BGleas

Agree, but that's why I think Hartman actually is a leader on this team. He always plays hard, always gives full effort, plays a lot minutes, and I do remember him directing guys a lot last year. We definitely miss that. One thing I always thought weird about Yogi was why did it take him so long to develop as a leader? He seemed tailor made to be one of those natural leaders and he was a point guard that started four years. Yet, he seemed to struggle with it until the second half of his senior year.

Leaders come in different packages. Just because a guy doesn't scream in your face or isn't the guy you go to offensively for the big bucket doesn't mean he's not one of the main leaders or important players. I remember my my freshmen year of college, I was a lot like Hartman. I was a 6'6" SF/SG and averaged 28mpg even though I only averaged 5ppg. We had a 1,000 pt senior pg and an all-conference PF and at the end of the year someone asked my coach who the one player was that he was always afraid to take out of the game, and he said me. I only bring this up for the comparison, because the reason was that while I wasn't a big scorer or our go-to guy that year, I was always in the right place, always knew when we should push the tempo, when we should reset and hold for a good shot, I just knew what the coach wanted, where everyone should be, and always played hard. I didn't talk much or get in people's faces or take the last shot. Im im not saying we're 14-1 with Hartman necessarily, but that's what people are talking about when they say missing his leadership.

We haven't played a game outside of Indiana since the Kansas game. Between the bad in-state recruiting, constantly getting smoked in Indy, always get smoked at Purdue, and losing at Ft. Wayne, I'm starting to wonder if this has been on long, big joke.

That way we can make the Sweet Sixteen and celebrate it as a huge accomplishment!

Our RPI will improve because IU is in a decent conference, but it doesn't "make up" for the pathetic non-conference. We don't get those games back just because the conference schedule is better. No matter what, it will negatively impact IU come seeding time. The poor non-conference RPI will probably cost us a seed line or two come tourney time.

I don't know. First, I think Stevens is staying in the NBA, so the point is really moot. But, if he came back to college I'm not sure following Coach K is something he'd want to do. Duke itself does seem like an ideal program for Stevens, but what's the benefit in following arguably the greatest college coach of all-time? That just doesn't seem like a Stevens move to me. I could see him following the guy that follows K, but not replacing him directly. While IU brings it's own set of pressures, I think bringing IU back to glory is a better proposition than following K immediately. I could also see him following Roy at UNC, while also a pressure-cooker, following Williams isn't as tough as following K.

^^^^The funny thing about #6 is Crean always touts having three assistants that have been head coaches. Well, there's probably a pretty good reason all three are back to being assistants and no longer head coaches.

Agree. It would take something epic such as a complete collapse and missing the tournament, which is not going to happen. The year is after next year. Say we slump to a 4th-5th place finish this year and get a 6 seed and lost in the second round. Then TB, JBJ and OG all leave, and our 2017 class has nothing close to the talent to replace them and we still have the pg issue next year and we finish 6th-7th in conference and are a bubble team. That's when he'd get fired.

It's also frustrating that I keep seeing headlines like, "Louisville's defense stifles IU". We did not lose this game because of Louisville's defense. We lost it because of our defense. That is the story right now, our defense being putrid against average to below average offenses like Butler, Louisville and Nebraska.

Those things are correctable, but as we work on correcting them against Ft. Wayne, Butler, Louisville and Nebraska, our potential seeding is dropping like a rock. Meaning that we'll probably once again be regulated to a 5th-7th seed and a Sweet Sixteen would be a nice accomplishment, keeping IU locked into this Crean cycle of doing just enough to not get fired.

I'm so tired of rooting for a program that literally puts zero emphasis on defense and taking care of the ball. We didn't lose because of Louisville's defense, IU lost because they made unforced turnover after unforced turnover, missed wide open shots, and once again (probably the 4th-5th time this year) let a below average offense destroy them. Our ball screen/hedging defense is embarrassingly bad, we let people get to the rim at will , and consistently let bad 3-pt shooting teams go off because we play with our hands down. This is is pretty basic stuff that keeps happening year after year. IU seems so focused on player development and turning people into positionless players for the NBA that we no longer focus on what actually wins basketball games. I recently heard a college football coach asked about college offenses (mainly the spread/read option) not preparing QB's for the NFL and he replied "my job isn't to prepare QB's for the NFL, it's to win games". I feel like Crean needs a reminder on that.

Thanks for clarifying, I get your point much clearer now, and completely agree. It would be Stevens getting impatient or tired of the rebuild, not the Celtics/Ainge.

I'm not crazy, Ainge loves Doc and so does the Celtics ownership. Doc didn't want to go through a rebuild, so he and Ainge mutually agreed that it would be best to move on. The reason Doc is ok with a rebuild in LA is because he's not just the coach he's also the president of bball operations. But, Ainge wanted Doc to stay, they signed him to like a 5 year contract a year or two before the rebuild started. Both Ainge and the Celtics ownership are extremely loyal to coaches they believe in (believe in is the key part) and they believe in Stevens. Believe me I know, I was in meetings with the ownership when fans and media were screaming for Doc to be fired and Wyc always assured everyone that Doc was their guy and he wasn't going anywhere, this was behind closed doors. Stevens may get pressure from the media and fans, but it won't be from Ainge and the ownership. Yes, I follow the NBA and know exactly what Ainge's plan is, I followed it up close and personal the first time. Ainge and the ownership have been extremely patient in this rebuild and are following the same model they did with the previous one. They'll stick by the coach, and Ainge will continue to accumulate assets until they can land another big fish or two via trade. They've got Brooklyn's unprotected lottery pics the next two years and will either trade those pics for stars, or draft those slots and trade the players they pick once they establish themselves, as they did with Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Delonte West, etc.. But, they won't get impatient with Stevens while they work through that process of find the right pieces on the court. I do agree that Stevens could get antsy, and tired of waiting, and leave on his own. Thought I think he's probably too smart for that unless some incredible dream job better than the Celtics comes up (not sure what that would be), or if for some reason he tires of the long NBA season, though I think he really likes the NBA.

Aigne didn't get rid of Doc Rivers. Ainge and ownership wanted Doc to stay, but Doc didn't want to "start over" as the team was getting ready to move on from Pierce and Garnett. Doc didn't want to go back to rebuilding, so Ainge and Doc agreed on a mutal parting of the ways. Doc and Aigne are still close and have a good relationship, and Celtics ownership still loves Doc. As as far as Stevens, Aigne and ownership also really, really love him. When the ownership and Aigne really like a coach they will give him plenty of time, losing will not deter them. I was there when the Celtics were really struggling, and fans were screaming for Doc to be fired and it was never even considered by ownership or Ainge, they loved and believed in Doc and they do in Stevens too. The he reason for the Celtics slow start this year is simply health. Thomas, Horford and Crowder have all already missed considerable time. When healthy, the Celtics are something like 12-4. They've been really good when healthy. They should advance at least a round in the playoffs this year, and if matchups work out they could go to the ECF. But no, they're not a title contender year. But, the Celtics have a ton of assets and will make some deals to become a contender. Lomg story short, the Celtics love Stevens and will be extremely patient with him. My educated guess is that if Stevens leaves the Celtics anytime soon it's because he chose too, not because the Celtics fired him.

Geez, K just keeps doubling down on his horrendous handling of all this. Really, why is he SOOOO defensive about this? It seems pretty simple, yet K keeps making it really difficult.

Granted the competition hasn't been the best, but just put the PU game down as a maybe in case Swanigan goes beast mode on us. He looks like a man among boys right now, and PU is playing really well. They're going to be tough.

Somewhere between 13-5 and 12-6. Losses @UMD, @Mich, @Wiscy, @Iowa and @Pur. Another loss mixed in could be @OSU or home to PU.

What an awful response by Coach K. I'm a big K fan overall, but he's handled this horrendously since the first trip.

That would just be doubling down on an event we should already not be playing in. We'd be trading a locked in game against Butler or ND potentially for a game against Ball State or IUPUI? No thanks!

I don't think being drafted is going to matter for JBJ. Things have changed over the years, while the NBA is certainly the goal for these guys, many of them would rather go undrafted and take their shot in the D-League or make six figures in Europe than go unpaid in college for 4 years. Troy is a perfect example, but you can find more all over college basketball. I think JBJ is gone regardless of what any mock draft is saying.

Seems like the new equivalent to the Owner/AD showing full support "kiss of death".

It will be interesting to see how the next year and a half go. I could see this group getting stronger as the year goes on, winning the Big Ten and making an Elite 8 or even Final Four run, essentially securing a CTC extension. Or, I could see us losing to Louisville, not completely gelling and then finishing something like 3rd-4th in the Big Ten with a round of 32 exit. If the latter happens, and we lose TB, OG and JBJ, then finish 5th or 6th next year and lose in the 1st round, I could see Crean getting fired. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

This year we're an above average shooting team, not great. Nowhere near as good as last year.

I can't believe I'm saying this, because I've been so vocal against the 3-guard lineup in the past, but with this years team I like it. I feel like when we have 3 of Bryant, Morgan, OG or Davis it completely bogs our movement down. With OG and Morgan they can shoot the three, but if I'm defending them I want them shooting 3's. If they make it, so be it, but I'll take that over letting them get in the paint. With tho three guards this year we just seem to have better movement and pace.

I've thought about that as well, and it's probably a variety of things. Teams aren't keying on Davis defensively like they are TB and Davis has a wider frame so to Wayne's point he does clear out and seal better than TB. I'd also be curious to see the difference in who their minutes are with in terms of the guards they're on the floor with. For example, someone like a Devonte Green is going to look to pass more than a JBJ.