BGleas

Anyone else notice that Davis and Calhoun haven't mentioned IU once when talking about teams in the Big Ten Title hunt? They keep talking about Iowa, Maryland, Purdue and MSU. Not that it matters, but it's interesting. 

We're looking at about 15-20" where I'm at in Maryland. 

I caught a bit of a junior high basketball practice today and all these kids were running we're pick and rolls. Everyone dribbled the second they caught the ball, and almost every possession resulted in a shot after 1-2 passes. It actually made me sad, I sound old, but these kids have no idea how to actually play real basketball.

It's much riskier for those late 1st round picks now then it was before the last CBA. In the past, if you got selected in the first round you were guaranteed 4 years. Now a team has the option on the 3rd and 4th years, so a first round pick can be released after just two years.    So if you're picked 27th or something, you could be out of the league in 2 years. Yes, you made a couple hundred grand at 19-20 years old, but if Antoine Walker can burn through $100M in a couple years, a college aged kid can blow a couple hundred grand before he even buys his mom a house.   

It's a huge problem that IU never even seemed to really be in this recruitment either.   

I don't think Crean was trying to protect him, I think he was trying to hide him on defense. I don't think it had anything to do with his knees, just that he was so bad on defense.

That was totally worth cracking open one more beer than I wanted and staying up way later than I wanted!

I'm usually a proponent of guys leaving if they are a first rounder. The college game and NBA game are much different, and guys will improve much more working with NBA coaches on a daily basis and working on what their "NBA game" will be (the shots they'll get, NBA defense, etc). But in Bryant's case I think he should stay. He's flat out not ready physically/athletically, and probably not emotionally either.

This is a really big game. There's going to be a middle scrum of teams that finish between something like 3/4-7/8 in the conference and it will most likely include some combination of IU, OSU, Iowa, Michigan, maybe Purdue, and how those teams do against each other will probably determine where you fall in that group. Especially need to beat those teams at home.

I'm not sure the numbers, but assuming Troy leaves, we need another wing. Hopefully one that is long, athletic and can shoot a little. Those guys don't grow on trees, but we'll need it.

Yes, Looking at his career closer now I went too far in my post, but he was a mid 2nd round pick who I believe was released twice (Cleveland and San Antonio) before latching on with the Spurs. It's not like a ton of mid-second rounders make it like Green has.

I largely agree with Old Friend on this topic, and I know his feelings on this are broad and not necessarily about any one recruit in particular, but with that said I'll disagree on this kid. While he's clearly not his brother, who was a top 30-40 recruit and has about 4 inches on him, the kid does have pedigree. He's also seen first hand what can happen to someone who is overlooked yet puts in the work to improve. While he was a very good college player, nobody thought Danny Green was going to be an NBA player, let alone a viable starter on a championship team. So, I like the potential intangibles this kid could bring, by all accounts he's athletic, a good shooter and a serious defender.

This is all about personnel IMO. When you have a lineup of Yogi, JBJ, RoJo, TW, Bryant, you have two BIG minus defenders in JBJ and Troy, then you have two average defenders in Yogi/Bryant, and one above average in RoJo.    When you have two terrible defenders in a lineup of five it brings everyone else down at least a notch. With JBJ out, we've replaced his defense with Hartman (average) and OG/Morgan (appear to be above average), it changes the dynamic of everything. Now they really only have to cover to TW, and let's be real he's a bad defender, but JBJ is horrendous. Troy's gambles aren't as costly now, because everyone else is in position behind him.    Take the names out of it, you just can't have two terrible defenders in the lineup, you can probably cover for one, but not two. It's a huge trickle down effect. 

I don't think Knight ever comes back, but if he does my guess is it will not be for some kind of anniversary or recognition game. It will be just a random game and everyone will do their best to keep it out of the media/quiet until he walks out right before tip-off. No ceremonies, no halftime speeches, etc. 

I'd add no JBJ. He's is absolutely awful on defense, and his mistakes defensively impact not just him, but his teammates too.

^^ it's amazing that he hasn't developed any semblance of a mid-range game.

Just finished the game, a few quick thoughts. - Most enjoyable game to watch to this point for me - I love this freshmen class - Bryant is a beast, and OG and Morgan just make plays that winners make, and all 3 are very good passers - I don't think it's a coincidence that I enjoy watching IU more when JBJ is on the bench While I hope he's healthy, I don't wish injury on anyone, but I would love to see this team develop with JBJ on the bench (due to performance, not injury). I'm a bit perplexed that RoJo and Troy have struggled in these two games, but if we would get them going, and begin to run the team through Bryant and Yogi, with a solid group of role guys in RoJo, Troy, Hartman, OG, Max, Z and Juwan, I think we could have something. I still think we're behind MSU, Maryland, Iowa and Purdue though.

On paper, yes. Will be interesting to see how Izzo, who obviously is one of the top coaches in the game, handles having all these freshmen UK style. Sometimes guys, even as talented as Izzo, can struggle when they're outside their lane. He's not used to having a lot of the freshmen with potential agenda's. Will be interesting to watch.   

If I'm remembering correctly, two of JBJ's offensive rebounds were the on the same play (got his own offensive rebound twice) and it was a play where he made an awful drive and he had Bryant wide open for a dump-off dunk, but he instead drove into two guys and threw it up. That's an instance where stats alone don't tell the story.   

Great comeback win. Wish we played better overall, but sometimes a win like that can bring guys together. If this was my team for the foreseeable future my lineup is this: Yogi RoJo Hartman Williams Bryant Bench: Zeisloft Beifeldt OG Morgan (if healthy) Yogi and Williams are on short leashes. I'm telling Troy that if he plays like he did in the first half today he'll be on the bench. I'm telling Yogi that this is his last chance to step up as a leader on both ends, and it's time to start feeding the big fella. I'm telling RoJo this is his team now. He's my guy, from a leadership standpoint, for the next 2.5 years. This is his team. I'm telling JBJ that we'll entertain the idea of him playing again when he decides he actually wants to be on a winning basketball team. He can play again when he stops being selfish on both ends, and starts putting more on the table than he takes off it.

I'm 99% convinced that Duke will hire from within the "family", and I'm 99% convinced that if Stevens comes back to college he'll be the next Coach K. I have no feeling on whether he'll come back to college or not though. I can't imagine the uproar if he comes back somewhere else. 

For what? The 3rd year in a row?  

I think the Priller chants are fun/harmless, but you have to admit it's probably a little embarrassing for Priller. 1) He's probably embarrassed at being called out so much more than other players. 2) He's a scholarship player that plays less than some walk-ons, and that type of reception is usually for a walk-on and often times a senior at that. Priller has been getting this since day 1. 3) Priller also probably feels partly appreciative of the applause, but probably also partly that he's being mocked. And let's be honest, he is being mocked when the crowd goes nuts like that for him.    I really don't think Crean was mad because he wants to force Priller out and the fan applause is going to make him stay. There are numerous reasons players transfer, and fan applause is probably pretty low on the list. I could be completely wrong, but if he was upset over the fan applause for Priller, it seems more likely to me it's because they're a little embarrassed by it all. 

True, though Isiah Thomas is playing at an All-Star level this year. He's not in the Curry realm by any means, but in the discussion with the other guys. GS started Ian Clark (who?) and Brandon Rush their places.   

Being a Celtics fan, I'm loving it. But, GS is without Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson.