Walking Boot of Doom

Wilson and Co. are killing it out there. Some of our best recruits have committed during this recruiting blitz. Really closing out the class nicely. Good to see the recruiting impact of our bowl game and the contract extension.

Per Albers, FTA/g this season: Wisconsin: -Away from home: 17.5 -At home: 25.4 (+7.9) Indiana: -Away from home: 19.8 -At home: 20.3 (+0.5) #iubb

We actually had more points of turnovers off fewer turnovers by Wisconsin, so I'd say we capitalized on our opportunities.   This still wasn't a big game. Iowa, MSU, Michigan, Iowa, Purdue, Maryland, those are big games that will have a real impact our tournament seeding.

A couple weeks ago when MSU lost in Madison, and the FT differential was 20, I called home cooking and many agreed. Same thing happens to us and it's back to this team sucks and Crean needs to go. Odd.

Guess the same thing happened to MSU (Wisconsin +20 FTA in their win). And Indiana during its last three trips to Madison during which Wisconsin has a total FTA margin of more than 60. Indiana could have done plenty of things better, but hot damn...

Everyone look at the box score. IU won in pretty much every category. The difference? 37-18 FTA in favor of Wisconsin. Im all about not letting the refs impact the result, but holy ****....

Man, almost want him to just sit out and fully recover. He's a four year guy, and it would be so incredibly costly over the next few years to lose him to an injury like this.

He's gotta be the biggest JBJ supporter out there. Good to see, but sometimes it seems like he hasn't treated JBJ objectively based on his all-around performance in games. Seems unwilling to punish JBJ for poor defense during a game.

Look at his performance at Butler. He wasn't going to see the floor at Indiana, and barely sees it there.

Can anyone name unheralded recruits since the Oladipo class that didn't turn out better than expected? (Besides Priller and April, which we know were not exactly great signings)   Looking to discuss Crean's ability to identify unique talent and potential. It really seems to be one of his strengths as a coach. Etherington is the only recruit that comes to mind who was a general bust. (I'm ignoring Crean's first couple recruiting classes as his ability to recruit was undercut by the sanctions)

Crean has done pretty well going with his gut in recruiting. I think we can chalk April and Priller up to desperation moves, but otherwise, I've been pleased with many of Crean's recruiting of lesser known players.

Honeslty, whether it was forced or not, it's promising to see Crean adapt to the situation.

Yes, this is excellent. A kid who is being pushed by those close to him to leave for the NBA as soon as possible leaving with a degree is crucial to his success in life. No matter what, he will have an opportunity to succeed, either in basketball or in a more standard path through life. Really happy for him.

The Wisonsin-MSU game in the Kohl Center had about a +20 FTA margin in the Badgers favor... Not looking forward to that. We need to play our game, and play like we have been. Refs can't impact the game if we just play like we can.   I'm excited to watch our 3-PT shooting against the Badger's poor 3-PT defense. Let's go Hoosiers!

I agree with you. I was speaking somewhat theoretically. If we really are going to be a true contender for the B1G title, this can't be a big game for us. This should be business as usual. As Brass pointed out, we SUCK on the road against Wisconsin historically, but if we are going to contend, history has no place in this teams' heads. This can't be a game that is looked at as any bigger than the rest or the games they've already won.

Thing is, this isn't a big game. If we're one of the top teams in the B1G, this should just be another game. Hoping to see us roll with a solid 10 point victory. I know the Kohl Center is tough to play in, but Wisconsin may not even be a tournament team. 

This thread is really just the Btown Banners Heat Check.   Changes faster than Crean's recruiting interests.

What was worse: Albers saying IU losing the bowl game was better than winning it, or this most recent series? Tough choice. It's hard to keep up with how bad of a journalist Albers is.

We got a boom for what appears to be Jonah Morris

OG's success has nothing to do with where he is from. Period. Missouri is no basketball Mecca. Stahp.

1. Indiana seems to have found its way. What happened? Andy Katz: The schedule has helped. But this team has also bought into the concept of team defense. The ball is moving better offensively, according to Tom Crean. And it's clearly the diversity of scoring and sharing of the ball that's working well for the Hoosiers. Eamonn Brennan: Through five games, Indiana has allowed the fewest points per possession of any team in the Big Ten. No, seriously! As Andy mentioned, this bizarre turn of events is absolutely a product of schedule (those five games: Rutgers, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota) and plain old collective improvement. There's also a third factor, though there's no joy in bringing it up: James Blackmon Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. That injury, one game before the B1G opener, robbed Crean of a well-liked player and a potent offensive weapon, but it also removed IU's most glaring defensive liability from the rotation. The trade-off -- marginally worse offense, significantly better defense -- is working thus far. Myron Medcalf: No need to repeat the obvious answer. Indiana has fortified its defense against the league's basement. The Hoosiers are also connecting on nearly 44 percent of their 3-pointers. If you believe Ken Pomeroy, there's not much any opponent can do about that. Don't forget about the steady contributions from freshman Thomas Bryant. He's leading the nation with a 75 percent clip inside the arc. He helps, and he'll be a major factor in Indiana's ability to maintain this rhythm. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/word160119/indiana-hoosiers-corrected-their-issues

1. Indiana seems to have found its way. What happened? Andy Katz: The schedule has helped. But this team has also bought into the concept of team defense. The ball is moving better offensively, according to Tom Crean. And it's clearly the diversity of scoring and sharing of the ball that's working well for the Hoosiers. Eamonn Brennan: Through five games, Indiana has allowed the fewest points per possession of any team in the Big Ten. No, seriously! As Andy mentioned, this bizarre turn of events is absolutely a product of schedule (those five games: Rutgers, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota) and plain old collective improvement. There's also a third factor, though there's no joy in bringing it up: James Blackmon Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. That injury, one game before the B1G opener, robbed Crean of a well-liked player and a potent offensive weapon, but it also removed IU's most glaring defensive liability from the rotation. The trade-off -- marginally worse offense, significantly better defense -- is working thus far. Myron Medcalf: No need to repeat the obvious answer. Indiana has fortified its defense against the league's basement. The Hoosiers are also connecting on nearly 44 percent of their 3-pointers. If you believe Ken Pomeroy, there's not much any opponent can do about that. Don't forget about the steady contributions from freshman Thomas Bryant. He's leading the nation with a 75 percent clip inside the arc. He helps, and he'll be a major factor in Indiana's ability to maintain this rhythm.   http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/word160119/indiana-hoosiers-corrected-their-issues

Chad Ford, being ESPN, is slow to move off of preseason expectations. Wasn't Bryant sort of targeted as a first round pick on potential? As pap said, I wouldn't pay much attention to anyone other than Draft Express

Those numbers qualify us for National Championship consideration. Haha Looking forward to the rest of the season...

  I don't think myself, pap, or mdn82 have suggested that he's done enough to earn back our support for future years. Just that he's coaching at a high level right now, and talks of firing him are pretty much nonsensical at this point in time.*   *Unless Brad Stevens suddenly bolts from the Celtics and asks for the job.