BGleas

I have a bit of a different perspective. I'm not saying TB has been dominant, but in his defense I think early on this season everyone is keying on stopping him. Teams aren't sold on our guards (especially without Yogi this year) and we run a guard focused offense anyways. Teams are doubling and packing in on TB, and our guards aren't good at getting him the ball. It's a little like the Vonleh year, where our guards simply aren't patient enough to let things play out. I've watched numerous times where TB is open on the block but the guard (usually Blackmon) is way to quick to swing the ball and TB is wide open a split-second late. So while he hasn't been as dominant as expected, I don't think that means he hasn't been really good and impactful. He definitely impacts games in a lot of ways beyond scoring. But yes, we do need to get him much more involved in the offense to be as good as we hope.

Would be so great if IU and ND both win, so IU, Butler and ND are all 4-2 and Purdue is 0-6!

To me some of the big keys, not only for IU to reach it's ceiling this year but to maintain next year, are CuJo and Davis developing and making a consistent impact. Davis is on good pace, but it would really help this season and for an increased role next year if CuJo can turn into a reliable/consistent scorer off the bench this year.

The UNC game was largely a half court game, and we excelled. UNC wanted to run, and I believe we held them to just 2 transition points the entire game. Also, we were really without OG for the IPFW game, which changes things pretty significantly for this team. I'd also caution against comparing this team to Crean's previous IU teams. IMO this team is much different than any he's had since he got to IU. We finally have the size and length you'd want in a team. The 2013 team had an extremely small backcourt, and even VO while athletic was small for the 3 in some cases. Last year's team, especially by the end, was also pretty small on the perimeter, starting Yogi and Z. This team really has size and length at every position and off the bench, making it much more conducive to a half court game. It's also Crean's best defensive and rebounding team, also making it conducive to the half-court. I'm not saying getting into a slow-down, slug it out half-court battle against Louisville is the game-plan, but I think of all Crean's IU teams this one is set-up best to excel in that type of game.

Another reason we need OG back and healthy. Can't waste a home game or two early in the Big Ten.

Why do I have Iowa vs. Stetson on the SEC Network?

While I'll take any win we can get against another top 25 team, I'd rather see us stomp Butler proving we're a legit top 5 team.

Nickens played last year, you're thinking of Dion Wiley who is back. They also have a really strong freshmen class. No big time 5* guys, but Huerter, Jackson and Covan are good. But, you don't lose 4 starters without a drop off.

They lost 4 starters. Stone, Laymen, Carter and Suiliamon.

Yeah, unless Dukes three freshmen come back healthy and as advertised, this is going to be a wide-open season. Probably 10+ teams capable of getting hot and winning a title.

Really impressive that we held UNC to 67 points. Really good defensive effort, off the heels of the Ft. Wayne disaster. Probably even most impressive is how we didn't let Carolina get into hardly any transition offense. I do worry about our offense at time, we struggle to get buckets when things stagnate, and just shocking we've beaten KU and UNC with how shaky our guards can be. Hopefully we use the next several games to get OG healthy and to get CuJo and Green some confidence back. We're going to need the young guards to provide some offense off the bench.

I'd even argue that if this was better competition the majority of McSwain's minutes would have gone to Juwan Morgan.

I'm expecting IU to be a little sluggish tonight. Partly becuase we're coming off a huge win and partly just due to the travel/time adjustments. I'm thinking we might just be up a couple midway through the first half, and maybe up 10ish at the half, before shaking off the cobwebs and stepping on the gas in the second half.

That was not a foul.

I think there's a reason for that. We're pretty good.

This game is really making me appreciate Thomas Bryant. I know Duke is missing a bunch of guys, but Jeter and Jefferson are still both former McDonald's AA and Kansas' bigs all the sudden look amazing tonight.

It was hard for me to tell if Purdue is really that good, or if of the top teams in the country Villanova is a really favorable matchup for them and it was at home. Not saying Purdue isn't good, I'm just not sure how good yet. Villanova is one of the few top teams that has almost no inside, big presence. While Haas is huge compared to everyone and Swanigan is a stud, teams like Duke, UK, UNC, IU, Arizona, etc., all at least have bigs that can pose a resistance. So, I'll be interested to see Purdue against a team that can at least matchup with their interior a little bit.

Hope that kid has a great career.

Exactly, and at most of those schools you're playing in front of half empty arenas, certainly none have an atmosphere even remotely close to IU's.

And still rake in 5* recruits all the time.

Great win! Way to kick off the season!

Right, but you don't dribble straight to the corner.

What was Blackmon doing?

Take notes RoJo

Frank Mason complaining there is comical.