mdn82

Well, no fan was expecting us to land him.  Even the fans that despise Crean knew that.  His dad was ultimately looking for a job and Crean wouldn't accommodate.  When this happened he decommitted and instantly Calipari was involved and everyone (even people outside of our program) knew where he was going.  That is why he didn't have more coaches throw anything his way beyond the generic mail.  Crean actually cut ties with him.  Of course he used that as his reasoning when people started getting crappy with him.  His dad has threatened lawsuit for 2 years over Dan Dakich saying this exact thing.  Dakich of course said bring it on and was very loud about it.  Lyles' family backed away very quietly after this.  So, that is where the victim card comes into play.  Nothing quite like parents teaching you the right way.

Yep.  Every fanbase has their moment.  This was ours.  Not saying he did the right thing the way he went about it, but it was ugly.  Twitter + Disappointment + UK = Idiotic comments towards a 16 year old.

IU wins 87-53...  We are going to drop the hammer!

To answer your question though Jayboob, I think we are going to be good.  I don't think we will surprise anyone though.  Defense and length show up on video.  Its more intense in person, but people will see how good we are. 

The opponent doesn't really matter to get a feel for identity of a team.  This team's identity will be its depth and defense.  We can plug and play and not have a drop off in defense which is amazing.  We haven't had that since Crean has been here.  This is my bold, not being a homer prediction, but I got us seriously at 22 wins and a 5 seed if we win 1 or 2 in BTT.  If not we will be a 6 seed which is better in all honesty.  You don't have to play the 1 seed in the Sweet 16 if you make it there.  There isn't that much difference between a 3 and 4.  I would prefer to be the 6, but I could see us being a 5.

  I approve this message by JS.

Well, where to begin.  This game showed why we can win any time we show up and why we will have some baffling losses.  All in all, we will be good, because of the improved defense with this staff.  They are long, athletic, and that plays well to the new rules.  When IU went down 10+ in the first 5 minutes it was easy to envision that embarrassing loss you have to hear about until the following year.  Then, with defense and Yogi Ferrell leading the way, IU jumped back into it and cruised to a 79-39 win.   Yogi led the team with 14 points, most of those coming in the first half.  Will chipped in 12, while Troy and Stan each had 9.  Noah put up numbers that may be surprisingly close to his averages he may end up with on the year at 8 and 8.  Jeremy contributed his 6 and 6.  Outside of that, there were plenty of instances this team had that just don't show up in the box score, but should absolutely be recognized.  The energy of Stan and Devin is just infectious on the defensive end.  When they come in, they get at it.  Hanner Perea continues to impress.  He set up his block well.  He took a charge.  He just put himself in an excellent position all game long.     There was an article on Inside the Hall with Tom Crean speaking about searching for an identity for this team.  I think after 2 exhibitions it is obvious this team is going to go as far as its defense takes it. When we turn into a jump shooting team, we aren't that good.  When we played with that chip on our shoulder on the defensive end, we were impressive.  The team we just beat shoots over 20 3s per game.  Their game isn't driving.  We got out on the shooter all night.  That is quite different from last year.     Turnovers after the first game were a concern.  The first 10 minutes didn't do much to settle those worries down.  If I would have told any of you by the end of the game we would only have 16, would you have been surprised?  I know I would have.  The turnovers are something we will continue to have to be uneasy about, but once this team dug down they were solid with the ball.  All in all, I think this was an impressive team win no matter the name of the opponent where our team depth was on display.  Thoughts fellow Btown Banners?

Completely agree.  The best as a fan you can ask for in a year where you are just going to enjoy the ride like a 2011-12 is to be a tough out.  I couldn't have been prouder for a team than that year, and we lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16.  I know this isn't a championship team, but hopefully we are going to be that team in March nobody wants to play.  

  In the B1G tournament, I also believe we will be a tough out.  I think that was our biggest issue last year.  We couldn't go to anyone else when our guys were struggling.  Now we have options with athleticism upon athleticism.  

Really loving the energy Stan and Devin play with.  

Cramp.

  People will think I am nuts, but I am not backing down from my 22 win prediction.  I really like this team.  I am usually on the low side with this stuff.  I didn't have high expectations, but certain things like Hanner and Troy make me feel better about the year.  We are going to be very good defensively.  In a game where you can't use your hands, you are going to be athletic and long to defend.  We are.  We have gotten away from driving the last few minutes and we can see what happens when we try to become a 3 point shooting team.  We won't be that good.  When we move the ball and get into the lane, we can be pretty dangerous.  IMO

If there was ever any question this is Yogi's team, I think that question went away.  That dude is taking charge of this team.  He is putting this team on his back really.  Both games when we struggled to score, he has been able to create from his speed.  Then, the stuff Hanner is doing on the defensive side of the ball is amazing.  For a shot blocker, he is patient.

I really hope they let both sides play the second half.  These refs need to swallow their whistles.  

  I seriously think we will have one of the better interior defensive teams in the conference.  

Hanner Perea is a completely different player in 6 months.  That is the most amazing thing to me on this team.  

  Big difference to last year is obvious.  He is not backing down from contact.  He will get to the line a lot if he keeps this up.  

Agreed.  If we have no better options, I am scared.  

  I think we will be more than fine.  I think its just going to be this way in stretches due to how young we are.  

I love Yogi not backing down.  I know that isn't the right thing to say there, but that is an attitude we are going to have to have this year.  We just aren't as good as we were, and we need to have an edge.   

Crean needs to get them to watch that Syracuse game.  If there is one thing IU above all else should realize is you can't drive into the zone and jump to make a pass.  This is terrible.  

  RIP offensive movement and Walt Bellamy.

Yikes, this is getting fugly.

  Yeah, I think that would be a consensus.  Glad we have him though.  I can't wait until November 13th.  Next week.  He isn't very outgoing, so that could have been part of the sitting by himself not saying much.  He is signing with us.  So, not much to worry about.  Trey is committing tomorrow to UK.  Glad to get this recruiting year in the books.  We did better than I thought we would.  Getting Blackmon is absolutely huge. 

  Two more dunks like that and he is on FIRE!!!