for tomorrow in our quest for the NIT: MAC: #1 Buffalo vs. #8 Central Michigan, 12:00 p.m. Mountain West: #1 Nevada vs. #8 UNLV, 3:00 p.m. Big West: #1 UC-Davis vs. #8 UC-Riverside, 3:00 p.m. Big Sky: #1 Montana vs. #8 North Dakota, 3:05 p.m. Conference USA: #1 Middle Tennessee vs. #8 Southern Miss, 7:00 p.m. WAC: #1 New Mexico State vs. #8 Chicago State, 9:00 p.m. Go #1 seeds! Help us reach the Not Invited Tournament!

Ok guys, let's go score more points than them this half! And do it on the opposite hoop! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Doing my best, USPS Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Gatorade Player of the year in Alabama. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

NIT or not I am really enjoying your coverage of this. Some funny and insightful stuff. Appreciate it.

If people were going to be sick, tomorrow and Friday would days to do it (unless you are saving them for next week). 2nd best week for matchups in college basketball. Huge couple days coming up for hoops junkies Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Memphis is thinking about firing Tubby Smith and bringing in Penny Hardaway with Larry Brown as his top assistant? Probation in 3-2-1 ... http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22672236/memphis-tigers-looking-firing-tubby-smith-bringing-penny-hardaway

Or this?

Shittu liked your post Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

Absolutely no chance that happens. Zero. None. Nada. Romeo is going to IU. I repeat he is going to IU. No possible way does Romeo tell Archie no. Bank it. Bank it. Bank it.

It’s tough watching Kyle Guy and Trevon Bluiett have big games Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

You sir have crossed a line of decency.

Riley Lachance just hit a big time three to cut it to 41-19 with a minute left in the half. Just wait for those drew halftime adjustments. Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

I find it friggin hilarious that Romeo said Grimes was his best friend and Darius just got a “uhhh yeah sure.” Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

@CamjWilli_22: Great Phone call with Coach Allen and Coach Wommack, and I just want to thank God for blessing me with my First Big10 Offer From Indiana University Bloomington #HoosierDaddy#FORTHECULTURE Merriville, IN (Andrean) 6'3"/205 247 Rivals Videos

Sampsons' younger brother. @j40_james: God is amazing! Received my first offer today from THE Indiana University thanks to @CoachAllenIU @IndianaFootball Avon, IN 6'0"/250 247 Rivals Videos

I really hope this is Virginias year

Jeff Rabjohns‏ @JeffRabjohns 2019 F Matthew Hurt (IU offer) broke the Rochester (MN) scoring record, has 2,691 career points. Hurt 37 points, 20 rebs tonight in a 67-59 section semi win.

I don't think I've rooted for any college team other than IU as hard as I will for ND against Duke tomorrow since back when Wiscy knocked off that undefeated pUKe team in the F4. Really want to see ND in that field.

We took another baby step closer to the NIT tonight. Hampton survived upset-minded Florida A&M 75-71 to move on to the semifinals of the MEAC tourney. Bucknell punched its ticket to the dance and removed themselves as a threat to steal our hot dog voucher. I mistakenly posted last night that the Big Sky quarterfinals were tonight, when in fact, they are tomorrow night. Sorry if that spoiled anyone's evening.

Good, we need some tough 14 seeds to beat Purdon't.

Notre Dame survives. Strong 2nd half. Notre Dame might play their way into giving IU a quad 1 win for the year Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

What an irony in this. At the very end of the report, the sportscaster mentions South Bend Clay in 1994 as the last city team to win a state title. Clay beat Valpo and Bryce Drew -- the fella everybody loves to hate here -- in the championship game. Valpo had something like an 8-10 point lead in the final minute but couldn't hang on. Clay kept hitting 3s, tied it, forced OT, then won in the extra period.

Another nice background article on Damezi. http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Bigger-than-basketball-Rileys-Damezi-Anderson-has-become-a-role-model-for-kids-476182133.html

Not an annoying one, but the commercial with Washington crossing the Delaware Turnpike gives me a strange urge to drag something heavy across a busy street and yell "We've all got places to go, we've all got places to go!" at the cars honking at me.

Apparently Phinisee is a good “Phinisher”. Lol! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

So... Looks like Race is putting in the work. Hopefully the skills are following suit. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

512 × 444 - sbnation.com

Apparently someone at the Electric Consumer is a big Romeo fan. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

The pic on the right is definitely in the mirror (Adidas and treadmill logos are backwards). Race went from toned to ripped, IMO.

Nothing tonight, but the semis and finals on 3/23 and 3/24 have a stream. http://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Basketball-Boys/Boys-Basketball-2017-18/2018-OHSAA-Boys-Basketball-State-Tournament-Coverage

Yep a little run at the end. Drew has it going now Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

A couple mentions of 2021 potential targets still alive.

I find it creepy that people that people try to read so much into a HS kid's social media Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

It’s annoying AF that he does all of Romeo’s vids. His angles suck and he doesn’t know how to edit. Wish it was Inside the Gym or BallisLife...

*Whispers* Romeo liked Quentin's comment

This one's gonna be a long one... - I am not going to focus too much on this past season. Rather, I want to look ahead to the future because I believe there is definite reason for optimism next year and beyond. Our marked improvement in several statistical categories such as Defense Efficiency and TO% shows me that we have a coach who can identify our weaknesses and address them. This gives me confidence that our poor shooting is something that can and will be remedied sooner rather than later. I don't believe that's optimism as much as it is logical reasoning but I suppose you could debate that if you wanted. Anyway, next year... - Our returners will be key. People have a tendency to want to disregard certain key players during a bad season because they didn't perform to certain standards. While I understand their frustrations, it is important that we keep building onto the foundation that has been set this season. The constant roster turnover was a trademark of the Crean years and is a clear example as to why our teams failed to consistently perform at a high level each year. Stability will be key for this program moving forward. We're already losing 5 scholarship seniors this off-season. That's plenty... we don't need anyone else to leave. - Frontcourt Returners. Juwan Morgan (16.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG) should be a senior. His improvement this past season was remarkable and he developed into a 2nd Team All-Big Ten player. He was a major mismatch problem for the opposition with his ability to both play bigger or smaller than he actually was. His consistent level of production is something that few other players in college basketball can replicate. I know some are worried about him leaving, but I don't see it. Unlike guys like James Blackmon or Troy Williams, Morgan has never come across as the type of player who is bent on playing professional regardless of their draft stock. He may "test the waters", but I think he'll return. If he can continue to work on his outside shot and get even stronger, he's got 1st Team All-Big Ten written all over him next year. I've seen some people downplay De'Ron Davis' (9.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG) role on next year's team claiming he isn't an Archie type of player. I disagree because Archie spent all of last off-season grooming him to become a better player. Coaches don't put that much effort into a player if he isn't expected to be a key cog on the team. Now, I am concerned about him returning from his Achilles' tear and his conditioning. I don't know if we'll see him play more than 20 minutes per game, but he still has the potential to be a strong player for us, especially with post offense. I'd compare him to the effectiveness level of a Sophomore or Junior Isaac Haas. He'll be invaluable going up against the frontcourt of Michigan State and Purdue in addition to guys like Mike Watkins and Bruno Fernando. Justin Smith (6.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG) may be the real key for our future. There has been a lot of talk about needing top talent to be elite. IMO, Smith definitely fits that mold. He has athletic ability that can't be taught. He's the type of guy you see on teams like UNC or Villanova when they're in the Final Four. It'll be interesting to see how his game progresses. He could stay more post-centric and be another Juwan Morgan, or he could develop better handles, defensive quickness and outside shooting to become an NBA-style wing at the "3". At the moment, he has the highest potential to be "great" as anyone on the team, in my opinion. Returning Zach McRoberts (2.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG) will be good for this team because he sets the tone with his hustle and defensive intensity. We'll need him to continue working on his shot to become a better threat on offense. But ideally, we need someone to deservedly take his spot in the starting lineup. That will show progression by the other players. Clifton Moore (0.7 PPG, 0.9 PPG) had all the looks of a guy who was playing against players A LOT better than what he faced in high school. I think he has an interesting skill set and could still play a role on the team, but I'm guessing he'll need to re-evaluate his own expectations. I'm also including Race Thompson as a returner because I think a year on the team will do wonders for his preparedness for the college game. He was a Top 100-level recruit out of high school and he seems to have a body that is built for the rugged Big Ten. I'd say there's a good chance you'll see him in the rotation next year giving us good minutes at the 4 or 5. Don't sleep on how much he could help us. -Backcourt Returners. We're gonna need Devonte Green (7.6 PPG, 2.5 APG) to step up his game as much as anyone. As Archie said, we need singles from him as much as home runs. If this was a baseball season, he would have had way too many 0-4, 3 K types of games this year. He has potential to utilize his ability to create for others and his own shot, but we're gonna need him to be steady for us to have success. A bad Devonte Green really hurts us. But a good one takes us to another level. I was pleased/impressed with how Al Durham (4.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG) ended the season. Similar to Green, I hope he can embrace the role of a steady hand and defensive presence in the backcourt. We'll need him to continue improving his shot to be more consistent from the outside. However, if he attempts to become something he's not (i.e. a "go-to" scorer) it could hurt us more than help us. The fact that these are our only returners in the backcourt makes it imperative that they both take the next step in their development. -Newcomers. I'm a Robert Phinisee fan. As Old Friend has stated on numerous occasions, if there are 100 better players than him in the nation in his class, I'd like to see them. He's got a quick first step and is much more athletic than he looks which allows him to get to the basket. People rave over his play-making ability, but I think he'll be a better scorer for us next year than what many think. While not an elite shooter, he can more than hold his own in that department. He'll need to get bigger and stronger, but I could definitely see him as an effective starter next year. I won't say he'll be as effective as Yogi, but anyone remember Armon Bassett as a freshman back in 2006-07? Maybe something like that. I've also seen some others make some statements about how Damezi Anderson won't help us much next year, but I am not so sure. I love the way he moves without the ball and comes off of screens. He has a shooter's mentality and will provide us an offensive threat anytime he is on the floor. I do agree that he'll need to up his defense, but that is one area that I have faith in Archie. It'll be interesting to see what position he slides into as a frosh... that may be the tricky part. Every time I have watched a clip of Jerome Hunter I have been impressed. He seems to have an advanced and diverse skill set that could allow him to play early and often next year. If rankings are a good indicator of that stuff, he probably will. I'm curious to watch his motor. Guys like him with high motors usually become REALLY good. Guys like him with low motors usually end up like Jeremy Hollowell. We'll see. Jake Forrester seems to be a guy who might be able to provide some athleticism, energy and effort in the frontcourt next year. It seems like he has a developing skill set, but he can still run the floor well and could thrive in the "dump off" role that Justin Smith filled this year. I think you'll see him as our future "5" in the coming years. -Players yet to commit? Personally, I think we'll add 1-2 more guys for next year. The elephant in the room is Romeo Langford. If he comes, we'll have our leading scorer and instantly become a contender in a wide open Big Ten. Our backcourt will go from being a question mark to being a strength. However, I do not believe all is lost should he not come. The grad transfer market always produces a number of quality players every year and I think there's a good chance we could pick up a starter caliber player, there. Maybe even a couple for the backcourt. In short, I believe our backcourt will be bolstered in the offseason. By whom? Dunno yet... -Final Thoughts. Honestly, it's too early to tell. But I'd be surprised if we didn't see an improvement in our overall record next year. I think we could definitely be a bubble team, if not better. If Romeo comes? Let's just say making the tournament won't be a problem... Looking forward to the offseason and seeing how the program is progressing. I really like how Archie seems to be prioritizing the state with the 2019 guys while also looking at guys like Carton from Iowa for the point guard needs. Guys like Jackson-Davis and Keion Brooks will be very important prospects for us and I think we're doing as good of a job recruiting them as anyone right now. Throw in other guys like Brandon Newman, Alex Hemenway, Armaan Franklin, Mason Gillis, etc. It's gonna be fun seeing how that class shakes out. I like Archie's direction, though.