mdn82

First, and most important, I am hopeful everyone made it through the day in one piece.  I missed part of the first half with no power, so this will be choppy for sure.  I didn't need 40 minutes of evidence to see Noah Vonleh is an absolute beast.  There was one play in particular that comes to mind on how great this kid is.  On a missed free throw, they threw two bodies on him to block out.  He didn't seem to fight for the board and Crean gave him an earful.  My lip reading isn't the greatest, but it was easy to see he told him to fight.  The rest of the night he put on a performance.  In between him and Yogi, it was a fun night against a tougher opponent.     Not all was great however.  From the line, we not good at all.  We are still at a point where the sample size is too small, but this team just is not going to be a team we are going to feel comfortable watching at the line all year.  Tonight, they went 30-49.  Also, turnovers seem a little high by first glance with 17.     Back to the good (because it is much more fun), we out rebounded a team by 15 who was besting their opponents by 10 a game.  Things that won't show up in the stat sheet is how different it is watching an over athletic team rotate defensively from one year to the next.  This team closes defensively in a way we haven't seen for a while.  How impressed are all of you with Noah Vonleh's hands?  That kid does not drop anything that comes in his area.     Yogi and Noah were easily the talk of the game tonight.  Yogi had 24 points, 6 assists (2 TO's), and 5 rebounds.  Hell of a game for the little guy.  He seemed to have only one stretch where he was just exclusively looking for his shot instead of looking for the right play.  On this team, more than not, he will be the best option.  It is just a higher percentage when he gets into the lane and dishes like he did early in the game.  Noah Vonleh who is no doubt sky-rocketing his draft stock with another impressive double-double of 18 and 15.  Other than that, I thought Evan (12 pts), Jeremy (10 pts), Troy (8 pts, 6 rebounds), and Will (9 pts), had solid games.  Hanner and Devin gave their usual solid contribution on both ends.     All in all it was a good game in what will probably be our toughest home game before conference.  I was almost certain Noah would be a 2 year player heading in to this year.  Not really, because of his skill level, but because how stacked this draft would be.  He is no doubt in that top 5 ish Freshman with his play.  Dude has been killing it.  That will be another discussion for another day.  We have things to take to the drawing board, but a lot to like heading into arguably our toughest week of basketball until conference.  We will have tougher games for sure, but this will give our kids an idea of what college basketball is really about.   

Completely agree on Jeremy and Will.  Jeremy was way too lazy with the ball in his hands.  Will just didn't move his feet all night.  I really liked how he came out, going to the rim.  Both have some things to work out for sure.  We can't have them play so reckless this week, or we will be in trouble.

  Yep, there are a lot of things we did good.  Enough to feel good about, but enough to not feel overconfident.  These kids will win games they shouldn't and lose games they shouldn't.  

I am actually more excited than I was originally.  There really isn't a weak link to this class yet.  Last year, we knew right away unfortunately.  Scoring won't be his issue at the college level if it is needed.  Our strength and conditioning has to be a top 5 in the country.  Its not even just strength that everyone has improved.  It is also the athleticism and lateral quickness.  I think of it as the ultimate compliment when my PU family members swear up and down our team is definitely on the juice.  The one that has really impressed me has been Devin Davis.  That kid is going to be a BEAST his Senior year.  

Thanks ladies and fellas for the kind words!  

79-71 IU.  

  Hanner was doing very well inside when my power went out.  Didn't last long, but it came back on during halftime.  Watching him catch a ball in traffic reminds me every time just how impressive Noah's hands are.  Hanner doesn't do bad, but he still has a lot of problems catching a ball clean.  Noah has the best hands I can recall on a Hoosier freshman.  I agree with Jeremy.  He had a couple of real lazy turnovers that I seen.  He is versatile, but him at the point just scares me.  

McGary came back today too.  Crazy game sometimes.

IU 82 - SB 67

  Our fans would honestly probably be worse if that happened to us.  Our fanbase is bigger, and crazier in some aspects.  They are just dumb and think they are on a level with the top guys.  Hell, on their board yesterday honestly said the only difference between them and IU, MSU, UM, and OSU is recruiting and they will soon be there with Groce...  Yeah, there is nothing else different about Illinois than those schools.  The funny thing was 5 dudes replied to him agreeing.  We may be fanatic, but we aren't stupid.  

That made my day  :devil:

Gracias... 

I am at work, but was told members of Illinois Scout were wishing DEATH!!! and career ending injury to this kid.  What in the hell happened?  Obviously he didn't go there, but my god.  That fanbase needs to get a grip.  

In all honesty, I hate Illinois, but do feel somewhat sorry for them.  It couldn't have happened to a better team.  If this happens to a Kentucky they have 5 people waiting for that offer.  Illinois, this absolutely crushes them.  They know it.  Talk about a kick in the nuts.  Looks like Groce got Groced.

Oh man, it is like atomic meltdown on House of Paign.  Man, someone needs to keep an eye on that ledge. 

I think I would rather someone try and explain what they are saying, instead of going to insults.  Which you are correct, I essentially did the same thing that annoys the piss out of me.  I shouldn't have.  I would definitely agree with you on that. 

Dude, don't stress it.  We are big boys and can hold a discussion.  If we disagree I hope we would all lay out points to why we disagree, and would hope you would do the same.  The only thing I can't stand is when someone disagrees, and can't articulate a point to why they disagree and turn to calling someone a slurper or something idiotic because they aren't smart enough to respond.  Discussions are what make a place like this worth coming to. 

  That is part of what made that poster a lightning rod.  Its how you feel his negativity or truth in how he sees those 3 things.  How he relayed it is what made that a lightning response.  Most people only had experiences with him around when Zeller signed until now.  Most people don't realize he is always that way.  Its just all how you relay yourself.  Like you said, you feel you are only as strong as your weakness.  Does that mean a coach that is limited at recruiting, even if he is a great in game coach can't win?  I would disagree with that.  I think we have seen coaches who are great recruiters (and not great in game coaches) win like Calipari.  Then we have seen great coaches who were limited on how they could recruit win in Brad Stevens.  Coaches like Coach K are once in a generation coaches.  I think we got a coach who is elite at one major area that pertains to actual IU mens basketball which is fantastic in this era.  Even Pitino who has been an elite coach for years can't keep up with Crean recruiting.  I see a time like Calipari where it all clicks for Crean's team.  Not with all freshman though.  We will see though.

To answer the main question, it is yes.  To answer the question I am sure was being implied, he needs to improve.  There is so much more to coaching in the NCAA than just in game.  Usually, he is very solid making adjustments at the half to what the game is giving IU.  LIU-Brooklyn was no different.  They worked inside-out from halftime on.  He is usually better at defensive in game adjustments than offensive in game adjustments.  He is a top 5 recruiter.  He is a great ambassador of academics.  He is great at getting donations for the Athletic Department.  He promotes sports other than Basketball at IU better than any coach I can remember.  In game offensive adjustments, he needs to work on.  I truly feel he trusts his players too much to make the right decisions and sometimes that doesn't happens.  Then, he sticks with them to keep making plays.  When they don't, it makes him look bad.  As a prominent poster used to state (although I truly mean it) he is good at 197 out of 200 things, but we choose to talk about those 3...  

Great discussion though JS!  I think even two years ago I was on your side of this argument.  

I think the perception is it is easier to learn from mistakes and fix them against South Saskatchewan Poly than try and fix them against UK.  Easier to experiment in these games with wider margin for error to see where you need work.  For a young team, I think that is invaluable.  I guess since the argument has shifted, this brings me to another question.  If the problem is learning from their mistakes, if they can't learn from Jackoff U, how are they ever going to learn during MSU?  A mistake is a mistake no matter who it is against.  It is easier to build good habits (and bad habits) against Cubcakes (< had to) than against MSU.  Plus, those teams like MSU are far more physical than Girl Scout Troop 317, so injuries are far more likely in those named games due to the intensity. Again, as a fan I agree with why you want to see the best every night.  From the outside looking in the good outweighs the bad in the majority of ways to keep it the way it has been for all of our lives.  RMK played some cupcakes that would make Crean blush.  The B1G is just so strong every year, you will get your RPI.  What you can't get back if you play a nasty schedule is those losses.  

  I think there is some degree of it about confidence.  But, lets be real.  Everything is done for money.  The better the team, the more money we have to pay them to come to IU.  That is more money going away from our Athletic Department's books.  Home and home would make more obviously, because they are on national tv.  That is why I think it would be more likely for us to switch out one cupcake with a home and home that has the interest to be on ESPN during the 7 o'clock hour.  A mid-major we are paying more, and its on BTN.  So, we actually lose money to do that with more risk.  Most mid-majors that play the "name" school are in state.  Like Ohio vs. OSU.  Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky.  Indiana doesn't really have a solid mid-major school.  Best option is Evansville.  Play for a good conference, but is that really a sexy mid-major everyone is looking for?  We did them a favor and opened their building a couple of years ago.  As a fan I definitely agree with you and what you want.  Lets just hope for a Kansas or team of that caliber over the next couple of years.  

Strong mid-majors won't want to come into Indiana every year.  "Name" schools won't do anything less than home and homes.  There are only so many strong mid-majors and they aren't going to load up on teams like IU every game on their schedule.  Their money is made from going to pre-season tournaments, and home games.  We play enough good teams throughout our year without loading up pre-conference to have a top 20 RPI every year.  At some point wins are more important than playing 30 major conference teams.  Cupcakes can make more money from going on the road.  Schools like IU, UK, UNC, Duke...  all make their money from a pre-season tournament, home and homes, and being at home.  To be at home, they have to play cupcakes.  We are about one home and home short, but those aren't easy.  If you are IU you have to play someone that makes sense, and can be put on TV.  Only so many teams that people would want to watch IU play every year.  I agree with why you want to play tougher teams, but logic behind our schedule really means more. 

  Yep, next year I think we can make a run if we develop well over the next 12-16 months.  That said, I am hoping we are that team nobody wants to play in March.

Apparently name opponent equates with good opponent.  I have heard of Arizona St. so they must be a quality opponent?  Or LSU...  LIU-Brooklyn made the tournament the last 3 years, but I don't as much about them as the others.  I am thinking that is the mindset.